Mental Health Summit 2022 Presenters

Rahel Bayar, Esq.

Rahel is the CEO and founder of The Bayar Group, LLC which partners with K-12 schools, camps, youth and faith based organizations across North America on effective abuse and harassment prevention training and policies. She is a former sex crimes and child abuse prosecutor from the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, and a former Managing Director of the Sexual Misconduct Consulting and Investigation Division of a global investigative company. She is a sought after speaker nationwide on abuse and harassment prevention.

Rabbi Tiferet Berenbaum

Rabbi Berenbaum is the Rabbi of Congregational Learning and Programming at Temple Beth Zion in Brookline, MA. She received rabbinic ordination as well as a Master’s of Jewish Education from Hebrew College in Newton, MA and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Rabbi Tiferet formerly served as senior rabbi and education director at congregations in Milwaukee, WI and in Mt. Holly, NJ. She is a 2021 Covenant Foundation Pomegranate Prize recipient in recognition of her leadership in Jewish education. Throughout her career, Rabbi Tiferet has had a front seat at the intersection of race, gender and religion, giving her valuable insights into how different groups of people view the world and their role in it. She teaches, “None of us can control what happens in the world, but we each have the power to control how we respond. We need to access our spiritual core and fearlessly acknowledge our dark places, both as individuals and a society, in order to shift what we see going on around us. The shadows serve to remind us that there is also light.”

Romain Bertrand

Romain is known for his work as an innovative personalized learning leader, blogger, consultant, coach and practitioner. During his 20 years in education he led numerous education innovations including innovative coaching models as well as blended and personalized learning programs. He pioneered Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s math blended learning curriculum and was integral to the development of their Multi-Classroom Leader model. Romain has supported hundreds of teachers and in-school coaches across the US to use personalized learning as a tool for equity. He’s presented at numerous conferences including the National Conference of School Superintendents, ISTE and iNACOL.

Mel Berwin

Mel has 25 years of experience working in Jewish education and is currently Director of Congregational Learning at Congregation Neveh Shalom in Portland, OR. She is passionate about Hebrew language learning, creating fully inclusive programming, and integrating skills for mental wellness into Jewish education. Her other full-time job is parenting three teenagers, and when it’s not raining, she enjoys walking in wetlands and nature photography.

Rachel Buckman

Rachel is the Sr. Education Associate at Sefaria, working with educators as they discover new ways to engage Jewish text learners in the digital age. Rachel is a veteran teacher with over twenty years of experience teaching classical Jewish texts in Jewish day schools throughout North America. Her interests include promoting student engagement and developing students’ independent learning skills in a variety of learning settings.

Rabbi David Burstein

Rabbi Burstein has worked for the past 25 years as an experiential educator and was ordained as a rabbi from HUC-JIR Cincinnati in 2001. He has served congregations in Richmond, Indiana and Dayton, Ohio and served on the staff of Earlham College. He was the director of Kulanu - The Cincinnati Reform Jewish High School from 2003-2018 and is a national expert in teen education. He is known for his work in the field of spirituality and meditation and is an educational consultant for innovative and creative programs. He has taught mindfulness meditation for over 20 years and led over 50 retreats for all ages. Rabbi David is a recent graduate of the M2 Experiential Educator Cohort and was a co-creator of the Cincinnati Teen Collective Grant. He has been trained at Harvard College in their program on mediation and negotiation. He has also traveled with peace negotiation missions to Israel, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Northern Ireland. Rabbi David has played the hand-drum and studied meditation for more than 25 years, holds two black belts in martial arts and is working on his third in Krav Maga serving as an instructor. He has also coached youth, high school, prep school, and college club lacrosse.His greatest joy comes from being a dad to Emma, Coby and Nadia, and husband to Elizabeth.

