Melissa Green (mmgntx@yahoo.com)
After a few years of reading and studying and web-surfing and shul-shopping, Melissa happily found herself at Anshe Emet in the Jews by Choice Program. Through participating in the program, Melissa had the opportunity to learn to daven, to learn Hebrew, to learn about Jewish history and holidays, and to learn how to create and sustain a Jewish home. Melissa completed the JBC Program in August of 2006. Since then, Melissa has continued her studies of history, Hebrew, and mitzvos. She visited Israel on a Birthright trip in January of 2007 with her fiancé, Gai Walny. She looks forward to serving on the JBC Steering Committee, and would be happy to talk with anyone interested in taking a Birthright trip, which she highly recommends! Melissa is a paralegal at Hinshaw & Culberston, LLP.

Molly Howard (mmheurope@yahoo.com)
When Molly joined the Jews By Choice Program in 2004, she immediately felt welcomed into the larger community at Anshe Emet Synagogue. The comprehensiveness of the program and frequent dialogue with the rabbis allowed Molly to feel confident when entering into the mikvah. Molly’s dedication to the Steering Committee of the Jews By Choice Program is only a replication of the encouragement and support that others in the Anshe Emet community gave to her throughout this journey. Molly is a United States Probation Officer and lives around the corner from Anshe Emet.

Jeff McCollum [Chairperson] (jeff_mccollum@sbcglobal.net)
Jeff came to Anshe Emet in the Fall of 2005 after searching for a comprehensive JBC Program that would allow him to fulfill his pursuit and spiritual path of Judaism and went to the Mikveh in March of 2007. Through the program’s action steps, support of Anshe Emet’s clergy, staff and community, he wanted to serve on the Steering Committee in order to give back and provide future JBC participants with the same tools he received as a guide to living a Jewish life. When not in shul, Jeff is in Investment Management Compliance for Van Kampen Investments/Morgan Stanley Investment Management.

Yvonne Yang (yvonneyang1004@yahoo.com)
Yvonne joined the JBC program in March 2006, a year after graduating college. She joined by herself as personal choice. Yvonne grew up without any particular religious ties but always felt connected to the Jewish community. The Steering Committee is a way for her to increase her involvement in the community. Yvonne was a legal assistant at Jenner & Block and now attends DePaul Law School.