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OUR TEAM
Rabbi Mark Wildes was ordained from Yeshiva University, but before becoming a rabbi, he received a JD from the Cardozo School of Law and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University. Since founding MJE 20 years ago, Rabbi Wildes has become one of America’s most inspirational and dynamic Jewish educators. He lives with his wife Jill and their children Yosef, Ezra, Judah and Avigayil on the Upper West Side where they maintain a warm and welcoming home for all. He is a hard core Beatles and John Lennon fan, and enjoys rocking out on the drums whenever possible.
​
Buy Rabbi Wildes Best-Selling Book
Join Rabbi Wildes WhatsApp Group
Check out Rabbi Wildes Facebook
Scroll through Rabbi Wildes Instagram
Subscribe to Rabbi Wildes YouTube
​
More about Rabbi Wildes at www.markwildes.com
​
Hailing from Great Neck, Long Island, Jill started to become more involved in her Judaism after finishing college at the University of Wisconsin where she studied International Relations. Shortly after graduating from Rabbi Buchwald’s Beginner Services at Lincoln Square Synagogue, she went on to study at the Shearim and Nishmat seminaries in Israel and the Drisha Institute back in NY. Jill completed her Masters in Social Work at Yeshiva University and went on to co-found MJE with Rabbi Mark (who she met in MJE’s “blue room”) three years after they married. She is the proud mother of Yosef, Ezra, Yehuda and Avigayil and is best know for her warmth and hospitality, having cooked for and hosted over 10,000 MJEers at her expanding Shabbat table.
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Email: jillwildes@gmail.com
Hailing from Atlanta, Rabbi Cohen received a BA in Speech & Marketing from Yeshiva University, an MA in Education from the Azreili School of Jewish Education, and his Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshiva University. Rabbi Cohen served as Educational Director and Rabbi at the Hillel of Rutgers and also worked at the Beth Din of America. Ezra also worked as a licensed Real Estate salesperson with Douglas Elliman. He is a frequent speaker and enjoys tennis, playing the guitar, and snowboarding. Rabbi Ezra, his wife Stephanie and son Shayne Isaac live in Chelsea where they host Shabbat meals, holiday events and classes.
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Email: ecohen@jewishexperience.org
RABBI PINNY ROSENTHAL
Fellowship Director
Originally from Seattle, Washington, Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal received a BS in Finance from Touro College, an MA in Education Administration from Columbia University and rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva B’nei Torah in Far Rockaway, NY. Over 750 of his classes are available on YUTorah.org. He also was the lead guitarist for Shlock Rock for many years. He currently enjoys teaching the MJE Lamm Fellowship, which has provided a year of intense Jewish education for MJE’ers who were denied Jewish education in their youth. Rabbi Pinny lives in West Hempstead with his wife Marie and their six children.
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RABBI AVI HELLER
East Side Director
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Rabbi Avi Heller has served as the COO of CharityChoice, the NJ Regional Director of Synagogues for the Orthodox Union’s, MJE’s Director of Education and the co-director of the OU’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus at Boston University. He is also an English and History teacher at Heichal ha-Torah in Teaneck and has been the Director of the Boca Raton Community Kollel, the Rabbi of the BRS West Synagogue and a Bronfman Fellow at Hillel International.
He received his BA from Boston University, rabbinic ordination (semicha) from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) and an MA in Bible from the Bernard Revel School of Graduate Studies. He, his wife Shira and their three children live in Teaneck, NJ, and he enjoys word play, learning weird things, gardening, good coffee and running and biking while listening to alternative rock.
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Email: ravavimje@gmail.com
CHANI PERLMAN
Senior Educator
Chani studied for two years at Midreshet Moriah in Jerusalem, and then completed her B.A. in Judaic Studies from Stern College. She earned a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School and is pursuing a doctorate in Jewish Education and Administration from Yeshiva University. Chani taught in the local Jewish Day School system for the past 10 years.Chani now lives in Bergenfield, NJ with her husband Alan, and their five children Donny, Margalit, Akiva, Rivka and Eli.
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Email: Chani@jewishexperience.org
DR. ADENA BERKOWITZ
Senior Educator
Dr. Adena Berkowitz is an honors graduate of Barnard College, JTS, Cardozo Law School
& the Washington Square Institute of Psychotherapy and Mental Health. She loves teaching and interconnecting her background in Jewish Studies, Law & Psychotherapy. Dr. Adena is the author of the best selling The Jewish Journey Haggadah and co-authored Shaarei Simcha-Gates of Joy. A practicing therapist, she lives on the UWS where, she and her husband, Rabbi Zev Brenner, their children and dog Babka, love hosting guests for Shabbat and Holidays.
