Ira Thompson has been a Mitzvah cyclist since 2016, serving as captain of the Holy Spokes team. After he retired from his work as a programmer for the Internal Revenue Service, he increased his BCGW participation to include meal deliveries and transportation for patients and their families to medical appointments.

In addition to volunteering for BCGW, Ira is known throughout the community for the past 45 years as the organizer of Jewish men’s sports including basketball, softball, football, tennis, and volleyball.  He has also volunteered for Chevra Kadisha for about 20 years.

Pesha Rubinstein has also been a Mitzvah cyclist since 2016 volunteering on the Holy Spokes team. She retired as a project manager at GWU’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the end of November, 2025, leaving her more time to participate with BCGW as a kitchen volunteer, specializing in potato kugel.

Her other volunteer activities include the Chevra Kadisha (since 2014) and co-managing a Jewish-themed book club.