Ron Clark

Known to many as “America’s Educator,” Ron Clark is the 2000 Disney American Teacher of the Year, a two-time New York Times Bestselling author of The Essential 55 and The Excellent 11, author of The End of Molasses Classes: Getting Our Kids Unstuck--101 Extraordinary Solutions for Parents and Teachers and Move Your Bus: An Extraordinary New Approach to Accelerating Success in Work and Life, the subject of a television movie and the founder of the Ron Clark Academy, an inner-city school serving students from across metro Atlanta. Ron is regularly featured on network and cable television (The Today Show, CNN and Oprah,) and was dubbed by Ms. Winfrey as her first “Phenomenal Man.”

Ron Clark currently teaches 5th and 6th grade, math and global studies, but in addition to his many duties as an educator, Ron Clark is a much sought after keynote speaker. During his presentations, he shares the uncanny adventures he has had in the classroom and speaks of his experiences teaching in Harlem. Within his humorous and heartwarming stories, he delivers a message relevant to each of us. It is a message of hope, dedication and the never-say-never attitude required to achieve goals and dreams.

Jerri Collevechio

Jerri is currently the Senior Development Director, at Prevention Resources. Jerri started her career in prevention in 2008, as a prevention educator and is now the Director of the Safe Communities Coalition in Hunterdon/Somerset County, where most of her time is spent on community level change strategies, collaboration to reduce substance misuse on prescription drugs, alcohol, marijuana and tobacco. Jerri is the marijuana workgroup chair in both Hunterdon and Somerset County.

Jerri has a bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, from Kutztown University, is a Certified Prevention Specialist and a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist, a graduate of a 3 week course on the Strategic Prevention Framework, sponsored by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America.

Jerri is the current Chair, of the Human Services Advisory Council, appointed by the Hunterdon County Commissioners, a 2013 graduate of Leadership Hunterdon, Hunterdon County chamber of Commerce, member of the Municipal Alliance, member of Somerset County Inter-Agency Coordinating Council (CIACC) past member of Crime Stoppers Hunterdon County, and is a volunteer at the Flemington Food Pantry.

Dr. Oshra Cohen

Dr. Cohen earned her B.A in Psychology at McGill University and her M.A and Ph.D in Clinical Psychology, Health Emphasis from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. She is the founding director of Cognitive Behavioral Health Psychology, LLC, a private practice which specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with offices in NY and NJ, as well as a consultant for schools on issues relating to faculty and students. Additionally, she serves as the Faculty Support and Efficacy Consultant at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls and is a member of the guidance department. Dr. Cohen lectures nationwide on topics related to education, psychology and religion.

Jordan Davidson

Jordan serves as Smart Approaches to Marijuana's (SAM) Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer. When he was 17 years old, Jordan entered long-term addiction recovery after struggling with cannabis use disorder throughout his teen years. Prior to joining SAM, Jordan worked in Connecticut politics at the state and federal level.

At SAM, Jordan is a principal communications staffer managing social media, writing press releases, and drafting Op-Eds. He also serves as the primary liaison between SAM and the media. In 2020, Jordan designed SAM’s Annual Report. In 2021, he created the SAM Instagram and TikTok accounts, on which he generates regular original content. Since he joined SAM in 2019, Jordan has specialized in youth outreach and substance abuse prevention. He has been featured as a guest speaker for numerous organizations to talk about his experiences with addiction and recovery.

Jordan is a junior studying Political Science and Arabic at American University in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Yocheved Debow

Dr. Debow is the author of the ground breaking book, Talking about Intimacy and Sexuality: A Guide for Orthodox Jewish Parents which is now in its second edition. An updated Hebrew edition has also recently been published.

She holds a doctorate from Bar Ilan University’s School of Education. Her research focuses on sexuality and intimacy education in the Orthodox community for which she received both the President’s Award and a Schupf Fellowship.

Dr. Debow has authored a Life Values and Intimacy Curriculum for Jewish Schools which is currently in use in Day Schools across North America, the United Kingdom, Australia and Israel. Dr Debow lectures internationally guiding Orthodox and traditional Jewish parents and teachers to educate about sexuality. Her approach is rooted in Halacha and Jewish traditional values while adapting and incorporating, where applicable, the knowledge base, understandings, and teaching strategies recommended by sexual health educators.

