Sharon Díaz, Executive Director
Sharon Díaz comes to JRC with extensive experience in houses of worship and nonprofit management. Most recently, she was executive director of Congregation Solel in Highland Park; before that, she was an administrator for North Shore Unitarian Church. Immediately after earning her Masters of Management in Nonprofit Administration from North Park University, Sharon was the Director of Development and Alumni Relations for Meadeville-Lombard Theological Seminary, affiliated with the University of Chicago.
Sharon and her husband, John, live in Highland Park. They have three grown children, Orlando, Ivan and Maia.
Contact Sharon at [email protected].
Terri Bernsohn, Religious School Director
Terri Bernsohn has been Director of JRC’s Religious School since June 2007; from 2003 - 2007, she held the position of Director of School Administration. She holds a Masters in Non-profit Administration from DePaul University and will graduate from the Executive M.A. Program in Jewish Education at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in May, 2017. Terri is the Immediate Past Chair of RENA, Reconstructionist Educators of North America.
A member of JRC since 1992, Terri has served on JRC's Board, coordinated the soup kitchen, traveled to Uganda as part of JRC's Global AIDS Task Force, and represented JRC on the Steering Committee of the Progressive Chevra Kadisha. Terri's children Noah, Emmett and Charlotte all attended JRC Religious School.
Terri values her partnership with teachers, clergy, and parents and takes great pleasure in helping families weave meaningful connections within the school community and the broader congregation.
Contact Terri at [email protected].
Claudia Rozenberg, Early Childhood Center Director
Claudia Rozenberg has been in early childhood since 2006. She has taught in a variety of school settings over the years both here and abroad. She believes that children develop skills in preschool that they use their entire lives and feels that a positive first school experience is the key to a child’s school success. She knows a child's family and community are key to that child's success and therefore holds those relationships paramount.
Claudia holds a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Erikson Institute in Chicago and is a certified teacher in the state of Illinois. She holds a second Master’s in French culture and civilization from Middlebury College.
Claudia is very excited to become part of the JRC community and bring her family into the community as well. She lives in Lincoln Park with her husband and her two daughters, Clara and Naomi.
Contact Claudia at [email protected].
Danny Wallenberg, Choir Director
The adult, children's and family choirs rehearse and perform under the direction of Danny Wallenberg. Danny is an effective teacher and talented musician; he is perceptive, welcoming and supportive. He is a long-time JRC member. In addition to his commitment to the JRC choirs, Danny works for the Chicago Children's Choir and is the conductor of the Music Institute of Chicago Chorale. He is also the founder and artistic director of Zemer Am, the Chicago Jewish Choral Festival.
A native of Bogotá, Colombia, Danny earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in choral conducting from the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem and Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. In Israel, he founded several adult and children's choirs, and sang with the Cameran Singers, a professional choir in Tel Aviv. He has extensive experience conducting collegiate, community, professional, and children's choral groups throughout the world and has many choral arrangements to his name.
Contact Danny at [email protected].
Jill Persin, Assistant Executive Director: contact Jill for all membership or fundraising questions. You can reach Jill via email: [email protected] or phone: 847-328-7678, ext. 2222.
Nina Litoff, Communications and Program Coordinator: contact Nina for all communications related questions and when you want to plan an event at JRC. You can reach Nina via email: [email protected] or phone: 847-328-7678, ext. 2229.
Robyn Hurtig, Education Administrator: contact Robyn for help with planning a bar/bat mitzvah. She also handles registrations for our Religious School and Early Childhood programs. You can reach Robyn via email: [email protected] or phone: 847-328-7678, ext. 2226.
Megan Baldeshwiler, Bookkeeper: contact Megan with questions about your payments or statements. You can reach Megan via email: [email protected] or phone: 847-328-7678, ext. 2235.
Kara Hendrickson, Administrative Assistant and Clergy Assistant: contact to make an appointment with the rabbi, change a yahrzeit, or make a donation. Contact Kara via email: [email protected] or phone: 847-328-7678, ext. 2220.
Eva Eisenstein, Librarian: contact Eva when you want to find a book in the library or learn how to use our online catalog. You can reach Eva via email: [email protected] or phone: 847-328-7678, ext. 2255.