Get to know our experienced team of professionals.

Meredith Englander Polsky co-founded Matan in 2000 and currently serves as Matan’s Executive Director.  A 2017 Covenant Award winner, Meredith has published articles in various print and online publications, including The Washington Jewish Week and eJewishPhilanthropy.

Meredith is a nationally sought-after speaker on Jewish Disability Inclusion and is often called upon as an expert voice in the field. She teaches courses in Jewish Special Education at Gratz College and from 2014-2021 Meredith served as the part-time inclusion specialist at Gan Ami, a Jewish early childhood program in Rockville, MD. She is a licensed clinical social worker at her own private practice, Counseling Out Loud, specializing in Selective Mutism.

Meredith holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan, a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Special Education from Bank Street College, a Master of Arts in Clinical Social Work from Columbia University and a graduate certificate in Early Intervention from Georgetown University. She is co-author of the award-winning I Have a Question children’s book series (Jessica Kingsley Publishers), helping children with disabilities (and all children!) grapple with difficult topics. Meredith lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband and three children.

Jennie Gates Beckman joined the Matan team in the summer of 2024 as Programs and Partnerships Manager.

Jennie has spent her 20+ year career building joyful Jewish experiences engaging folks in community, relationship building and positive Jewish life and learning. Most of this time was in Federation settings (Boston, Baltimore and Omaha) in campaign, leadership development, volunteer management, engagement & education. She also spent time at AJFCA (now The Network) elevating the role of volunteers in Jewish Family Service agencies by launching national fellowship cohorts for both volunteer professionals and young adult volunteers. Most recently, she served as the Director of Education at a Reform congregation. Jennie earned her M.A. in Jewish Communal Service & Non-Profit Management at Brandeis University and B.A. in Studio Art at the University of Nebraska.

Jennie lives in Omaha, NE with her husband and two children, seeking out new adventures in food, restoring their garden with native pollinators, and photographing all the things.

Lauren Fredman is Matan’s Programs and Partnerships Manager, Early Childhood and Youth Initiatives. She brings over 20 years of experience working with children and a deep commitment to Jewish education, inclusion, and community building.

Most recently, Lauren worked at the Utah Office of Child Care, where she supported early childhood educators across the state in strengthening program quality and expanding access to professional development. Prior to that, she spent six years as Camp Director for school-age children and teens at the I.J. & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center in Salt Lake City. Lauren has also served as an Education Fellow with the Institute of Southern Jewish Life, supporting congregational schools across a 13-state southern region.

Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, an MBA in Nonprofit Management, and an MA in Jewish Professional Leadership from the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program at Brandeis University. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and two children, and enjoys spending time outdoors, thrifting, sewing, and reading.

Stacey Fromowitz has been Matan’s Finance Manager since 2016. She has worked in the accounting field for over 25 years and been involved with nonprofit organizations for almost 15 years. In addition to her work with Matan, Stacey is a paraprofessional for PKF O’Connor Davies in Woodcliff Lake, NJ.
Stacey graduated from Drexel University with a dual Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Human Resources. She and her husband live in Rockland County, NY with their two children.

Talia Horan–Block joined the Matan team in the spring of 2024 as Operations Manager. Most recently, she served as the Associate Director of Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake for the past 17 years, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the experiences of countless young campers. Her work contributed significantly to the growth and transformation of Sprout Lake into the vibrant community it is today, inclusive of two-day camps. Prior to Sprout Lake, Talia worked for Planned Parenthood in Detroit as a Health Educator. There, she empowered individuals with knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about their health, advocating for reproductive rights and comprehensive healthcare access for all.

Talia holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Michigan, complementing her undergraduate studies also completed at the University of Michigan. She and her husband live in New York City with their two kids and dog, Lola.

Michelle Steinhart is a Program Manager at Matan. She has worked in Jewish education and Jewish Special Education for over 30 years, in both formal and informal settings. In addition to her work at Matan, Michelle serves as the Director of Learning and Inclusion at Temple Israel Center in White Plains, NY.
Michelle graduated from Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and an Associate’s Degree in Judaic Studies. Michelle went on to earn her Master of Arts in Special Education at Hunter College of the City of New York. Michelle has led professional development sessions for various synagogues, schools and agencies and serves as a consultant for synagogues working to build inclusivity in their communities. Michelle was a 2002 recipient of the Grinspoon Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. Michelle and her husband Yaakov live in Rockland County, NY with their children.

