A Tapestry of Good Choices

Choices, a time-honored tradition of bringing women together in the Central Florida Jewish community, celebrated its 29th year on February 29. The annual event is one of Shalom Orlando’s primary fundraising events, and this year’s theme was Tapestry: Weaving the Threads of Community.

Six amazing women were honored – Ann Conley, Rhonda Forest, Sarah Gittleson, Chani Konikov, Randa Marder, and Shifra Yachnes.

Choices supports a wide range of initiatives including grants and family-oriented educational programs.

Because the event happened after J Life went to press, we decided to recognize these women in our publication by sharing a little bit about each of them as written by those who nominated them.

Randa Marder

A natural leader at heart, Randa moved to the Orlando area in 1983 and immediately began serving the Jewish community as a JCC preschool teacher. The following year, she was named supervisor for the preschool’s three- and four-year-olds and then stepped up to direct adult services where she developed programming including the 39ers Club, Young Couples Club, and ChanukArts Annual Festival.

Following her involvement with the JCC, Randa served in leadership roles in many Jewish organizations and institutions in Orlando and in the Miami area including Temple Israel, Hebrew Day School, Temple Emanu-EL in Miami Beach, and Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center. But the role she is most proud of, and rightfully so, is director of Beit Hamidrash, a Jewish high school for teens in the community offering Jewish education and fellowship. After 10 years, registration skyrocketed from 50 students the first year to 300.

In recent years, Randa has shifted her focus to providing support to others in the community. As a certified professional performance and relationship coach, Randa mentors individuals and groups. She actively contributes to the Jewish Film Festival and WOW (Winter Garden, Ocoee, Winter Haven) Chavurah group, which brings together a growing number of Jewish families for prayer, learning, and enjoyment. And, as if that was not enough, Randa launched Getting Into Getting Bolder, a support group for women over 50.

Randa has made a significant impact on so many in the Orlando Jewish community and beyond, from her preschool students to high-school students to older adults and everyone in between. She is truly an asset to our community.

Rhonda Forest

As with many of our honorees, Orlando received a gift when Rhonda Forest moved with her family to Florida. She is proud to have made many contributions to the community over the past three decades.

While Jewish participation in the community has always been a priority, so was involvement with her children’s education. More than 30 years ago, Rhonda served on the JCC’s Early Childhood Learning Center board as well as the School Advisory Council (SAC) at Red Bug Elementary, which her kids attended after preschool. While on the SAC at Red Bug, Rhonda made significant contributions including the installation of a parent resource center.

After her twins graduated from the JCC’s ECLC, Rhonda was chosen in 1994 to be part of the second class of the Jerome J. Bornstein Leadership Program, where she continued to develop as a leader within the community. After Bornstein, she served as a board member of the JCC for the next nine years.

In 2004, Rhonda took a break from serving the community so she could pursue a bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Florida. After graduating, she returned to the Jewish community, first as chair of Choices and then as board member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando (JFGO). A couple of years later, she stepped up as president for five years and then served as interim CEO for six months at JFGO.

During her tenure as president, Rhonda initiated discussion of a merger between the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando and the Roth Family JCC. She was a founding committee member who helped develop a strategic merger plan.

In 2019, Rhonda accepted the position of chair of the Bornstein Leadership Program to help grow and strengthen the future leadership of the Orlando Jewish community. As chair, she recognized the need for recruiting volunteers and successfully revamped the program. Rhonda and her cochairs are proud and excited to be welcoming the class of 2024-25 next month.

Ann Conley

When meeting Ann Conley, it is hard to not notice her compassion and warmth. Ann has always had a heart full of love for her community, especially children, and has always felt drawn to Judaism.

When Ann married and moved to Orlando, she naturally shined as a preschool teacher at the JCC, where her own children went to school. As evidence of Ann’s commitment to and excellence in shaping young minds, one need not look further than her 30-plus year career working for Orange County Public Schools.

When, in 1998, Ann’s friend Randa asked her to cochair a new initiative for Jewish teens, Beit Hamidkash, there was no hesitation in saying yes. It was the beginning of a nine-year successful collaboration with Randa that provided such a meaningful gift to the teens and their families of Central Florida.

Ann was involved with Congregation of Reform Judaism for many years, where she served in various capacities, including secretary, treasurer and co-president.

Ann has made an impact on all who know and love her, including former students, former congregants, her community, and her own family.

Shifra Yachnes

When Shifra Yachnes walks into a room, it is automatically illuminated by her presence. She can brighten someone’s day with her warm smile and naturally provides great comfort with her warm heart.

Shifra and her husband opened the Orlando Torah Center, a community shul in Dr. Phillips where they served as rabbi and rebbetzin. From its inception in their living room to a fully-functioning shul, it has grown into a warm and welcoming community of more than 70 families.

In 2018, Shifra continued to shine her light when she formed Gesher, a program focused on connecting and inspiring Jewish women in south Orlando. Gesher was the sister to SPARK and operated in much the same way. In 2020, Shifra and SPARK leader Sarah Gittleson decided to join forces, creating a stronger and more diverse family of sisters.

Shifra is a loving mother and wife, an inspiring leader, and a friend to all.

Sarah Gittleson

It’s no wonder Sarah Gittleson named her women’s division of JOIN (Jewish Outreach Initiative) SPARK! Sarah is the true definition of a spark. She is the authentic force of light and love that creates a connected and inspired community.

Sarah and her husband Gabi introduced the Orlando Jewish community to JOIN in 2014 in response to its growing Jewish population. A few years later, SPARK was created and along with it, a forum to help Orlando women engage in Jewish values, experiences, and community connection.

With her leadership and vision, Sarah has been instrumental in organizing and delivering meaningful opportunities focusing on education, inspiration, and connection. Over the years, she has taken more than 130 Orlando moms on the Momentum Journey to Israel, many of whom were visiting for the first time. She has planned and led countless events in the community such as Ignite and the SPARK retreat.

A proud mother, a seeker of adventure, and a phenomenal storyteller, Sarah sparks joy in all who know her!

Chani Konikov

As a child growing up in Bologna, Italy, Chani Konikov experienced firsthand the value and impact of community. Chani’s parents transformed their family home into the meeting quarters of their Chabad community (Chabad of Bologna), which was attended by locals, tourists, and students from a nearby medical university in need of a safe place to connect with their Judaism, a listening ear, or a warm meal. On a visit to Orlando in 1999, she and husband Yosef observed a pressing need for a sense of Jewish community in Orlando’s south side of town. In 2000, Chabad of South Orlando sprouted to life.

Starting with Hebrew School classes, Mommy and Me sessions, and programs for kids, the Konikovs began building places for Jews to connect, learn and grow. They also started Camp Gan Israel, which opened with an enrollment of 22. Today, Camp Gan Israel is the summer home to more than 100 kids.

Chani and Yosef opened the Chai Preschool and then the Orlando Jewish Day School, drawing families from all over Central Florida. When the community requested a place to pray, the Konikovs built a synagogue on the Chabad campus.

Chani’s vision includes quite a few projects for the near and distant future, such as the completion of a state-of-the-art mikveh; expansion of school property; creation of new programs for teens, seniors, children, and adults with exceptional needs; and opening more Chabad houses.

“It’s all part of the greater plan!” says Chani.

This story was originally published in print in Spring 2024.