There’s a new team leading Temple Beth Sholom Sisterhood and Lisa Sakol, a secondary school science teacher, is its new president.
Installed for the 2024-25 term which began July 1, Lisa Sakol brings unbounded energy and enthusiasm to her new volunteer position. Nadine Kesten, a Sisterhood past president, served as mistress of ceremonies on June 20, while Ellen Walk, Sisterhood membership VP, installed Lisa. Outgoing co-presidents are Sherri Warshavsky and Rose Warshawsky.
Lisa is a very active member of Temple Beth Sholom of Roslyn Heights. Sakol grew up on Long Island, was raised in Syosset and is now living in Bethpage. She began attending various shul services and events early last year to find what felt like the best fit for her and fell in love with Temple Beth Sholom. “It’s a beautiful building, and it has all these amenities,” she explains. “But mainly it’s just a bunch of people I enjoy hanging out with.”
Sakol is incredibly active in her community, which has earned her the nickname “the mitzvah machine” among the congregation. But she gives all the credit to the services.
“Services have reinforced [mitzvahs] in me,” Sakol says. “That’s all it takes to be a good Jew; I need to learn and to behave well.”
Sakol is an ardent supporter of Israel, and she participated, along with members of Beth Sholom and two other Long Island synagogues, in a solidarity mission to Israel in February. She says the experience opened her eyes to helping others.
“I had never been to Israel. When October 7 happened, I was very happy to be comforted by the congregation,” Sakol says. “Otherwise, I would have felt so alone. You know, and we all went through this together.”
Sakol says more than 40 people joined this trip to Israel, aiding the IDF and civilians in a plethora of ways.
“Everybody said I should go and see the tourist sights,” Sakol says. “I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to go and help because I do like helping. And every place we went to was amazing, and the people were so grateful we were there. They couldn’t believe we were there! And it was amazing for me. I mean, I cried my eyes out, but I also had the best time.”
In her new role as president, Sakol hopes to continue strengthening and expanding her community.
“At this point, I want to try to get back going like the community Shabbat dinner, because I feel that our community isn’t many people I don’t know,” Sakol says. “I love Kiddush, and a lot of people don’t say Kiddush. So I want to try to start doing something once a month, at least bringing some people together as a community.”
Sakol also hopes to make services more accessible to children and keep them involved in the community after becoming a bar or bat mitzvah.
“I want to incorporate the children in some way because they feel they’re the future. And if we don’t get the kids interested, then you know, we lose them,” Sakol says. “I’m going to the kids and saying, ‘Hey, what do you want? What can I do for you?’ I want to get them involved, I want them to be comfortable and calm and want to be there.”
While her role as president is still fresh, it is clear Sakol has had a positive impact on her community since joining. Likewise, she has loved reconnecting with her Jewish roots and taking on a more active role in the community.
“In my temple, they say I’m the sunshine, happy to be there,” Sakol says. “I’m enjoying the services so much because I like to learn. Since I don’t know the Torah as well, every week it’s something new for me. And I love that.”