RABBI KEVIN WOLF
Community Engagement & Educator
Kevin is originally from Bergenfield, NJ and left an indelible mark on his community after delivering a legendary bar mitzvah speech. From there, he continued to give over Divrei Torah, but truly made strides in his Torah knowledge when he spent two years learning at Yeshivat Orayta. Afterwards, he made the natural progression to study Computer Science at the University of Michigan, where he was able to garner a following of dedicated spiritual seekers who attended his weekly Shiur with Beer. After graduating, he married Allison and they moved to Israel where he studied at Yeshivat Torah V’Avodah and received rabbinic ordination. When Kevin is not teaching, he works as Product Manager for an Israeli real estate tech company, Cherre. Lastly, Kevin is also a passionate snowboarder, avid Citi biker, relentless audiobook listener, and competitive ping-pong player (challengers welcome).
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Email: Kevin@jewishexperience.org
ALLISON REICH
Community Engagement & Educator
Allison, originally from Queens, graduated as salutatorian from the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College. Her passion for Torah study grew during her time abroad in Israel, learning at Midreshet Harova, Hebrew University, and the OU/JLIC program at Yeshivat Orayta. Allison was also a fellow on The Nachshon Project, a Jewish leadership program that focuses on creating and strengthening Jewish communities in North America. Together at MJE, Allison, along with her husband Rabbi Kevin Wolf, enjoy teaching classes, learning with community members, helping out every other Shabbos at Friday Night Lights and AM services, and welcoming guests to their shabbos table! When Allison is not grabbing a cup of coffee with a community member, she can be found playing tennis with Kevin or shouting out the answers to Jeopardy!
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Email: Allison@jewishexperience.org
RACHEL LEONA BENLISA SOLOVYOV
East Side Coordinator
Rachel graduated from The George Washington University where she double majored in Marketing and International Business. Professionally, she is a fast-paced, detail-oriented, creative problem solver with a knack for customer service and building client relations. With sales and marketing background in corporate, Rachel joined MJE because she was looking for a more meaningful career. Never forget to smile and remember a positive attitude goes a long way!
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Email: RachelB@jewishexperience.org
Shana Davis
Community Leader & Educator
Rabbi Moshe Davis
Community Leader & Educator
JOSHUA ABELSON
Controller & Special Projects
After a 10 year absence, Josh was delighted to return to MJE in 2010. After serving as MJE’s original Administrator, Josh left to join Birthright Israel. Later on Josh served as CFO (acting) at the FJMC and Director of Budget and Finance at CUNY’s MacCauley Honors College Josh is delighted to see the growth that has occurred at MJE and is delighted to be able to help MJE – and its participants – continue to grow and thrive. A life-long East Sider, Josh is the father of three young children.
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Email: Joshua@jewishexperience.org
ZAHAVA SCHWARTZ
Fellowship Coordinator & Educator
Zahava Schwartz, a Queens native, recently graduated from Yeshiva University’s GPATS, with a Masters in Biblical and Talmudic Education. She is also currently completing her Master’s in Modern Jewish History from Revel. As the former Education Staff for New England NCSY, she has spent countless hours preparing classes for NCSY teens across the country. She also taught at Route613, a comprehensive conversion preparation program geared for students interested in halakhic conversion to Judaism. When she’s not in New York, she can be found in Israel (probably at Aroma, with a Diet Iced Coffee in hand) while staffing Birthright trips.
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Email: Zahava@jewishexperience.org
DEBORAH RIKER
Assistant to Rabbi Wildes
Born and raised in the Bronx, Deborah has worked with an administrative background for many years and is skilled in Event/Party Planning. Deborah has worked for Rabbi Wildes for over 14 years and is proud to be his assistant and part of the MJE Team. When she is not busy keeping Rabbi Wildes organized and on the go, coordinating room rentals or planning parties, she enjoys spending quality time with her beautiful daughter, JoAnna, a graduate of FIT who is now working for a hedge fund company.