Lindsey Lipsky is Matan’s Regional Engagement Consultant, working to expand disability
inclusion efforts across Jewish communities in the Midwest and beyond. Based in Kansas City,
she focuses on building relationships with synagogues, schools, and communal organizations,
and increasing access to high-quality professional development.

Lindsey brings nearly two decades of experience in special education, nonprofit leadership, and
community-based inclusion work. She also brings lived experience within neurodiverse family
systems, which informs her approach to supporting individuals and families with nuance,
respect, and practicality.

Previously, Lindsey served as Director of Sasone at the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas
City, where she led community-wide inclusion initiatives, including grantmaking, professional
development, and cross-institutional partnerships to strengthen inclusive practices. She is also
the founder of NeuroInclusive Consulting and serves on the board of ADHD KC.

Deborah has been working in the field of special education for over 20 years, serving students and families in a variety of settings. Her passion for special education was sparked when, as a teenager, she was a counselor in the Tikvah program at Camp Ramah in Ojai, California. Since then, she has taught in classrooms; coached parents; consulted in private schools with administrators and teachers on behavior, social skills, and inclusion; developed and led a special education program at a public charter school in Los Angeles; directed a vocational program for young adults with disabilities; and advocated for students with special needs in IEP meetings. In 2016, Deborah received a PhD in Special Education, writing her dissertation on the impact of an inclusion program in a Jewish summer camp on the neurotypical camp community. Along with her work with Matan and her private work with families and students with neurodivergence, Deborah is the Director of Student Support at Briskin Elementary in Los Angeles.

Marta Nemesh, a Matan consultant, presenter and coach, is an enthusiastic lead educator with a Master’s in early childhood education, curriculum and learning. With 20 years of experience in formal and experiential education in the form of early childhood, adolescents, and young adults. She works as an educator in an early childhood setting and is a creator and facilitator of workshops and professional development in play-based learning, child behavior & problem-solving, emergent curriculum, child development, and early childhood space design. Marta also coaches families, administrators, and teachers in identifying the individual needs of a program, teacher, or child and creating appropriate supports and tools to promote their needs and growth.

As a professional Jewish and secular educator specializing in disability inclusion and neurodiversity,
Deborah is committed to empowering organizations and communities to embrace educational best
practices and strategies that optimize participant engagement. Deborah is particularly dedicated to
deepening Jewish communal organizations’ understanding of disability inclusion, and guiding the
collaboration between clergy, staff and lay leaders needed to evolve the culture of inclusion. Deborah is
a mentor educator and consultant for Matan, the ARJE and the URJ, has served as inclusion specialist
and mentor educator for Judaism Your Way, and as a partner representative of the Denver Jewish
Disability Advocates Leadership Collaborative. She has guided the design and facilitation of community-
wide JDAIM (Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month) programs and various community
worship services and learning events, aspiring to elevate inclusive practice mindset, disability inclusion
awareness, and optimized engagement of participants of all ages and abilities seeking connection and
belonging.

As a Jewish educator and administrator, Deborah has created and facilitated early childhood, youth and
adult education programming, and has developed dynamic multi-generational family education
programs. Deborah has inspired educators and life-long learners to explore Jewish topics through art,
music, science and nature at NewCAJE and LimmudAZ. As a presenter for the Bureau of Jewish
Education of Denver and Greater Phoenix, Deborah has shared her insight into classroom management
and creative approaches to enriching student engagement. Beyond her roles in Jewish settings, Deborah
is particularly proud of her collaboration with faith leaders in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in the
development and implementation of a children’s multi-faith summer camp.

