As May is Jewish-American Heritage Month, watch what Phyllis has to say about her Jewish-American special customs and traditions. We also interviewed Phyllis about her leadership experience. Find out how she describes her leadership, who she admires, and her advice for future leaders. 

22. That’s the number of years I served on my Sisterhood board. When I started in 2000, I was six weeks pregnant. That baby has now graduated college, and his younger sister graduated high school. A lot happened in the years I served on my Sisterhood board, both in my life and the life of my Sisterhood. By the Fall of 2022, it was time to step back. It was time to get out of the way of other women so they could lead. Could you be holding back future leaders? Are you the one who is afraid that if you don’t step up, no one will take your place?

Supporting our local congregations and communities is what makes Sisterhood membership so rewarding. WRJ expands on this by connecting us to other sisterhoods and communities in this amazing network. Our impact in the world is magnified by our involvement in the organization.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would be District President, but WRJ gave me the confidence and knowledge to move forward. That confidence has profoundly shaped other areas of my life, from my professional life to my recreational life. I made a big career move last year, one I am sure I would not have made without the leadership skills formed in WRJ.

"I have to say the thing I love most about WRJ is the deep and lasting friendships I have made. It was wonderful to be in a room of women with whom I instantly “clicked” on many levels. Some of the acquaintances became friends, and some of those friends became best friends."

"On April 9th, WRJ's Southeast District held its first in-person event in over two years, and it was GLORIOUS! It was so wonderful to be in the same room with 24 of my WRJ sisters and on Zoom with another nine, sharing a meal and conversation, catching up on two years of events, and learning together from amazing speakers. This was also the first hybrid event in any of the eight WRJ districts, and we pulled it off without a hitch!

How did you come to be a WRJ leader?

Like many women, I joined sisterhood when my kids were little, and we belonged to a small, conservative synagogue. Eight years later, the synagogue merged with a Reform congregation.