Board Profiles
LORRAINE SURVIS, PRESIDENT
How long have you been a member of Oheb? 25 beautiful years
How long have you been on the board? 10 years
Where are you from, originally? I was born and raised on Long Island
Favorite snack, growing up? Cap’n Crunch!
What is a typical breakfast for you these days? Egg whites are my go to breakfast
Favorite spot to relax and unwind? On the beach with my family
Dog, cat, and/or other pet? I am most definitely a dog person!
All-time favorite film? My Big Fat Greek Wedding
All-time favorite book? A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Favorite aspect of Oheb Shalom? Our warm and welcoming community – some of my dearest friends are from Oheb.
GLORIA AARON, VICE PRESIDENT
How long have you been a member of Oheb? 36 years
How long have you been on the board This is the first time as VP. Was on the board previously for 5 years a secretary about 10 years ago.
Where are you from, originally? Born and raised in Wayne, NJ then lived a few years in CA when my parents moved out there during my college years.
Favorite snack, growing up? Black Raspberry Ice Cream
What is a typical breakfast for you these days? I don’t eat breakfast
Favorite spot to relax and unwind? On the beach by the water preferably during sunrise or sunset and with my family.
Dog, cat, and/or other pet? Love dogs, don’t have one currently but had a Collie for 13 years.
All-time favorite film? Growing up in the film industry, I can’t say I have 1 favorite movie.
All-time favorite book? Total Olympics: Every Obscure, Hilarious, Dramatic, and Inspiring Tale Worth Knowing, written by my son-in-law Jeremy Fuchs
Favorite aspect of Oheb Shalom? Definitely community. Oheb is my home away from home. My friends from years ago and new ones too are truly my family.
DOUG MAGID, VICE PRESIDENT
How long have you been a member of Oheb? 18 years
How long have you been on the board? 4 years on the Board Of Trustees, 4 years on the Executive Committee
Where are you from, originally? Dix Hills, Long Island
Favorite snack, growing up? Mallomars, hands down!
What is a typical breakfast for you these days? Greek yogurt w/granola and fresh fruit, or avocado toast and eggs.
Favorite spot to relax and unwind? On my Peloton
Dog, cat, and/or other pet? Dog, Kona, our joyful Australian Labradoodle
All-time favorite film? Too many, too many genres, but I’ll name two: Goldfinger and The Fifth Element.
All-time favorite book? Little Red Book by Harney Penick
Bonus: all-time favorite song (it’s a tie): B.B. King, “Let the Good Times Roll” and The Rolling Stones, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
Favorite aspect of Oheb Shalom? Our sense of community. There is a genuine connectedness that I think everyone can feel, and a sense of welcome belonging that we try to share with all of our members.
ELENA RADINE, VICE PRESIDENT
How long have you been a member of Oheb? My family and I have been at Oheb about 6 years, since our girls were happy little Mickey Fried Preschoolers.
How long have you been on the board? I’ve been on the Board for a year and this is my first year on Exec!
Where are you from, originally? I was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Freehold, NJ.
What is a typical breakfast for you these days? Definitely coffee, and fruit with granola from my office cafeteria.
Favorite spot to relax and unwind? Honestly on my living room sofa after the kids have gone to camp or school and the house is quiet for like 5 minutes.
Dog, cat, and/or other pet? None yet but we’ve been thinking about a dog… not sure we are up for the responsibility!
All-time favorite film? So this is a hard question for me because I love movies. If I had to pick a few that I could watch over and over— Dirty Dancing, When Harry Met Sally, and Hairspray (the musical!)
All-time favorite book? Also really tough. My favorite book from the past year was The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store.
Favorite aspect of Oheb Shalom? Definitely our wonderful and inspiring clergy, but also how happy and comfortable my kids are at Oheb. When it’s time to go home, they are usually having too much fun and put up a good fight. Annoying, but also makes me so happy.
INESSA SPIEGELMAN, VICE PRESIDENT
How long have you been a member of Oheb? We’ve been members since our 10 year-old daughter was three and in Mickey Fried.
How long have you been on the board? Four years.
Where are you from, originally? Moldova, Soviet Union.
Favorite snack, growing up? Potato chips.
What is a typical breakfast for you these days? I skip breakfast and have a green smoothie for lunch with eggs.
Favorite spot to relax and unwind? At home!
Dog, cat, and/or other pet? Dog.
All-time favorite film? Pulp Fiction.
All-time favorite book? Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss.
Favorite aspect of Oheb Shalom? The programming and events.