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Email: driker@jewishexperience.org
JORDAN STECKER
​Director of Graduate Student Initiatives
Jordan Stecker is an empowerment coach and educator who utilizes and integrates theories of motivation, development, and personal identity to help people find meaning and community. He was hired in April 2022 to spearhead the new Grads.MJE program. Jordan has a history of inspiring individuals and groups through motivational programs and educational workshops that he has hosted at a variety of Jewish and educational organizations. He is currently pursuing two masters degrees and an advanced certificate in counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. He currently holds a bachelor's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Ithaca College where he served as the founder and president of the Jewish Student Union. He is originally from Long Island, New York and lives in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
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Email: grads@jewishexperience.org
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Adam Weinstein, President
Lewis Barbanel, Chairman
Michael Doppelt
Eric Edidin
Elaine Gold z”l
Danny Kaufman
David Green
Barbara Messer
Mayer Offman z”l
Louis Perlman
George Rohr
Richard Rubin
Harry Skydell
Nancy Waldbaum
Leigh Waxman
Michael Wildes
Leon Wildes
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Jason Demby, Chair
Moshe Bellows
Marnie Black
Azi Cutter
Yvette Edidin
Sivan Frank
Sharon Franklin
Tracy Gerber
Sharon Haberman
Edmond Levy
Jessica Morgan
Joel Mowbray
J. D. Papa
Gail Rauner
Davida Ruben
RABBI MARK WILDES
Founder & Director
Rabbi Mark Wildes was ordained from Yeshiva University, but before becoming a rabbi, he received a JD from the Cardozo School of Law and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University. Since founding MJE 20 years ago, Rabbi Wildes has become one of America’s most inspirational and dynamic Jewish educators. He lives with his wife Jill and their children Yosef, Ezra, Judah and Avigayil on the Upper West Side where they maintain a warm and welcoming home for all. He is a hard core Beatles and John Lennon fan, and enjoys rocking out on the drums whenever possible.
​
Buy Rabbi Wildes Best-Selling Book
Join Rabbi Wildes WhatsApp Group
Check out Rabbi Wildes Facebook
Scroll through Rabbi Wildes Instagram
Subscribe to Rabbi Wildes YouTube
​
More about Rabbi Wildes at www.markwildes.com
​
RABBI PINNY ROSENTHAL
Senior Fellowship Director
Originally from Seattle, Washington, Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal received a BS in Finance from Touro College, an MA in Education Administration from Columbia University and rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva B’nei Torah in Far Rockaway, NY. Over 750 of his classes are available on YUTorah.org. He also was the lead guitarist for Shlock Rock for many years. He currently enjoys teaching the MJE Lamm Fellowship, which has provided a year of intense Jewish education for MJE’ers who were denied Jewish education in their youth. Rabbi Pinny lives in West Hempstead with his wife Marie and their six children.
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JILL WILDES
Co-Founder
Hailing from Great Neck, Long Island, Jill started to become more involved in her Judaism after finishing college at the University of Wisconsin where she studied International Relations. Shortly after graduating from Rabbi Buchwald’s Beginner Services at Lincoln Square Synagogue, she went on to study at the Shearim and Nishmat seminaries in Israel and the Drisha Institute back in NY. Jill completed her Masters in Social Work at Yeshiva University and went on to co-found MJE with Rabbi Mark (who she met in MJE’s “blue room”) three years after they married. She is the proud mother of Yosef, Ezra, Yehuda and Avigayil and is best know for her warmth and hospitality, having cooked for and hosted over 10,000 MJEers at her expanding Shabbat table.
​
Email: jillwildes@gmail.com
RABBI EZRA COHEN
Chief Operating Office & Downtown Director
Hailing from Atlanta, Rabbi Cohen received a BA in Speech & Marketing from Yeshiva University, an MA in Education from the Azreili School of Jewish Education, and his Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshiva University. Rabbi Cohen served as Educational Director and Rabbi at the Hillel of Rutgers and also worked at the Beth Din of America. Ezra also worked as a licensed Real Estate salesperson with Douglas Elliman. He is a frequent speaker and enjoys tennis, playing the guitar, and snowboarding. Rabbi Ezra, his wife Stephanie and son Shayne Isaac live in Westchester. Rabbi Ezra hosts Shabbat meals, holiday events and classes in Downtown Manhattan.
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Email: ecohen@jewishexperience.org
RABBI AVI HELLER
East Side Director & Fellowship Director
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Rabbi Avi Heller has served as the COO of CharityChoice, the NJ Regional Director of Synagogues for the Orthodox Union’s, MJE’s Director of Education and the co-director of the OU’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus at Boston University. He is also an English and History teacher at Heichal ha-Torah in Teaneck and has been the Director of the Boca Raton Community Kollel, the Rabbi of the BRS West Synagogue and a Bronfman Fellow at Hillel International.
He received his BA from Boston University, rabbinic ordination (semicha) from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) and an MA in Bible from the Bernard Revel School of Graduate Studies. He, his wife Shira and their three children live in Teaneck, NJ, and he enjoys word play, learning weird things, gardening, good coffee and running and biking while listening to alternative rock.
