Holly was born and raised in a conservative Jewish family in St. Paul MN.  She graduated from Highland Park High School and the St. Paul Talmud Torah  in 1985.  She graduated from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst in 1989 with a degree in history and political science with an emphasis on the Middle East.  Holly has traveled to Israel every 5 years for the past 30 years.  Holly’s first trip to Israel was a High School in Israel program in 1983 and she lived on a kibbutz as a dairy farmer in 1990.  Most recently she attend the wedding of an Israeli exchange student who had spent the Summer in her home.  Holly and her husband Jon are active members of Beth Jacob Synagogue, along with 3 generations on both sides of their families.  They are also active as volunteers in many aspects of their community, both religious and secular.  Holly's is or has been actively involved with many of the beneficiary agencies of the St. Paul Jewish Federation.  She currently serves as VP of Israel Affaris for NCJW, on the advisory board of the University of Minnesota Center for Jewish Studies, as a fundraiser for the Federation and as a host family for visiting Israelis.  She is also very involved in many aspects of Sibley High School where her children attend school.   Holly and Jon maintain a traditional Jewish home and family.

Holly is a 1993 graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School and lives in St Paul with her husband of 23 years, their 19 year old twins and 16 year old daughter.  Holly was on the team that founded the   Jewish Community Relation Council’s speakers bureau program in September of 2002 and has been a director ever since .  This program includes a group of volunteers from the Twin Cities and has been recognized locally and nationally for its excellence.