Stephanie Slater, MSW is a social worker who has worked in the field of Early Childhood Development and Early Intervention for 30 years. The beginning of her career introduced her to the benefits of early intervention and early detection, where she spearheaded the expansion of a birth-three program in a publicly funded, private school in Brooklyn, New York. Her family’s move to the DC-area led her to Adas Israel Congregation’s Gan HaYeled Preschool, where she has remained for 20 years. Through individual consultations and community-wide webinars, Stephanie has supported countless families navigating parenthood, and has significantly grown Gan HaYeled’s capabilities for supporting young children with developmental differences and neurodiverse learning profiles. Her work laid the foundation for a culture of developmental diversity and inclusion, and her vast network of clinicians in the DMV area has supported students and propelled them toward an upward trajectory for future learning. Her most recent accomplishments include the opening of a multidisciplinary evaluation center for children 12 months to 5-years-old, and a therapeutic learning group, aimed to prepare neurodiverse preschoolers as they get ready to matriculate to kindergarten; both housed within the synagogue-based preschool where she works. These initiatives were created to support families as they navigate the confusion around early childhood diagnoses and change the course of their long-term needs. Stephanie also serves as a consultant for the Matan Institute, where she develops workshop curricula and trains teachers on the benefits of early identification and intervention, while also supporting the social and emotional needs of the students.

Stephanie believes young children are competent, capable, and resilient. She relishes in their untarnished view of the world and is delighted by the joy they bring to every experience. Stephanie affirms that a child’s behavior speaks volumes and understanding its message and responding accordingly can have long term impacts on their self concept and overall well being.

Stephanie holds a BA in Psychology from SUNY College at Oneonta and a Masters in Social Work from Adelphi University. Stephanie has a Certificate in Early Intervention from Georgetown University, and is a Certified Children’s Yoga instructor. Her most rewarding role is mother to Sophie (23) and Macie (19) and partner to Matt.

Rebecca Wanatick is a Matan consultant, presenter and long-time Matan Institute Mentor. She received her Ed.M. in Special Education from Boston University and a BA in both Elementary and Special Education from University of Hartford. Rebecca is also employed by Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ as the Director of Disability Inclusion & Belonging, where she has been for more than 15 years. The department she leads, Greater MetroWest ABLE (Access, Belonging and Life Enrichment for People with Disabilities and Their Families), engages families, synagogues, schools and agencies in the Greater MetroWest community in creating a Jewish community that is accessible to all members. Rebecca has been married to her husband for 30 years and together they have two sons.

Leslie Epstein Pearson is a licensed clinical social worker and family therapist for over
three decades. For 15 years, she ran a consultation program called Learning Resource
Network (LRN) at The Jewish Board, a large mental health agency in New York City. At
LRN parents and professionals called her with questions about learning and child
development as well as referrals to resources. This work resonated deeply with Leslie
as she parented a developmentally disabled child into adulthood where he is now able
to live an independent life with minimal support from Chapel Haven the vocational and
life skills program he attended after high school.

For the past 5 years, until recently, she worked as a family therapist at an out-patient
and residential program for adolescents with Eating Disorders, called Back Country
Wellness in Greenwich.

In 2019, Leslie became certified by the New York Peace Institute as a mediator for
community disputes and in small claims court. This is primarily pro bono work that she
is excited about continuing in the years to come.

She continues to maintain a small private practice focused on marital and parenting
issues.

Leslie also serves on the board of The Lowell School in Queens that educates children
with learning issues ages 11-21.

Judy Barr is a native Washingtonian. She served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland until her retirement in 2023. During that time, she served as counsel for the State for the implementation of two consent decrees governing the rights of visually and hearing impaired incarcerated individuals. She has been an active volunteer and served on the Boards at her children’s schools and family synagogue.

Melissa J. Kopolow is a senior leader in global public policy, sustainability, and human rights, with more than two decades of experience advising Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, and international organizations. She currently leads the sustainability practice at the DGA Group – Albright Stonebridge Group, helping clients navigate complex social, environmental, and governance challenges around the world. Previously, Melissa served in senior roles at AB InBev and the U.S. Department of State, where she led initiatives to strengthen global partnerships and advance human rights and sustainability objectives.

Melissa’s commitment to inclusion extends beyond her professional life. She is passionate about ensuring that every child and family can experience belonging and access within Jewish life—values that drew her to Matan’s mission. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and twin teenagers.