​
Email: ravavimje@gmail.com
CHANI PERLMAN
Senior Educator
Chani studied for two years at Midreshet Moriah in Jerusalem, and then completed her B.A. in Judaic Studies from Stern College. She earned a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School and is pursuing a doctorate in Jewish Education and Administration from Yeshiva University. Chani taught in the local Jewish Day School system for the past 10 years.Chani now lives in Bergenfield, NJ with her husband Alan, and their five children Donny, Margalit, Akiva, Rivka and Eli.
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Email: Chani@jewishexperience.org
LEAH HASHIMI
Senior Program & Marketing Coordinator + West Side Program & Marketing Coordinator
Originally from Chicago, Leah Hashimi grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and graduated from Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh. After spending a year in seminary at Machon Shoshanat Yerushalayim in Israel, Leah attended Lander College for Women at Touro University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Leah is passionate about creating meaningful Jewish experiences for people of all ages. She was the assistant camp director at an overnight camp for Jewish girls in Pennsylvania as well as the Shabbos daycare director at a local synagogue in the Upper West Side. More recently, she worked at The Ramaz School in the Upper East Side as a Special Events Assistant where she helped plan and run their annual dinner. Energetic, dedicated and always willing to lend a hand, Leah is super excited to be joining the MJE team and looks forward to meeting you and getting to know you better at one of our upcoming events.
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Email: leah@jewishexperience.org
RACHEL LEONA BENLISA SOLOVYOV
Special Projects
After spending a transformative year in Israel on Young Judaea Year Course, Rachel attended and graduated from The George Washington University, where she double majored in Marketing and International Business. Growing up in Fair Lawn, she didn’t move too far and now resides in Washington Township, NJ with her handy husband, Daniel and her adorable daughter Blake “Bluma” Malka. When Rachel is not running classes & events, you are likely to spot her at the Texas Hold’em Poker tables in Vegas or on the Scrabble board. Remember, a positive attitude goes a long way!
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Email: RachelB@jewishexperience.org
RABBI KEVIN WOLF
Community Engagement & Educator
Kevin is originally from Bergenfield, NJ and left an indelible mark on his community after delivering a legendary bar mitzvah speech. From there, he continued to give over Divrei Torah, but truly made strides in his Torah knowledge when he spent two years learning at Yeshivat Orayta. Afterwards, he made the natural progression to study Computer Science at the University of Michigan, where he was able to garner a following of dedicated spiritual seekers who attended his weekly Shiur with Beer. After graduating, he married Allison and they moved to Israel where he studied at Yeshivat Torah V’Avodah and received rabbinic ordination. When Kevin is not teaching, he works as Product Manager for an Israeli real estate tech company, Cherre. Lastly, Kevin is also a passionate snowboarder, avid Citi biker, relentless audiobook listener, and competitive ping-pong player (challengers welcome).
​
Email: Kevin@jewishexperience.org
SHANA DAVIS
Community Leader & Educator
Shana Davis, nee Fohrman, received her undergraduate degree in psychology at Touro College, and completed graduate studies in Occupational Therapy at Touro School of Health Sciences. She has lived in many different places including Baltimore, Long Island, Israel and she now calls the Upper West Side home. Shana loves nature, drawing, sharing Torah, and scouting out adorable new coffee shops. Shana and Moshe got married to one another in March 2021 in sunny Florida, and now live in the Upper West Side. They love to host huge Shabbat meals and share their love of Shabbat.
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Email: Shana@jewishexperience.org
ALLISON REICH
Community Engagement & Educator
Allison, originally from Queens, graduated as salutatorian from the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College. Her passion for Torah study grew during her time abroad in Israel, learning at Midreshet Harova, Hebrew University, and the OU/JLIC program at Yeshivat Orayta. Allison was also a fellow on The Nachshon Project, a Jewish leadership program that focuses on creating and strengthening Jewish communities in North America. Together at MJE, Allison, along with her husband Rabbi Kevin Wolf, enjoy teaching classes, learning with community members, helping out every other Shabbos at Friday Night Lights and AM services, and welcoming guests to their shabbos table! When Allison is not grabbing a cup of coffee with a community member, she can be found playing tennis with Kevin or shouting out the answers to Jeopardy!
​
Email: Allison@jewishexperience.org
RABBI MOSHE DAVIS
Community Leader & Educator
Moshe Davis counts Yeshiva Shaar Hatorah in Queens as his Alma Mater; he studied, as well, at the Mirrer Yeshiva in Israel, and received rabbinic ordination in Jerusalem. Moshe holds a bachelor in Liberal Arts from UAGM. He grew up in Brooklyn, always a city boy- loving the hustle of city life and relating to people of all walks of life. Moshe is a tech enthusiast, enjoys hiking, talking about Jewish Law, and can’t wait to have an argument about any hot topic. Together, Moshe and Shana love to meet new people and create lasting friendships.