She resides in Alon Shevut, Israel with her husband Rabbi David Debow. They have six children.

Rachel Levitt Klein Dratch

Rachel is wholeheartedly invested in the Jewish world of education. She was a student teacher at Michlalah in Jerusalem before continuing her passion for teaching as a Hebrew school teacher and student leader at Stern College. Rachel has held meaningful roles at numerous day schools including: Frisch, Ramaz, Maimonides, Fuchs Mizrachi, Berman Academy and Beth Tfiloh. Rachel has also been director of SLED educational consulting. She spends her summers at Camp Moshava IO running drama and special programming. Rachel has a master’s degree in Jewish education from Yeshiva University, is a Mandel Jerusalem Fellow, participated in the Mandel Teacher Education Program and has served as a scholar in residence in many communities. Currently, Rachel is Prizmah’s Director of Educational Innovation.

Marc Fein

Marc is a Leadership Coach, Educational Consultant and Mental Health Advocate with lived experience of depression and over a decade of experience creating interactive workshops that have empowered thousands of individuals and organizations with practical tools to manage stress, provide emotional support, and break the stigma around mental illness. He has a Masters in Non-Profit Management and Leadership from Hebrew University and is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid as well as Experiential Jewish Education. Marc has also led 8 trips and over 500 students to Poland and presented at Yad Vashem. He previously worked as a speechwriter at Yeshiva University and Regional Director for NCSY. Marc currently works as Director of Leadership and Career Programming for Masa.

Sam Feinsmith

Sam directs the Educating for a Jewish Spiritual Life, Clergy Leadership, and Prayer Project programs of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. He has been immersed in the world of Jewish contemplative living, learning, and teaching for over twenty years, conducting Jewish meditation workshops and retreats for children, teens, Jewish educators, and spiritual leaders. Prior to joining the Institute faculty, Sam taught Judaic Studies at the Abraham Joshua Heschel High School (NY) and Rochelle Zell Jewish High School (IL) for over a decade, pioneering their meditation minyanim and integrating contemplative practice into the classroom to foster student spirituality as a foundation for well-being. Coming from a long line of musicians and hazzanim, he is a singer-songwriter of Jewish devotional chants and songs. Sam lives outside of Chicago with his wife Sarah-Bess and daughter Elanit.

Michal Fox Smart

Michal is Chief Program Officer of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality (IJS), guiding the work of the Institute’s faculty while envisioning ways to grow and deepen its offerings. Michal has crafted ground-breaking programs in personal and spiritual development for over 30 years. She previously served as Director of Ayeka North America, leading its programs to enhance spiritual development in Jewish day schools. She was Associate Principal of Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy, the Executive Director of the Isabella Freedman retreat center, and a co-founder of the Teva Outdoor Learning Center. Michal is a graduate of Princeton University (BA) and Cornell (MS), a Wexner Graduate Fellow, and a Fulbright Scholar. She co-authored Spirit in Nature and Kaddish: Women’s Voices. Michal lives in CT and is the proud “Ema” (mom) of five emerging adults, each deliciously different as people and as Jews.

Dovid Fox

Dovid is a forensic and clinical psychologist practicing in Beverly Hills for thirty seven years. He is a graduate school professor and has held faculty appointments at USC, CSPP and Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He has published in professional and scientific journals and has written one book and many chapters and articles. As a forensic consultant, he provides professional services to government and private agencies, and as an expert witness. His clinical work focuses on diagnosis, treatment, trauma, and religious and cultural issues. He has chaired national and international mental health conferences, and conducts professional workshops on Supervision, Law and Ethics, and on Crisis and Trauma Intervention. He is widely recognized as an expert on trauma and conducts training for first-responders for crisis and trauma intervention in Jewish communities across the globe. He is the Director of Project Chai, the Crisis Intervention, Trauma, and Bereavement department of Chai Lifeline International.