Sarah Jacobs will be joining Matan’s Board of Directors through the Hornstein Board Fellowship, which places a Hornstein graduate student with a nonprofit board for a year-long learning experience. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Sarah is a values-driven leader passionate about strengthening vibrant Jewish communities.

Sarah currently serves as a Senior Development Associate at The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, where she works on the Annual Campaign team and leads professional affinity groups including Jewish Professional Women and the Lawyers’ Division. She also staffs the Pomegranate Giving Society as part of Women’s Philanthropy and Engagement. A graduate of Duke University, Sarah brings experience in fundraising, community engagement, and project management, along with a strong commitment to meaningful Jewish journeys.

We’re grateful to welcome both Lauren and Sarah and look forward to the ways they will strengthen Matan’s work and community.

Jason Lieberman was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a physical and developmental disability at the age of 11 months. At 18, Jason seriously began exploring the relationship between the Jewish community and disability community. After graduating from George Washington University in 2001, he joined the UJA-Federation of New York Task Force on Disability on which he served as a founding adviser, and joined the Matan board serving through 2013. In 2003, Jason became the Director of Government and Community Affairs for Yachad, an OU agency which seeks inclusion of all Jews in the Jewish community regardless of their disabilities, a position he held until 2006.

Jason received an MPA in Public and Nonprofit Management from Wagner School of Public Service in 2008. After graduating from Wagner, Jason became the Disability Program Manager for AIG, a position he held until 2011. Jason expanded his involvement to the broader disability community in 2012, joining the Board of Bronx Independent Living Services, an independent living center serving Bronx residents on which he currently serves. He advises, supports, and strengthens a community-based organization dedicated to empowering people with disabilities. In 2023, right as it launched, Jason joined the advisory committee of the Jewish Disability Inclusion News, a forum for diverse voices at the intersection of disability inclusion and Jewish life. He continues to be a sought-after public speaker, who has spoken in various venues throughout the US and abroad for over 30 years. He lives in NYC with his wife Emily and son Ruby.

Ilana Manspeizer has spent the past two decades at leading financial institutions, including Citi and Morgan Stanley, where she has managed high-net-worth client teams, optimized operational processes, and strategically led Private Banking and Wealth Management businesses through critical early-stage growth. A collaborative leader with a proven track record of driving results, she brings deep expertise in continuous process improvement, operational risk management, and regulatory compliance. She thrives in team environments and values building meaningful relationships.

Beyond her professional career, Ilana is deeply committed to giving back. Her passion for service has taken many forms, including mentoring students with Junior Achievement, supporting food security initiatives with Feeding Westchester, and co-chairing her synagogue’s Shiva Committee. A longtime supporter of Matan, she is honored to join the Board and looks forward to learning, leveraging her skills, and contributing to Matan’s mission of advancing disability inclusion in the Jewish community. Ilana holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from Brandeis University and an MBA in Operations Management from Columbia Business School.

Craig S. Maurer, CPA is a Partner at Lilling & Company LLP, with over 20 years of professional accounting, auditing and corporate and personal tax experience. Craig specializes in auditing Not-For-Profit, Investment Entities, Employee Benefit Plans, and Real Estate Co-operatives. Craig has experience in performing financial audits and compliance audits conducted in accordance with government auditing standards (Yellow Book) and those performed in accordance with the Uniform Guidance (Single Audit) regulations. In addition, Craig has worked with middle and higher education schools, medical practices, religious organizations, private foundations, medical research, arts and humanities, and social services organizations. He also has expertise with the preparation of the federal Form 990. Previously, Craig has worked at EisnerAmper, Ernst & Young, and other regional and national accounting firms as well as in private accounting as a controller. Craig graduated from the City University of New York Queens College, with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Informational Systems and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology. Craig is active in the AICPA and NYSSCPA and has published several articles on not-for-profit accounting and auditing.

Dr. Rachel Orgel has worked professionally in education since 2006. She is a proud three-time graduate of the University of Florida holding a Bachelor of Arts in Education, a Master of Education in special education, and a Doctor of Education in curriculum and instruction. Prior to her current position as a curriculum specialist for Montgomery County Public Schools, Rachel served as an instructional coach and taught in both general education and special education classrooms from Pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade. Throughout her career, Rachel has been dedicated to inclusion, equity, and advocating for marginalized people’s rights. With her husband, Adam, she lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, but considers Japan to be her home.

