Sarita Gocial

Sarita Russ Gocial has been involved with many community based organizations over the past 35 years.  As President of the Philadelphia Region of Women’s American ORT she worked to involve members in social issues important to the Jewish people, as well fundraising to support the ORT program.  Her involvement included Women’s Division of Federation, JCRC, Israel Bonds, Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Workmen’s Circle.  She has also taught Yiddish to children and adults.  In recent years she developed a program to bring the lessons of the Holocaust to the larger community by organizing the first Holocaust Film Series in the United States.  Currently she chairs the Annual Memorial program for the Six Million Jewish Martyrs in Philadelphia, which is sponsored by the JCRC and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.  She has also been involved with the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival. 

In addition, Sarita volunteers at the Abramson Center for Jewish Life, where she runs the Yiddish Club for residents, and she leads a Yiddish discussion group at the Gershman Y. 

Sarita lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Morris.  They have two children and two grandchildren.