About Us

Rabbi Ayla Grafstein
Rabbi Ayla Grafstein founded Ruach Hamidbar in 1989. She is committed to inspiring, educating and supporting members to joyfully experience and celebrate their Jewishness. Rabbi Ayla blends her background in the arts and traditional Judaism with Jewish renewal spirituality. Her mentors include Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi from whom she received her Rabbinic ordination. Rabbi Ayla is has produced over a dozen Jewish Renewal DVD's on Reb Zalman and other renewal rabbis, musicians and artists that are available through Spirit of the Desert Productions. She is also completing a feature documentary on Jewish Renewal. Rabbi Ayla resides in Scottsdale with her husband Steve Klemow and their twelve year old son Shlomo.

Randy Yavitz
Randy Yavitz is the President of Ruach Hamidbar. Randy is 52 and is a partner at Hunter, Humphry & Yavitz, PLC, a law firm specializing in trusts and estates, health care, and litigation. Randy is an avid gardener and volleyball player. He has a long history of community involvement. He is past Board Chairman of the Phoenix Chapter of the American Society for the Technion; past Executive Committee member of the Attorneys Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, and past President of the Stanford Club of Phoenix. He serves on the Board of Advisors of the International Cancer Advocacy Network (ICAN), a cancer patient advocacy charity. Randy reaches out to all members to bring their friends and relatives to share the Spirit of the Desert experience.

Ann Reiff
Ann was born and partially raised in Ventura, California where she was raised Reform. At age 12, while studying her Haftorah, her family moved to Switzerland and later to Ethiopia. Years later Ann moved back to Ventura with her family. Ann served as President of the Ventura County Jewish Singles organization for two years. She received her masters in nursing from UCLA and is a family nurse practitioner. Ann works at a family practice clinic in Gilbert and Chandler. She loves to ski and hike whenever possible and travels to Vail where most of her family lives. Her husband Steve and two children, Haley and Jeremy are also active members of Ruach.

Ann is a great volunteer and she is available to members that may need assistance joining Ruach on special plans. She can be reached at 480-225-7088.

Rabbi Ayla says: "Ann is a beautiful compassionate soul that is committed to tzedakah and tithing along with the healing arts. She really walks her talk! I am so happy that Ann has volunteered to reach out to those that are considering membership or High Holy Days for the first time.”

Debbie Weinstein
Deb was born and raised on Long Island, NY and has been living in the Valley for eight years. As a child, even though she was raised in a Conservative Synagogue, she was never given a formal Jewish education, taught how to speak Hebrew nor had a Bat Mitzvah. Yet, because of the strong European influence from her Bubby and Zaidy and the joyous holiday celebrations with her extended family, there was never a question in her mind that she was a Jew.

Deb's husband Val recently completed his studies and became a Jew by choice after many years of practicing Judaism in his household. Both Deb and Val feel they can have the deepest connection with G-d at Ruach Hamidbar. Their two sons attended the King David Day School and were a Bar Mitzvah together at Ruach. Deb’s skills in management and marketing has had a positive influence for the congregation. She has held several sales and marketing directorships though out her career and now runs her own sales rep company, D. Weinstein Sales.

Jennifer Blohm
Jennifer Blohm joined Ruach Hamidbar five years ago and is honored to serve as a Board Member. Her professional background is in staffing and recruitment for the high tech industry. She has a Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of Arizona. The Board is grateful to have Jennifer serve as the Secretary, keeping Ruach well organized. She also volunteers many hours to do follow up work with people that are interested in learning more about Ruach. Jennifer enjoys hiking, practicing yoga and gardening. Jennifer and her husband Joseph are blessed with their beautiful son Jonathan. The positive and fun atmosphere at Ruach is what first attracted Jennifer, and she feels privileged to be able to serve the congregation.

Lou Goodman

Lou Goodman was born in Pittsburgh and raised in a small, close-knit Conservative congregation in Warren, Ohio. He moved to Arizona in 1982 after graduating from the Ohio State University College of Law and has found a spiritual home at Ruach since 1997. He is pleased to be giving back to the congregation through his Board service.  Lou left the private practice of law in 1993 for the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections, where he is an Assistant Director.  He is active in legal and correctional professional organizations and previously served on the board of the American Jewish Committee, Arizona Chapter, as president of the Ohio State Alumni Club of Phoenix, and as a volunteer for AIDS Project Arizona, among other community activities.  Lou graduated from the Valley Leadership program in 2000.  He enjoys reading, hiking and traveling in his spare time.