Kenneth A. Plevan retired from the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP after 44 years with that firm. He currently serves as the Chair of the National Advertising Review Board, a part of the advertising industry’s self-regulatory system. He served on the Board of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, and is a trustee emeritus of the Gateway School of New York, where he served as Board Chair for 13 years.

Lisa Samick is our Director of Early Childhood and Family Engagement at our Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC). She joined us July, 2013. Lisa’s professional track record working in top Jewish Early Childhood programs, combined with her academic pursuits at New York University, uniquely position her to succeed at Temple Israel. Her doctoral work, focused on questions of family engagement, beautifully complements our congregation’s vision for our ECLC, as well as our tot, toddler and playgroup programs. This holistic approach to Jewish education has been a hallmark of her passion and life’s work as an Early Childhood Director.

A proven innovator in the field of Early Childhood Education for more than 20 years with an emphasis on Jewish and family education, Lisa has particular strength in staff training and supervision, curriculum development and public speaking. She is a focused strategic planner with a big-picture outlook and has an outstanding track record in event planning, grant writing, admissions and exmissions. In addition, Lisa serves as adjunct Faculty for New York University in their Early Childhood and Special Education MA program. Lisa graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Education and child Development from The George Washington University and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Education and Jewish Studies with a concentration on Jewish Early Childhood Education from New York University.

Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson (www.bradartson.com) holds the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean’s Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University in Los Angeles. Rabbi Artson has long been a passionate advocate for social justice, human dignity, diversity and inclusion. He wrote a book on Jewish teachings on war, peace and nuclear annihilation in the late 80s, became a leading voice advocating for GLBT marriage and ordination in the 90s, and has published and spoken widely on environmental ethics, special needs inclusion, racial and economic justice, cultural and religious dialogue and cooperation, and working for a just and secure peace for Israel and the Middle East. A member of the Philosophy Department, he is particularly interested in theology, ethics, and the integration of science and religion. He supervises the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program and mentors Camp Ramah in California in Ojai and Ramah of Northern California in the Bay Area. He is also dean of the Zacharias Frankel College in Potsdam, Germany, ordaining Conservative rabbis for Europe. A frequent contributor for the Huffington Post and for the Times of Israel, and a public figure Facebook page with over 50,000 likes, he is the author of 12 books and over 250 articles, most recently Renewing the Process of Creation: A Jewish Integration of Science and Spirit. Married to Elana Artson, they are the proud parents of twins, Jacob and Shira.

Carla has dedicated her professional journey to cultivating connections, whether between individuals, places, or concepts. As a passionate advocate for amplifying the voices of excluded
communities, she most recently wove together her gift for ethical storytelling, her passion for
uplifting others, and her academic experience/Master’s degree in Educational Counseling to
create the Next Step Foundation’s Upili program. Upili, Kiswahili for secondary, engages
counselors with disabilities to provide group therapy for students with disabilities in Kenyan
secondary schools. This program provides crucial psychosocial support to the students,
parents/caregivers and teachers, administration and staff resulting in participants graduating at an equal rate to their typically-abled peers and thriving in workplace environments.

Driven by a commitment to fostering a positive organizational culture, Carla has created
initiatives aimed at enhancing employee retention amidst start-up’s rapid growth. Her innovative
approaches, including “stay interviews,” upskilling opportunities, and mentorship programs,
have infused company’s core values into daily operations, cultivating a workplace where
employees are not only motivated to come to work but also eager to remain with the
organization, even across thousands of kilometers.

As a collaborative leader Carla has developed and implemented comprehensive training and
support programs for cultural integration within organizations undergoing expansion through
acquisitions. Her approach, which includes individual and group coaching as well as fostering cultural inclusivity, has proven instrumental in navigating organizational transitions.

When she’s not working she can be found ambulating the streets of Austin with her mohawked
goldendoodle, Charming.