JORDAN ARONSON, SECRETARY
How long have you been a member of Oheb? I am a lifelong member of Oheb.
How long have you been on the board?This is my 3rd year on the board.
Where are you from, originally?I grew up right here in South Orange.
Favorite snack, growing up? I think my favorite snack as a kid was probably the same as it is now. Oreos.
What is a typical breakfast for you these days? A typical breakfast is a Sonny’s bagel with cream cheese, orange juice, and cereal.
Favorite spot to relax and unwind? My favorite places to unwind are the pool or beach, specifically Asbury Park or Sandy Hook.
Dog, cat, and/or other pet? Dog, Sophie. There’s no better dog.
All-time favorite film? I’m a big Back to the Future trilogy nerd.
All-time favorite book? Pick any Harry Potter book.
Favorite aspect of Oheb Shalom? I have always loved Oheb’s warm, welcoming community and its commitment to musical excellence. When my family moved to Michigan (and maintained an out-of-state membership), these aspects were mostly missing from my synagogue life there. The desire to return to the Oheb community full time was one of many reasons why I chose to move back to South Orange after college. Upon my return, I felt welcomed back with open arms as if I had never left. I immediately joined the Oheb Shalom Chorale for the High Holidays and began to play clarinet during musical Shabbat services throughout the year, which I continue to do to this day.
ROB JACOBS
How long have you been a member of Oheb? As of 2025, 16 years.
How long have you been on the board? As of 2025, 3 years.
Where are you from, originally? Columbia, MD.
Favorite snack, growing up? Entenmann’s crumb donuts
What is a typical breakfast for you these days? Eggs, toast, seasonal fruit
Favorite spot to relax and unwind? The Jab (an exclusive garbar, home of South Orange Shuffleboard).
Dog, cat, and/or other pet? Dog: George the half-human Labradoodle
All-time favorite film? True Romance
All-time favorite book? The Grapes of Wrath
Favorite aspect of Oheb Shalom? A spiritual home for everyone, always.
JAY MURNICK
How long have you been a member of Oheb? Almost my whole life
How long have you been on the board? This is my second year, although I’ve been involved for many years.
Where are you from, originally? Born and raised in NJ, although I tried to leave a couple of times.
Favorite snack, growing up? Don’s Chiffon Ring Cake
What is a typical breakfast for you these days? Spinach and Fruit Protein Smoothie
Favorite spot to relax and unwind? Grand Teton National Park
Dog, cat, and/or other pet? As of March 2025: VERY reluctantly, as of 13 months ago, a dog.
All-time favorite film? Top Gun
Favorite aspect of Oheb Shalom? The warmth you feel when surrounded by fellow congregants.
MICHELLE SCHACKMAN
How long have you been a member of Oheb? Three years
How long have you been on the board? I’m new!
Where are you from, originally? I grew up in Scotch Plains, NJ and my family was a member of Temple Emanuel in Westfield.
Favorite snack, growing up? Goldfish
What is a typical breakfast for you these days? Oatmeal with walnuts, berries, and chia seeds
Favorite spot to relax and unwind?Barnegat Light on LBI in the summer
Dog, cat, and/or other pet? I have two children!
All-time favorite film? Home Alone
All-time favorite book? Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison
Favorite aspect of Oheb Shalom? The people! Ever since my daughters attended Mickey Fried Preschool, we’ve felt connected to the community.
ROBIN SHERER
How long have you been a member of Oheb? I have been a member of Oheb Shalom for 42 years. Even though for about 10 years I lived outside of NJ, I maintained my Oheb membership. It has been my extended family for all this time.
How long have you been on the board? My most current gig on the Board has been six years as a Trustee. I also served on the Board a few decades ago.
Where are you from, originally? I lived in Belleville, NJ until I was 7. I lived in Clifton, NJ from the age of 7 until I got married at the age of 30.
What is a typical breakfast for you these days? I try to eat fairly healthy in the morning, my one indulgence being a huge cup of coffee. I eat what some call a parfait: cereal topped with fresh berries and pineapple topped with a Greek fruit yogurt.
Favorite spot to relax and unwind? In my living room.
Dog, cat, and/or other pet? I currently have the cutest dog ever. She’s a dachshund beagle mutt named Sophie. I named her for my maternal grandmother. She’s the best.
All-time favorite film? Wow, so many to choose from. But I’ll say Pal Joey with Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak.
All-time favorite book? Any book by Mitch Albom, I’ve read several. They are not religious but very spiritual and make me appreciate all that’s good in my life.
Favorite aspect of Oheb Shalom? The feeling of community and the wish to cheer each other on.