Shalom Austin Volunteer Gladys Chandler. Courtesy: Gladys Chandler

By Allison Teegardin 

Gladys Chandler moved to Austin in June 2022 from the Bay Area in California. In California, Chandler was active at Temple Beth El in San Mateo and also attended many programs at the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto. Naturally, when the time came to move, Chandler immediately began researching the area for a new temple and JCC.

When Chandler first visited the Dell JCC, she signed up for email newsletters through the Shalom Austin Interest Form and learned about the numerous volunteering and programming opportunities. Her first volunteer experiences at the Dell JCC were with Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service helping with the food pantry and kitchen volunteering.

“Gladys hit the ground running,” Shalom Austin Volunteer Director Joan Eisenberg Maniere said. “I first connected with her as she was new to town and looking to get more plugged in to the community via volunteering. She has been regularly volunteering with Shalom Austin for the last couple of years. I am so grateful for her and her dedication to the work we do.”

In 2025, an opportunity arose for Chandler to serve as a bilingual Spanish interpreter for the interview portion with a recipient family at the 12th Annual Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt. BMBB is a partnership between Hindus Charities for America and Shalom Austin that functions as a fundraiser for school supplies as well as an opportunity to showcase our cultures through lively performances. Unfortunately, due to storm damage and subsequent power outages, the event was canceled.

Not born into a Jewish family, Chandler’s personal Jewish Journey began early as a child growing up in New Jersey where she had Jewish friends and even had an opportunity to attend services with them. Then, in the 1980s, Chandler met a nice Jewish man named Lee Chandler who she would later marry. “Although he was not religious, he was observant of the holidays at his extended family. As our relationship became serious, I reached out to his temple, Beth El in San Mateo, CA about converting to Judaism,” Chandler said. In November 1982, Chandler was the first conversion at the temple and two days later, she and Lee were married. In 1984, the Chandlers welcomed their son, whom Chandler now lives with in Austin.

Chandler, a graduate of the California Culinary Academy, says she began collecting cookbooks and making special holiday meals once she was married. “Lee’s mom Edna was a very good cook, and she would have us for dinner on a regular basis. In fact, I have her favorite cookbook “The Settlement Cookbook” 1936 edition with her notes and recipe clippings.” Two of Chandler’s favorite recipes from the cookbook are brisket and honey cake.

Chandler’s generous giving of her time also includes volunteering at SXSW, the Austin Film Festival, the Austin Jewish Film Festival, as well as with the Sisterhood at Congregation Beth Israel.

“Retirement is a great time to volunteer in your community, it’s also an opportunity to make new connections with people of all walks of life. It’s so fulfilling to share your talents with people in need,” Chandler says.