Hineni (hee-NEY-nee) means "Here I am" in Hebrew. It represents a willingness to step forward and serve. Our Hineni Volunteer Network is a program designed to help you discover and take on impactful governance and advisory roles in the Greater Boston Jewish community.
CJP’s Hineni Volunteer Network works to match experienced community members with Jewish communal organizations that need governance and advisory support.
Hineni might be right for you if you want to share your experience or expertise in one or more of the following areas:
Participating in CJP’s Hineni Volunteer Network provides you with:
How it works:
Please note: personal contact information will be kept confidential until confirmed mutual interest from both the volunteer leader and the organization.
You’ve got skills and strengths that could make a meaningful impact! We hope you’ll join us.
The Hineni Volunteer Network is currently in the pilot phase. If your organization is looking for volunteers for a specific opportunity please click here to share more information. Or if you’d like to schedule an intake conversation, please contact DaraK@cjp.org.
Karen Deresiewicz is a recently retired Human Resources professional who spent most of her career working for Harvard University Schools and large business units. She is passionate about effective recruitment, organizational effectiveness and has a keen interest in change management and HR communications.
Karen serves on the board of Jewish Family and Children’s Service, where she has also volunteered for JF&CS Journey to Safety program and Family Table. She serves on the HR Advisory Committee with the JCC of Greater Boston and also engages in select HR consulting assignments.
She lives in Chestnut Hill with her husband, Bob, and spends time on Martha’s Vineyard where she enjoys biking, cooking, and serenity. She is a member of Minyan Darchai Shalom.
Dr. Caroline C. Kaufman is a licensed clinical psychologist and operates as a psychologist and academic researcher in the Spirituality and Mental Health Program at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Her work examines the intersection of adversity, mental health, and spirituality. In addition, she also examines culturally-sensitive psychotherapy for Jews and antisemitism. Dr. Kaufman has served on the leadership team of the Riverway Project at Temple Israel, participated in CJP's Dewey Stone Kadimah Leadership Program, and currently serves as a Hineni volunteer. She is dedicated to living out the Reform Jewish value of Tikkun Olam as well as serving her local and international Jewish community. Dr. Kaufman loves to exercise, read, and spend time with good friends. She lives in Watertown with her beloved cat, who is also Jewish.
Leslie Zients Pucker is a clinical social worker with experience in infant mental health, parenting support and medical social work. She works with parents of young children at Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ Center for Early Relationship Support, helping volunteers in the Lauren & Mark Rubin Visiting Moms program, and facilitates new parents groups. Leslie serves on the board of the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, the Rashi School and co-chairs the Advisory Council of the Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston. She also serves on the CJP Israel and Global Jewry (IGJ) Shared Society Committee and co-chairs the CJP Hineni Volunteer Network. In addition, she has served in various roles on CJP’s Boston Haifa Connection (BHC), including co-chair of Parents at the Center, co-chair of BHC and co-chair of Israel and Overseas. Lastly, she formerly chaired the Board of Families First Parenting Programs and participated in CJP’s Cynthia and Leon Shuman Acharai Leadership Program. Leslie lives with her husband Ken in Newton and is the proud parent of two young adult daughters, Hannah and Bella.
Kristofer Wilson currently serves as a CJP Hineni Volunteer Network Co-Chair and a member of the CJP Young Adult Philanthropy Board. Kris began his involvement with CJP in the 2020-21 Dewy Stone Kadimah Leadership Development Program shortly after relocating to Boston in 2020. Kris serves as a member of the JCRC Council, the JFTGB Advisory Board, and the CJP Young Adult Community Impact Grants Committee. He also volunteers with the Jewish Labor Committee and Back on My Feet Boston. Before moving to Boston, Kris was involved with the Indianapolis JCRC and Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis. Kris works as a labor attorney and is passionate about creative, person-focused problem-solving. He also serves as a Judge Advocate General for the US Coast Guard Reserves. Kris holds a BA in Economics from the University of Evansville and a JD from St. Louis University. He lives in Jamaica Plain with his wife, Elizabeth, and their Aussiedoodle, Otis. He enjoys reading, history museums, traveling, and running.