Cantor Rachel Brook has served as the Senior Cantor of Anshe Emet Synagogue since 2021 As a leading cantorial voice in the Conservative Movement, Cantor Brook strives to create a bridge of musical innovation deeply rooted in our rich cantorial tradition. Cantor Brook was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 2016, and went on to serve Park Avenue Synagogue as the Associate Cantor where she developed a popular inclusion service for families with special needs. Cantor Brook has performed as a soloist on some of the world’s most renowned stages including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, among others. She has released two solo albums and is a proud member of Shul Sisters: A Cantorial Trio, together with her colleagues Cantors Laurie Akers and Rachel Goldman. As an educator, she has taught at synagogues across North America as well as the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, where she curated and taught the Yeshiva’s first course on Building Singing Communities.
Cantor Brook received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College, and a Master of Sacred Music from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America. She served on the Executive Committee of the Cantors Assembly and is a committed leader to the vibrancy and relevance of Conservative Judaism in our modern world.

Liane Kupferberg Carter is a nationally known writer, journalist and advocate for the autism community. Her memoir, Ketchup Is My Favorite Vegetable: A Family Grows Up With Autism, is a winner of the 2017 American Society of Journalists and Authors Outstanding Book Award, and was a featured reading selection for Jewish Disability Awareness & Inclusion Month. She has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, PBS Next Avenue, Brain Child Magazine, Kveller, the Jewish Week’s blog The New Normal, and many literary journals, blogs and book anthologies. Liane is a recipient of the Autism Science Foundation’s Caryn Schwartzman Spirit Award, which recognizes excellence in autism advocacy. She has been a member of the Autism Speaks Parent Advisory Committee for the Transition Tool Kit, and wrote the section on Family Advocacy for Autism Speaks’ Advocacy Tool Kit. For 12 years, she served as a board member of Matan. She is an ambassador for C.U.R.E. (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy), and serves on the inclusion task force at her synagogue, Westchester Report Temple.
A community activist, she co-founded the special education PTA in her school district and the town’s sports league for children with special needs, and co-authored a parent resource handbook for the school system. Liane has a master’s in journalism from New York University and a B.A. in English from Brandeis University. She lives in Westchester with her husband Marc. They are the proud parents of two handsome, menschy sons, Jonathan and Mickey.

Joan is a certified school psychologist whose connection to this work comes from professional and personal experiences. She worked as a psychologist and department chair for the Mamaroneck school district for thirty years. Joan collaborated with Meryl Schafer, district social worker, to facilitate groups and workshops for siblings of children with special needs since 1996. They have been listening to children and young adults talk about their experiences. Throughout this process, they have collected data in order to better understand what it means to be a sibling of a brother or sister with special needs. Joan is currently a consultant for the Larchmont Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center and runs Parenting workshops. She is the mother of four children, one of whom is severely disabled.

Joshua Cohen is a Certified Public Accountant with over fifteen years of experience in accounting. As a CPA Joshua provides a mix of tax compliance, planning, business management and consulting services with specialties in Entertainment, Real Estate, Family Businesses, Entrepreneurial owners and individuals and families. Joshua loves being an accountant as he gets to help individuals every day and is constantly solving new, often complex puzzles. Joshua is a CPA at Mann Gelon Glodney Gumerove Yee LLP in Century City. Joshua got involved in Matan as he was diagnosed at age 32 with Epilepsy and has a specific point of view to help individuals with disabilities from his own experience and his families experience in supporting Joshua. Joshua‘s wife Jaclyn is a Rabbi in Los Angeles, and they have two kids.

Helene Drobenare, MSW, MA, holds a Master of Social Work from Yeshiva University and Master of Administration in Organizational Change Management from the New School of Social Research. Helene has been working with young people for 30 years. She has served on volunteer boards for the Charles E Smith Jewish Day School, Yedid Nefesh Mental health Initiative for Jewish Camps and Make a Wish Foundation. She grew up in BBYO and went on to work in their leadership camp programs at Perlman and Beber camps. She has also served as the coordinator for the March of the Living program, and the director of programs for Masada Israel Summer Programs. Helene lived in Israel for four years where she worked for TRACKS Adventures as Director of Youth Programs & Marketing. Helene has spent years committed to improving the lives of children in Africa through her volunteer work in South Africa and Tanzania. Helene has served as the director of CYJ Sprout Lake since September 1999.

