Our Staff

 Peter Pelaia - Executive Director

Peter and Ariela, his wife, first fell in love with the Burlington area in 2009 when they baby-mooned here a few months before their son was born.  Since then they've been talking about relocating to Vermont and when the opportunity to join OZ appeared they knew it was time to try to make their dream of living here come true. Peter's a graduate of Brandeis and attended Hebrew Union College where he flirted with becoming a rabbi before deciding to enter the business world while maintaining close ties to the Jewish community. He's been a teacher and youth group volunteer for years in the Religious School at Temple Beth El in Stamford. Peter's previous employment has been with GE Capital Americas and Citigroup, in the fields of Operations & IT as a Senior Business Analyst and Information Security manager.

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Raul Guevara - Facilities Manager

Raul has been with the synagogue over 25 years. Prior to his work at OZ he owned his own bus touring business in Guatemala. As the Facilities Manager for the synagogue, Raul's responsibilities range from daily maintenance of the facility and grounds, serving on the House Committee, managing the kitchen, and serving on the Capital Campaign Construction oversight committee to managing the coordination of life cycle events and holiday events. He also delights in the children of Ohavi Zedek and makes time during Hebrew School hours to help with snacks, play or the invariable need for bandaids or a caring listener. The b'nai mitzvot often mentions him during their speeches with great appreciation for his care and wisdom. He lives with his wife Kathy Guevara in Hinesburg. They have three daughters, two son in laws, two granddaughters, and one grandson.

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Tari Santor - Front Office Coordinator

Tari started at OZ as Administrative Assistant and is currently the Front Office Coordinator. Tari’s responsibilities range from maintaining the online calendar and website, creating the weekly e-newsletter, event publicity, contacting B’nai Mitzvah families for information, payroll, coordination of holiday events and much more.  In addition to her office duties, she has assisted in the catering for our B'nai Mitzvahs as well as lending a hand in the Shalom Shuk. Tari has worked 19 years in the printing business, as well as in the healthcare field, and has earned certificates in HR Management and Paralegal Studies, as well as a degree in liberal studies. Tari lives in Jericho with her boyfriend Mike and her son during the summers while on break from college, as well as her Pomeranian and kitty.

Email Tari 

Zizi Zolten-Chandler

Jessica “Zizi” Zolten-Chandler happily joins the Ohavi Zedek staff as the new Administrative Assistant.  She recently moved to Vermont from Hawaii with her husband, Flint, and their son, Luke.  They are delighting in all of the natural beauty that the Green Mountain State has to offer. Zizi feels particularly lucky to have found herself at Ohavi Zedek, which has given her a very warm welcome. When not assisting in the OZ office, she can be found enjoying her family and treating clients in her private acupuncture practice. 
 

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Pat Codding - Bookkeeper

Pat has a long work history in accounting and tax preparation and is a self-described "stickler" with a fabulous attention to detail which are very desirable traits in a bookkeeper!  In addition to her part-time work here at OZ she is also an enrolled agent working at H&R Block. Her role will be primarily focused on maintaining our books, keeping track of all of the gifts we receive and processing payments. She will be available on most Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Pat has chosen this photo of her pet cat for her profile picture in place of a photo of herself.

Email Pat 

Naomi Barell - Hebrew School Principal

Naomi has traveled a long and windy road to her position as Hebrew School principal here at OZ. After getting her degree in Jewish history at Barnard, she moved to Israel where she worked in a myriad of jobs – graphic designer, photographer, breakfast cook, barrista and government licensed tour guide. She returned to the states and made her way to Burlington where she had a couple of kids and started teaching. She has taught in many different grades and was on the Hebrew School Committee for a couple of years. As principal, she wants to promote a sense of community amongst the kids and their families in the school. She believes in making our ancient history and traditions more relevant and accessible to kids. Naomi lives with her partner Jade and their four children. In her spare time, she tends to her farmstead of chickens, sheep, turkeys and a llama.

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 Miriam Sturgis - Youth Director

Miriam Sturgis is a Youth Director at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue. Miriam has been leading Young Judaea groups at OZ for the last fourteen years. She loves the opportunity to help educate our youth about Judaism, Israel and Tikkun Olam. When not leading YJ, Miriam works as a family physician at the Georgia Health Center. She lives in Essex, is married to Gary and is the mother of Talia, Rebecca and Ariela. Call her if you have questions about our Young Judaea clubs or other youth related activities, such as summer camps or Israel programs.  She would also love to hear if you have any other ideas for our youth or if you would like to help out with YJ or other youth activities.

Email Miriam 

Fran Pomerantz - Youth Director

Francine  Pomerantz is a Youth Director  at OZ as well as the advisor for the Bogrim Group of Young Judaea. Fran has been leading Young Judaea groups for the last 5 years and loves working with the youth of our community. Fran holds a bachelors degree in Botany and Environmental studies from UVM. She also works as a substitute teacher in the Chittenden East School District. She lives in Richmond with her husband, Keith Kasper, and is the mother of Alex, Shaina and Hannah. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, tending her gardens and chickens, and weaving.

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Tara Norrell - Youth Advisor

Tara Norrell has two sons, Lucian and Maceo, who are actively involved with Young Judaea.  Besides working as Director of Development and Selection at Northwestern Financial Network (new job), being married, and being a Mom she has played roller derby with the Green Mountain Derby Dames for the past three years, and is also a poet.     

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Shoshana Boray

Shoshannah Boray is a playwright, theatre artist and teacher. Her most recent projects are the adaptation of a Japanese folktale into her first play for children, Momo No Kawa, which she developed with 24 talented K-3rd graders, and The Kid’s Table, a hagaddah designed for a child led seder.  She lives in Burlington, with her daughters Zoe and Emi and husband Gabriel.  She has an MFA in Playwriting from Carnegie Mellon University, and a BA in Literature from Brown University.