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2023-2024 Board of Trustees Bios

Mount Sinai Jewish Center 2023-2024 Board of Trustees Bios

 

OFFICERS
President: Gilad Kopelman
Gilad is originally from Sunnyvale, CA and has lived in Washington Heights since 2007 as a YU student. He is co-chair of the Gabbai Committee, and is excited to serve a second term on the board, and his first as an officer. Professionally, he works as a credit analyst at S&P Global Ratings. Gilad, his wife Elisheva, and their daughter Maytal enjoy trying out new restaurants, jogging across the

Michael-Altaras.jpg
Vice President: Michael Altaras
 
 
Recording Secretary: Shira Garber
Treasurer: Sarah Schnoll
Sarah grew up in Cedarhurst and has been a member of Mt. Sinai for six years.  She is proud to call the Mt. Sinai community her home.  She studied Electrical Engineering at Cooper Union and works as an Engineer on Long Island. She also loves to bake and decorate cakes.  She has been involved with Women’s Hakafot and Women’s Megillah reading at Mt. Sinai as a member of the Gabbai Committee, and is chairing the Construction Committee. She looks forward to continuing to serve the community. 
Financial Secretary: Davida Kollmar
Davida Kollmar is excited to serve on the board for her eighth term, her first as an officer! She grew up in Edison, NJ, but has been living in the Heights since August 2013 (with a hiatus for the pandemic) and has been a shul member since that December. She has been a Gabbai since 2014 (co-chair since 2019) and has been a member of the education committee since 2016 (co-chair from 2017-2020). By day, she works as a data scientist for Lakeside Software, an IT software company.
 
 
 

TRUSTEES

Ari Adler
Evan Finkelstein 
Evan moved to Washington Heights in 2018 after graduating Rutgers University with a Bachelor's in Information Technology and Psychology. He works at SAR Academy as the Director of Information Technology. This is Evan's fifth year serving as an MSJC trustee. He has helped plan and run events such as communal shabbat meals and "Tackling Taboos" and is a co-chair of the Welcoming Committee
Shaya First
Shaya has called the Heights home since 2009, and currently lives across the street from Mt Sinai along with his wife Ayelet. He spends his days teaching Physics and Judaics at Torah Academy of Bergen County, where he also runs the Scholars program and is the 11th grade Mechanech. He is co-chair of the Mt Sinai Education Committee, and is also involved on the gabbai committee, where he serves as the leining coordinator. His hobbies include exploring nature, making groan worthy puns, and studying Jewish History. 
Caleb Fischer
Caleb grew up in Columbus, Ohio and moved to Washington Heights in 2011 to pursue his MA in Ancient Jewish History from Yeshiva University and Semikha from RIETS. He has been working with Jewish institutions for over a decade in multiple capacities and currently serves as the Director of Development for the Met Council on Jewish Poverty. Caleb and his wife, Channa, love raising their family in the Heights, are proud Mini Sinai parents, and can't imagine living anywhere else.
Becca Gelberman
Becca Gelberman is excited for her first year on the board! Originally from Teaneck, New Jersey, Becca has been living in the heights since 2016. Working as a non profit accountant, Becca enjoys being involved in organizations both professionally and personally. She has volunteering as a member of the events committee this past year and looks forward to growing her involvement. 

Laura Levin-Dando
Laura has lived in Washington Heights since 2013. After working as a lawyer in the non-profit art world for nearly a decade, Laura now spends her days as a career counselor for future lawyers. Outside of work, Laura enjoys cooking and baking all things Alison Roman, spending time in local parks, and watching music documentaries. She is proud to be a member of the Mount Sinai community and looks forward to serving on the board.
Caroline Morganti
Mark Rozenberg
Rachel Shafier
Rivka Press Schwartz
Rivka Press Schwartz has lived in Washington Heights since 1999, and remembers when the Heights had multiple kosher butchers, bakeries, and a kosher grocery store in what's now the Spoiled Brats pet store. She has been active in Mt. Sinai since 2009, as Rebbetzin for 10 years and as a frequent speaker at various shul programs. Rivka's five children have grown up in the embrace of the Mt. Sinai and Washington Heights community. In her day job, Rivka serves as an administrator at SAR High School and its affiliated research arm, Machon Siach. Much to her own surprise, Rivka has in recent years become a fairly serious hiker.
Yael Simpser
Malka Sigal
Gila Stadler
Gila has lived in Washington Heights since 2006, and has been an active member of Mt. Sinai since then. She and her husband Naftali Polachek have three sons.  Gila has served on the board and several committees, including the meals for new parents committee. Naftali and Gila have also worked to create busing options to Jewish elementary schools, to give more educational options to those who want to raise families in Washington Heights. Professionally, Gila works in public health, supporting primary care practices around NYC through her work at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
 
 
 

 

Sat, July 27 2024 21 Tammuz 5784