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Email: Moshe@jewishexperience.org
JOSHUA ABELSON
Controller & Special Projects
After a 10 year absence, Josh was delighted to return to MJE in 2010. After serving as MJE’s original Administrator, Josh left to join Birthright Israel. Later on Josh served as CFO (acting) at the FJMC and Director of Budget and Finance at CUNY’s MacCauley Honors College Josh is delighted to see the growth that has occurred at MJE and is delighted to be able to help MJE – and its participants – continue to grow and thrive. A life-long East Sider, Josh is the father of three young children.
​
Email: Joshua@jewishexperience.org
DEBORAH RIKER
Assistant to Rabbi Wildes
Born and raised in the Bronx, Deborah has worked with an administrative background for many years and is skilled in Event/Party Planning. Deborah has worked for Rabbi Wildes for over 18 years and is proud to be his assistant and part of the MJE Team. When she is not busy keeping Rabbi Wildes organized and on the go, coordinating room rentals or planning parties, she enjoys spending quality time with her beautiful daughter, JoAnna, a graduate of FIT.
​
Email: driker@jewishexperience.org
ANDREW HERSHKOWITZ
Director of Communications
After spending 6 years producing content in the sports media industry, including stints with Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report, Andrew discovered his true calling when he found Hashem hiding in plain sight in the text of the Torah. Andrew’s unique method of Torah education involves examining the objective and quantifiable properties of the Torah system, the shapes, numbers, sounds, and words that the Torah is composed of known as the Hebrew Aleph Bet, to reach a conclusion that it is impossible that a finite human being could’ve created a system so deep and interconnected. Andrew’s new passion is creating content to share this message with others; that anyone who takes an objective look at the Torah will reach the same conclusion that Hashem is real and good, thus enriching their lives, and allowing them to walk through the confusion and distorting reality that is the human experience with everlasting inner happiness and assurance that everything will be okay. He looks forward to integrating this message into MJE’s already stellar content including Rabbi Wildes’ podcast, Instagram videos, and more.
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Email: andrew@jewishexperience.org
AARON BLUSTEIN
Community Leader & Educator
One on One Learning Director
Originally from Scarsdale, NY, Aaron Blustein is a recent graduate from Yeshiva University's Sy Syms School of Business with a BS in Finance and a member of the International Honors Society of Beta Gamma Sigma at YU. He is currently enrolled in YU's RIETS rabbinical seminary as well as in the Marcus and Adina Katz Kollel at YU led by Rabbi Hershel Schachter. Aaron currently teaches 11th grade Gemara at Frisch High School in NJ. In prior roles, he was the Southern Regional Advisor for NCSY, an advisor on TJJ, a summer teen-tour trip to Israel and this past summer was the Director of Jewish education on YTT, a teen tour with 180 kids traveling throughout the West Coast. He got married this summer, to Leora, at a raucous wedding that even went viral with hundreds of thousands of views. Aaron enjoys playing basketball as well as playing the acoustic guitar, and singing. He is excited to be part of the MJE team and to help create more impactful and inspiring learning and growth for young Jewish professionals. Leora and Aaron look forward to meeting you and having you for a meal at their apartment on the UWS!
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Email: aaron@jewishexperience.org
LEORA BLUSTEIN
Community Leader & Educator
Leora, originally from Teaneck, NJ, now lives on the Upper west side with her husband, Rabbi Aaron Blustein. Leora graduated from Stern College with a major in nursing. She is currently attending NYU Meyers School of Nursing to become an RN. Leora was previously an advisor for NCSY for 2 years and has traveled around America and Israel sharing her love for Torah and Judaism with others. When Leora isn’t learning with community members at MJE or hosting shabbat meals, you know you can always find her at the closest kumzitz! Leora and Aaron are excited to spend more time with the MJE community and to welcome you into their home!
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Email: leora@jewishexperience.org
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Adam Weinstein, President
Lewis Barbanel, Chairman
Michael Doppelt
Eric Edidin
David Green
Danny Kaufman
Casey Levine
Barbara Messer
Louis Perlman
Richard Rubin
Harry Skydell
Nancy Waldbaum
Leigh Waxman
Leon Wildes
Michael Wildes
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Jason Demby, Chair
Moshe Bellows
Marnie Black
Azi Cutter
Yvette Edidin
Sivan Frank
Sharon Franklin
Tracy Gerber
Sharon Haberman
Edmond Levy
Jessica Morgan
Joel Mowbray
J. D. Papa
Gail Rauner
Davida Ruben
ADVISORY BOARD
George Rohr