Rabbi Sarah Fort graduated from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, California in 2017. She holds a BA in Government and International Politics from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. While in rabbinical school, Rabbi Fort was a Leffell Israel Fellow with AIPAC for two years and a fellow with NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change. Following her ordination in 2017, Rabbi Fort began working as the assistant and then associate rabbi at Congregation Beth Yeshurun in Houston, Texas.
Rabbi Fort focuses her rabbinate on asking and trying to answer the question “Who’s not in the tent?” In doing so, she tries to find more ways for more Jews to be a part of Jewish communal life who have traditionally found themselves, at times, “outside the tent:” the disabled community, LGBTQ+, Jews-by-Choice, the recovery community, those dealing with mental health issues, and more. She serves on both the Reproductive Rights and Strengthening Democracy Subcommittees of the Rabbinical Assembly. Rabbi Fort is currently the Rabbinic Trustee for the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and serves on the Advisory Board of Matan.

Anne Hromadka Greenwald serves as the Arts Program Curator for the Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County. As the founding principal of AMH Art Advisory, Hromadka Greenwald has consulted with a select group of artists, non-profits, museums, and commercial galleries to develop their goals and increase their exposure in the public sphere and marketplace. As a result, she brings a solid foundation of 17+ years of professional arts management experience. Following her double Masters in Non-Profit Management from HUC and Public Art from USC, she established herself in the fine arts world and Jewish cultural landscape. She has directed commercially successful galleries, curated exhibitions, and designed large-scale events domestically and internationally. Her curatorial practice is rooted in a love for storytelling – bringing together communities to explore their narratives in the public sphere through interactive design. As a creator and organizer, Hromadka Greenwald has consistently contributed to building the Jewish arts and culture field in Southern California and beyond.

The Hon. Matan A. Koch, Esq. learned at a very early age that the key to succeeding
with a disability was to focus on the many abilities with which he was blessed, rather
than focusing on those things that he was unable to do. Speaking from an early age on
the simple idea that we all have strengths and weaknesses and we maximize our
potential by focusing on the strengths, Matan has spent his entire life living this idea and
encouraging others to do so.

Whether consulting, practicing law, or even as a Yale undergraduate Matan has always
worked to maximize the ability of people with disabilities to contribute their talents. This
work formally began while serving as the president of the student disability community,
when he collaborated with the office of the President of the University to completely
modernize and overhaul the university’s systems to allow students with disabilities to
maximize their academic experience. During that time, Matan was appointed to his first
political office, as a Member and then the Vice-Chair of the New Haven Disability
Commission.

After graduating Harvard Law School, he spent two years in the general counsel’s
office at the Procter & Gamble Co. before moving on to an AmLaw 100 firm in New
York, where, in addition to a thriving litigation practice, he consulted with the firm on
issues of disability as they arose. In 2011, while still at the law firm, Matan was honored
to be appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate to serve on the
National Council on Disability, a role that he held until May 2014. After running his own
consulting practice, he spent the last five years as an executive at RespectAbility, a
non-profit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so that people with
disabilities can participate in all aspects of society. Having left RespectAbility at the end
of 2023, Matan is none the less committed to continue his mission to allow the world to
benefit from the talents of the disability community.

Orlee Krass is the Ramah Poconos Tikvah Director. Originally from Rockland County, New York, Orlee grew up at Ramah Nyack, going from camper to counselor to Rosh Edah. As a life-long Ramahnik, parent of young children, and aunt of a child on the autism spectrum, Orlee is committed to creating and implementing opportunities for all children to participate in the Ramah camping movement. A graduate of Jewish day school, the Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel, the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and Mercy College, Orlee holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Judaic Studies and Education. Most recently Orlee has served as the Director of Education at Matan, the Director of Camper Care at Ramah Day Camp in Nyack, and the Tikvah Network Coordinator for the National Ramah Commission. Orlee lives in New City, New York with her husband Matt, and their children Micah, Raya, and Gavi.