Olivia Friedman

Olivia is a creative thinker with a penchant for literary analysis, pop culture and Tanakh. She currently teaches Tanakh, Jewish Law and Oral Thought and serves as an Instructional Technology Coordinator at Ida Crown Jewish Academy. Previously, she taught at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, MD, where she developed the curriculum for a course comparing Western and Jewish thought on evaded issues and ethical dilemmas. Olivia earned her M.A. in Bible from Yeshiva University’s Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, MSEd with a concentration in Gifted Education from Northwestern University, and B.A. in English Literature from YU’s Stern College for Women. She served as Rosh Chinuch at Moshava Ba’ir Chicago during its inaugural summer in 2021. She has also completed the Orthodox Leadership Project, Matan Bellows Eshkolot Professional Development Fellowship, serves as a No Shame on U Teen Mentor, and facilitates the Erika’s Lighthouse Mental Health Awareness club at Ida Crown. Olivia has presented and spoken at numerous venues, including NewCAJE, Legacy Heritage Instructional Leadership Institute, Prizmah, NILI, Torah Educators Network YHShare Conference, Young Israel of Skokie, Skokie Valley Agudath Jacob, the University of Maryland JLIC and Kemp Mill Synagogue. Her articles have been published in The Lehrhaus, Tablet Magazine, The Forward, The Times of Israel, Jewish Action and Hypable.

Rachel Fryman, PhD LCSW

Dr. Fryman is a licensed clinical social worker with expertise in supporting individuals and families, especially with issues around executive functioning, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and learning differences. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Fryman is an adjunct professor at Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University and clinical social worker in the Learning Resource Program at Adelphi University. She has years of experience in community mental health at The Jewish Board’s Boro Park Counseling Center and in high school special education administration. Dr. Fryman earned her PhD from Smith College, masters in social work and certificate in Jewish Communal Service from Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University, and is a Nishmat and JOFA trained Kallah teacher. She lives in West Hempstead NY with her family and enjoys reading, long walks, and volunteering for Jewish causes near and dear to her heart.

Dr. Laurie Golubtchik

Professor Golubtchik has over thirty years of experience in the field of education as both a teacher and principal, and currently as an adjunct professor at both Touro and St. John’s Graduate Schools of Education. A doctoral candidate at Fordham University, she is currently writing her dissertation titled, Developing Pre-Service Preparation Candidates’ Abilities and Self-Efficacy in Evidence-Based Classroom Management Skills and Strategies. Passionate about helping schools and teachers solve the REAL problems they face, she builds depth and sustainability into every solution. Dr. Golubtchik has developed and conducted multiple professional development seminars and workshops for schools and both pre-service and classroom teachers.

Sharon Goldstein

Sharon has worked with children and families for more than 25 years. Sharon joined Gateways: Access to Jewish Education as the director of day school programs in 2009 and oversees day school services and several inclusion and mental health grant initiatives. Sharon began her career as a social worker at Jewish Child Care Association in New York and then worked as the director of early childhood services at The Home for Little Wanderers in Boston, where she managed programs in early intervention, therapeutic childcare, and the development of an early childhood system of care. Sharon received Bachelor degrees in Psychology and Hebrew and Semitic Studies from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She holds Masters in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work and in Jewish Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary. She is a licensed clinical social worker.

Rabbi Dr. Saul Haimoff

Rabbi Dr. Haimoff is NYS licensed clinical psychologist in private practice, with a specialty in treating children, adolescents and young adults with anxiety and behavioral disorders. He received his PsyD from Long Island University and rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University. He has many years of experience in education and programming in the Jewish community. He currently serves as the Program Director and Associate Rabbi of the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach and previously served as the Head Rabbi of The Brandeis School in Lawrence, NY. Additionally, he is the co-author of the Handbook of Torah and Mental Health, which catalogs over 50 Jewish sources that are related to mental health treatments, diagnoses and theories, and are supported by peer-reviewed studies. He has given lectures, workshops and trainings to clinicians, schools, parents and the general community on various topics related to religion and mental health.

Emily Heeren

Emily has spent her career working with youth and young adults both in and outside of the formal classroom. With a foundation in experiential learning, Emily has applied her skills in high school special education, higher education, Jewish education, outdoor education, and mental health settings. Emily has a masters degree in Curriculum and Teaching with a concentration in Special Education from Boston University.

