RRA Staff
Rabbi Barbara Penzner
Interim CEO
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Rabbi Barbara Penzner graduated from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1987. Barbara is the Rabbi Emerita of Temple Hillel B'nai Torah in Boston, where she served as solo rabbi for 28 years until her retirement in June 2023.
A past president of the RRA, she chaired the RRA Ethics Committee and co-chaired the Joint Placement Commission, as well as serving on various movement commissions and RRA committees over the years. Rabbi Penzner served as president of the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis, co-chaired the New England Jewish Labor Committee, and received the 2011 Rabbinic Human Rights award from T'ruah. She was also a founding "mikveh mama" of Mayyim Hayyim: Living Waters Mikveh and Education Center.
Barbara lives in Boston with her husband, Brian Rosman, where they raised their two children, Aviva Rosman and Yonah Rosman.
Rabbi Elliot Skiddell
Interim Director of Rabbinic Placement and Employment
[email protected]
Elliot Skiddell graduated from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1980. He received his BA in Philosophy and Religion from the University of Massachusetts and an MA in Religion from Temple University. In 2005 he was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree (Honoris Causa) by RRC. In 1992, Elliot and his family made Aliyah. In Israel he served as assistant director of the Galilee Education Foundation and then joined the staff of the Jewish Agency as Regional Director for Tzefat, Hatzor, Rosh Pina. He was honored as the outstanding employee of the Jewish Agency in 2004. Prior to making Aliyah he served as Assistant Rabbi of Har Zion Temple, Penn Valley, Pennsylvania and then as Rabbi of Ramat Shalom Synagogue in Plantation, Florida. In August 2006, Elliot became rabbi of Reconstructionist Congregation Beth Emeth and led the congregation through the creation of a partnership with Central Synagogue of Nassau County that progressed from cohabitation to cooperation, collaboration and, finally, consolidation as Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth. In August 2020, Elliot was honored with the title of Rabbi Emeritus.
Diana Phillips
Office Administrator
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Diana Phillips previously worked in Academic Affairs at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and Communications at Reconstructing Judaism. Diana is also a writer and editor of creative nonfiction and co-editor of the anthology, Choosing Judaism: 36 Stories, a collection of thought-provoking, intimate, and inspiring personal essays on what it means to choose or be chosen as a member of the Jewish people. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and enjoys going on adventures with her traveling book club.
Rabbi Elyse Wechterman
RRA CEO, 2015-2024
Rabbi Elyse Wechterman served as Executive Director/CEO from 2015-2024. During her tenure, the RRA grew from 320 members to close to 400. Rabbi Wechterman created new programming and resource development for the Association and is most proud to have evolved the RRA into an association that serves all of its members in all the settings they serve as rabbis and Jewish leaders. Prior to coming to the RRA, Rabbi Wechterman was the spiritual leader of Congregation Agudas Achim in Attleboro, Massachusetts (2001 - 2014). She graduated from RRC in 2000 and holds a Certificate in Jewish Leadership from the Spertus Institute. Rabbi Wechterman continues to serve rabbis, congregations and the Jewish people through a variety of creative endeavors.