Amanda Morin is a neurodivergent activist, an award-winning author, early childhood specialist, and nationally known speaker, deeply committed to fostering accessible environments for all. She uses her expertise in learning, child development, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), special education and advocacy to distill complex data into easily digestible information for parents, educators and employers who want to advance the mission of creating inclusive content, programs and strategies to make the world accessible to all.

Amanda played an integral role in launching Understood.org in 2014. Her byline appears in many publications, including Education Week, The Learning Professional, ASCD, Edutopia, Parents, and more. Amanda has also worked with many organizations and companies, including Nickelodeon, National PTA, Hill Learning Center, Neurodiversity Alliance, and Matan. She serves on the Center for Inclusive Learning (CISL) advisory council, the advisory board of Digital Promise’s Learner Variability Project, the professional advisory board of Matan, and the Technical Expert Panel of the AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media & Youth Mental Health.

Amanda is the author of five books: The Everything Parent’s Guide to Special Education, The Everything Kids’ Learning Activities Book, On-the-Go Fun for Kids, What Is Empathy? A Bullying Storybook for Kids, and Adulting Made Easy: Things Someone Should Have Told You About Getting Your Grown-Up Act Together.

As of July 1 2025, Amanda will serve as the Director of Academic Services at Compass High School, an independent school in the Bay Area dedicated to serving neurodivergent students.

As a teen, Pamela Schuller had the worst diagnosed case of Tourette Syndrome in the country, a touch of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and a whole lot of pent-up anger. She spent years depressed, suicidal, and wishing her differences away. Over time, she started looking at her life differently and turned her obstacles and challenges into the very fuel that propels her. Now an internationally known disability and mental health advocate and professional stand-up comedian, Pamela’s stories of growing up in a body she had no control over are engaging, powerful, a little bit heart-wrenching, and unapologetically funny. Pamela has spoken and performed in six countries, in almost every state in the US, and for more than 25,000 kids, teens, and adults. She holds a BA in Psychology and Youth Outreach Through the Arts and an MA in Child Advocacy and Policy, where she focused her studies on creating comedy and improvisational theater programs as a tool for youth with disabilities to improve self-advocacy skills. She has grown that skillset into a repertoire that teaches kids and teens to be proud of who they are, communities to be deeply inclusive, and corporate teams to be innovative and learn to make smart, bold moves. Pamela was named one of the “36 Under 36” who are changing the face of the Jewish community by The Jewish Week because she gets audiences of every age comfortable, laughing, and learning together through storytelling and humor. Pamela doesn’t just “tolerate” what makes her different; she embraces it, loves it, and finds the funny in it… all while challenging her audiences to do the same.

Ben Spratt serves as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Rodeph Sholom in Manhattan. Rabbi Spratt’s Jewish journey moved through the Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Renewal, and Reform movements of Judaism before becoming ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary. He centers his rabbinate on the values of connection, collaboration, and belonging. Continuing the long legacy of innovation at Rodeph Sholom, Ben helps spark new initiatives focused on the needs of people, including: Shireinu, an inclusion platform for Jewish families with special needs that now serves as a spiritual model for synagogues and churches around the world; Tribe, a joint endeavor with Rabbi Josh Stanton to engage Jewish Millennials through grassroots leadership and a community of empowerment; Minyan, a Jewish small-group-based approach to human flourishing through connection sparked with Senior Cantor Shayna De Lowe.
Ben is a regular presence in written publications and podcasts, often with his co-author and colleague Rabbi Josh Stanton. Together they wrote Awakenings: American Jewish Transformations in Identity, Leadership, and Belonging and hold a regular column for Religion News Service exploring the changing landscape of American religion.

Rabbi Mira Weller currently serves as Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Rodeph Sholom in NYC. She received her ordination at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles in May 2022. She studied Culture and Politics atGeorgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and received her Master’s in Jewish Education at the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at HUC-JIR. She is the proud recipient of awards for her studies in rabbinic literature and her work in Jewish education. Additionally, she was granted the Myrtle Lorch Pfaelzer-Monroe Pfaelzer Award as an Outstanding Female Rabbinical School Student (2022). Since her time in rabbinical school, the torah of her disability has led her to become a voice of advocacy for inclusion for both participants and professionals in Jewish spaces.