Ariella Hellman

Ariella is the Senior Vice President for Public Policy & Advocacy at ADAC, an education consulting firm focusing on the needs of nonpublic schools. Prior to joining ADAC, Ariella served as the Director of the Day School Initiative at Combined Jewish Philanthropies where she led all day school related efforts for CJP on behalf of the 14 Greater Boston Jewish day schools. Ariella also previously served as the Associate Director of Government Affairs at the Jewish Community Relations Council in Boston where she advocated for key priorities on behalf of Jewish community. One of her core areas of focus in these roles was accessing and implementing federal, state and local education funding for the Jewish day schools. Ariella holds a juris doctor (JD) from the Fordham University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Yeshiva University.

Paul Hyry-Dermith, Ed.D.

Paul is Director of the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health’s BRYT program, which helps schools develop interventions offering integrated academic, therapeutic, family, and care coordination support to young people who have missed extensive amounts of learning due to serious mental health and other medical challenges. He is a former school principal and assistant superintendent in Holyoke, Massachusetts, with additional experience in adult and family learning, public health, community organizing, and college instruction.

Dr. Jonathan Jenkins

Dr. Jenkins, Psy.D CMPC, serves as Assistant Director of Psychology Training for the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and is a Co-Chair of the Department’s Anti-Racism Task Force. Dr. Jenkins is a clinical psychologist in the Child/Adolescent Outpatient Psychiatry Department and serves as both a clinical psychologist and certified mental performance consultant in the MGH Sport Psychology Department. Dr. Jenkins is the author of Wednesday Afternoons with Dr. J, a book that serves to whimsically explain psychotherapy and play therapy to young audiences. Jonathan is focused on helping clinicians, staff, and clients feel a sense of belonging in medical and community settings. Jonathan is also interested in assisting individuals with fostering personal growth and resilience via the incorporation of performance and positive psychology strategies. Dr. Jenkins completed his predoctoral internship at Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School and his postdoctoral fellowship in autism at The Help Group in Sherman Oaks, California. Dr. Jenkins also founded a private practice called Mental Fitness and Psychotherapy that serves the emotional and performance needs of those within the Greater Boston community.

Erich Kaufman

Erich helps adults and teens recover from anxiety, mood disorders, and addiction. He provides individual, couples and family therapy. In addition to his work in private practice, he is an addictions therapist at the Retreat at Sheppard Pratt. He has also served as assistant clinical director at Kolmac Outpatient Recovery Centers. Erich has a Masters in Counseling from Loyola University and a Bachelors in Psychology from Yeshiva University.

Dr. Michael Kidorff

Dr. Kidorff is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is an authority on improving treatment engagement and outcome in people with opioid and other substance use disorders. His current interests include the development of strategies for using drug-free family and friends to support recovery efforts and facilitate network change.

Dr. Jeffery Lichtman

Dr. Lichtman is Director of Student Mental Health Services & Director of Graduate Jewish Education / Special Education at Touro University. A school psychologist with experience in both regular and special education settings, Jeff received his Rabbinical and Doctoral training from YU. His areas of expertise include individual and group counseling, school and organizational leadership, and teacher training. Jeff was the Founding Director of the Rambam school in Baltimore and the Ivdu special education schools in New York. He is well known for his more than 30 years of Visionary leadership of Yachad, The Natl Jewish Council for Disabilities.

Beth Lipschutz

Beth is a social worker committed to supporting teen mental health in the Jewish community. She is certified to teach Youth Mental Health First Aid, Teen Mental Health First Aid, and QPR. As part of the Jewish Teen Education & Engagement Funder Collaborative, powered by The Jewish Federations of North America, she works with communities to coordinate these classes and support professionals in their facilitation. She is experienced in working with teens on community building, leadership development, and inclusion. She has also been part of the Camp Care Team at overnight camp.

Rona Novick, Ph.D.

