Sisterhood Speaker Series 2022-2023

Purchase a full series subscription or register for individual programs here.
This series is for Beth El Sisterhood members ONLY! Zoom only options are available.  

The following speakers will be speaking to us virtually on a large screen (the meetings are still in-person): David Katz - December meeting; Vivian Silver - January meeting; Ira Rosen - February meeting; Mattie Kahn - March meeting.

Krish Vignarajah – September 11, 2022 – General Meeting & Luncheon 
In 2021, Maryland’s Daily Record named Krish one of “Maryland’s Top 100 Women” and “Top 50 Influential Marylanders”. She has worked as a Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of State under both Secretary Kerry and Secretary Clinton and in the Obama White House as a Policy Director for First Lady Michelle Obama. Krish Vignarajah is currently President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service where she brings expert insight on refugee resettlement, federal immigration policy and care and custody of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children, and community engagement.

Boogie Weinglass – October 3, 2022 – General Meeting & Luncheon
Leonard “Boogie” Weinglass is renowned as an American businessman and philanthropist, and for his extraordinary journey from poverty to unprecedented retail success. The son of Holocaust survivors, he was born into the poorest immigrant neighborhood of Baltimore in 1941. He founded his first retail store at the age of 27 and built an empire of 1,476 stores known as Merry-Go-Round. In the early 1990s Merry-Go–Round was traded on the New York Stock Exchange topping a billion dollars in annual sales. His philanthropic largesse has enriched the lives of hundreds of underprivileged youth, as well as struggling individuals and families nationwide. He resides part-time in Baltimore, Florida and Aspen.

Kevin Latham – November 7, 2022 – General Meeting & Luncheon
Kevin Latham, a retired 30 year naval officer, was an Intelligence Officer who served in the White House, the Defense Intelligence Agency, Office of Naval Intelligence and the American Embassy Moscow, during the breakup of the Soviet bloc. He completed his Navel career by establishing and directing the Navy’s Anti- terrorism Analysis Office, immediately following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Upon his naval retirement, Capt. Lathan joined an international consulting firm to help develop advanced intelligence analysis techniques for the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense in support of the Global War on Terror.

David Katz – December 5, 2022 - General Meeting & Luncheon
David Katz is Founder and CEO of Global Security Group, Inc., based in New York City. His firm provides a variety of security, investigative & life safety services as well as specialized tactical training. David is a former senior special agent for the Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and is experienced in conducting complex investigations and directing undercover and tactical operations. He is known for his Active Shooter Response programs and is frequently asked to provide expert commentary on national and locally broadcast television and radio shows such as MSNBC and CNN. David also has a law degree and is a published author. He will be giving us advice on how to stay safe in today’s world. *Speaker will speak to us virtually on a large screen; the meeting is still in-person. 

Vivian Silver – January 9, 2023 – General Meeting & Luncheon
Born in Canada, Vivian has been a kibbutz member for over 45 years. Her current kibbutz borders the Gaza Strip. During the late 60’s she realized that she was destined to become a social change and peace activist. Vivian is the former co- executive director of AJEEC-NISPED (Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment and Co-operation, Negev Institute for Peace & Development) where she worked with Palestinian organizations on joint people-to-people projects, and empowerment projects with Bedouins in the Negev. Vivian is now a Central Committee member of Women Wage Peace, an organization that aims to bring about the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by means of an honorable, non-violent mutually accepted solution. Joining Vivian will be a female member of the Bedouin community. *Speaker will speak to us virtually on a large screen; the meeting is still in-person. 

Ira Rosen – February 6, 2023 – General Meeting & Luncheon
For nearly twenty-five years, Ira Rosen has been a producer for some of the most memorable, important, and groundbreaking stories for 60 Minutes. His career catapulted him to the heights of broadcast journalism, breaking some of the most important stories in TV news. Behind the scenes was a war room of clashing producers and anchors. He was also a senior producer of Primetime News and 20/20. Rosen has won 24 National Emmys, four DuPont Awards, two RFK Awards, and two Peabody’s for his work. His new book is Ticking Clock: Behind the Scenes at 60 Minutes. *Speaker will speak to us virtually on a large screen; the meeting is still in-person. 

Mattie Kahn – March 6, 2023 – General Meeting & Luncheon
Mattie Kahn is an award-winning writer who lives in New York where she covers politics, style, and culture.  Mattie, an avid public speaker, has been interviewed on television, at live events, and in various publications. Her work has been covered in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Jezebel, CNN, New York Magazine, and HuffPost, among other outlets. She is the former culture director of Glamour, where she edited and wrote features on politics and women’s issues and helped oversee the brand’s Women of the Year Awards. Previously, she was a staff editor at ELLE.com. Her first book—about how girls have shaped America's social movements—is forthcoming from Viking. *Speaker will speak to us virtually on a large screen; the meeting is still in-person. 

Liz Scheier – April 17, 2023 - Afternoon Tea
Liz Scheier is a former Penguin Random House editor who worked in publishing and content development for many years. She writes book reviews and feature articles for Publishers Weekly. She is now a product developer living in Washington, D.C.  Never Simple is her first book. Scheier’s mother Judith was a single mother whose devotion crossed the line into obsession, and — when in the grips of the mental illness that plagued every day of her life — a violent and abusive liar whose hold on reality was shaky at best.  Never Simple is the story of learning to survive — and, finally, trying to save — a complicated parent, as feared as she is loved, and as self-destructive as she is adoring.

Jumpstreet Jazz Band – May 22, 2023 – Closing Meeting & Luncheon
Jump Street is a Baltimore-based group that was formed over 25 years ago. The band blends R & B, Blues, Funk, Contemporary Jazz, Funk and more. Their easy transition between these various musical styles, along with their vibrant personalities, makes them a true crowd pleaser for our closing meeting.