Dr. Novick is a clinical psychologist and educator with extensive experience in school consultation, child and family therapy and psychoeducation. Author of Helping Your Child Make Friends, editor of the book series Kids Don’t Come With Instruction Manuals, and presenter on mental health and positive psychology topics.

Tamar Nusbaum

Tamar has been teaching all grade levels for the past thirty years and specializes in developing curricula, structuring scope, sequences and strategies to utilize classroom time to maximize student learning opportunities. She possesses both the technical know-how for curriculum development as well as the critical skills for classroom integration. She has created the Lehavin U’Lehaskil Chumash and the Ani Tefillah program. Her pedagogic approach ensures that each individual child and the class as a whole are engaged in a process of learning and growth.

Sigrid Pechenik, Ph.D.

Dr. Pechenik started her career working with felony convicted juvenile delinquents, which led her to pursue a graduate degree in Family Therapy to address issues more effectively from a systemic perspective, engaging family and community, not just individuals identified as the patients and in Clinical Psychology to develop clinical diagnostic and treatment skills. Throughout her graduate training she embarked in challenging work in forensic, psychiatric and rehab settings with individuals diagnosed with chronic mental illness and those recovering from traumatic brain injuries. As Associate Director for the Center of Multicultural Human Services in Washington DC, she worked with immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, co-developing the center’s Program for Survivors of Politically Motivated Torture and Severe Trauma. As Associate Director of the Counseling and Psychological Services at Cornell University, she developed and implemented non-traditional mental health services for students who under-utilized traditional campus mental health services and were over-represented in suicide deaths. For the past 11 years, Dr. Pechenik has served in different capacities at the New York State Office Mental of Health, where she currently provides statewide clinical leadership in the field of suicide prevention and treatment.

Steve Perla

Esther Rbibo

Esther is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and credentialed School Counselor. Having served clients across Los Angeles for more than 10 years, Esther is deeply empathic and strives to build trusting relationships with each person she works with. 

Esther received first her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and then her Master of Sciences as an MFT and School Counselor from California State
University, Northridge. First becoming interested in psychotherapy as a way to address the mental health needs of the greater Jewish community, Esther continues to work to reduce stigma towards obtaining such support so that resources are available to more people.

Esther works with children, youth and adults in both clinical and school settings. Passionate about the work that she does, Esther strives to continuously grow as a professional. As such, Esther has participated in the school counselor cohort at Prizmah and is now helping to coordinate and facilitate the curriculum development program. Esther has a holistic approach and incorporates different therapeutic disciplines and technique in her
practice, always striving to see the whole person within the larger context of their experience.

Michelle Renfrow

Michelle is an artist, Jewish educator, and a Licensed Professional Counselor who has worked in both the clinical field and Jewish education for over twenty years. Michelle’s love of art has spilled over into almost every area of her life and she has created fun and engaging opportunities to teach others!

Deborah Grayson Riegel

Deborah is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and consultant who teaches leadership communication for Wharton Business School, Duke Corporate Education, Columbia Business School’s Women in Leadership Program, and the Beijing International MBA Program at Peking University. She writes for Harvard Business Review, Inc., Psychology Today, Forbes, and Fast Company, and has been featured in Bloomberg Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. She is the author of Go to Help: 31 Strategies to Offer, Ask for, and Accept Help and Overcoming Overthinking: 36 Ways to Tame Anxiety for Work, School, and Life. She consults and speaks for clients including Amazon, BlackRock, Google, JCC Association, Jewish Federations of North America, PepsiCo, Prizmah, and The United States Army. You can find her online at www.deborahgraysonriegel.com.

Rebecca Ruberg

Rebecca serves as a Teen Education and Engagement consultant at the Jewish Education Project with a focus on mental health and wellness and youth serving organizations. She has previously held a number of positions focused on engaging teens and young adults in meaningful Jewish experiences. She is a certified instructor for the Youth Mental Health First Aid curriculum. Prior to joining the Jewish Education Project, she served as an Associate Program Officer for Legacy Heritage Fund and the Nachshon Project, the Area Director for the NY/CT region of Jewish Student Connection, and as a Field Worker for the Connecticut Valley Region of BBYO. Rebecca received her MA from the Hornstein Program for Jewish Professional Leadership at Brandeis University and concentrated her studies in informal Jewish education and engagement. She additionally holds a certificate in Jewish Philanthropy from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University, and a BA in Psychology and Near Eastern and Judaic Studies (NEJS) from Brandeis University.

Yonatan Sinclair

Yonatan has over a decade of experience in leading programs for teens and young adults in Israel and abroad. He was the director of all Israel programs for Bnei Akiva where he oversaw the management of thousands of students from tens of countries. Prior to that, he was the Emissary of Bnei Akiva and the Jewish Agency to Australia, overseeing the national movement. Yonatan has a BA, Dip Ed, MA in Educational Counselling, and is currently completing post-graduate studies in the Rotem Health Center at Hebrew University. He resides in Efrat with his wife and four children. Yonatan is the cofounder of the keshev institute for Mental Health in Israel. Keshev empowers teens, young adults, and those that work with them to strengthen their wellbeing and mental health.

Rabbi Noam Stein

Rabbi Stein grew up in Boston, MA where he attended Maimonides School from preschool through high school. Following high school, he studied for two years at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and then at Yeshiva University where he earned his BA in English Literature and his rabbinic ordination. He has taught and worked as a school administrator in Jewish day schools in New York, New Jersey, Tennessee and Michigan. In the fall of 2021, he assumed the role of High School Principal at Kohelet Yeshiva in Lower Merion, PA. Throughout his time as an educator, he has worked to destigmatize mental health care needs and mental illness through educational programming and direct work with students and families. He is passionate about helping our Jewish community see the benefits of attending to mental health needs with the same consistency and openness as we attend to our physical health needs. Noam can be reached at [email protected].

Tricia Stern, LCSW, MPH

Tricia is the Vice President of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services at the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies. She is a psychotherapist with specialization in working with children, adolescents, parents and families and has also served as a consultant to nonprofit and government agencies to implement best practices for these populations. Tricia received a dual masters degree in Social Work and Public Health from Columbia University, a certificate in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy from New York University and is trained in many different clinical interventions and wellbeing approaches including being a Trained Teacher in Mindful Self Compassion and Self Compassion for Kids.

Laura Tierney

Laura is the Founder and CEO of The Social Institute, empowering students and their role models to navigate social media and technology in positive, high-character ways. Within two years, her team’s unique gamified social media curriculum, co-created with over 50,000 students, has been touted as the gold standard in the country. Their positive, student-led approach has been applauded by Melinda Gates on Twitter and featured by The Washington Post, NPR, and USA Today. Prior to envisioning, researching, and launching The Social Institute, Laura served as Social Media Director at the award-winning advertising agency McKinney, overseeing social media strategy for the agency’s leading global brands. Before McKinney, Laura honed her marketing and social media skills as a Social Media Manager at ESPN, helping espnW use social media to inspire millions of women and girls who love sports. During the 10 years she worked in social media, she helped build strategies and campaigns for leading brands including Duke Men’s Basketball, ESPN, Samsung, Coca-Cola, Travelocity, Oakley, and Disney. She currently serves on Duke University’s Learning Innovation Advisory Council, helping Duke imagine the future of learning both on-campus and online.

Levi Weinstein

After serving as a Ra”m in a Yeshiva High School for a number of years Levi was certified as a Drama Therapist currently working primarily with adolescents. Levi is also a lecturer at Herzog College in the department of Special Education. Levi is writing his PhD dissertation at Ben Gurion University on “The Healing Power of Law: the unique case of Jewish legal norms as interpreted in Hassidism” – suggesting healing rituals based on the Hassidic understanding of mitzvoth. Levi lives with Yehudit and their six children in Otniel near the Yeshiva Levi studied in. Levi serves on the emergency and sexual safety boards in the community. Levi is also a facilitator in Rabbi Dov Zinger’s Chabura program and is involved in the Rotenberg Institute of Jewish Psychology.