Meet the Team

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jean Berman

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Rena Boroditsky
Co-President

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Jean Berman - BOARD

Patricia Cluss
Co-President

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Jean Berman - BOARD

Charlie Rosenblum

Treasurer

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Justin Rosen Smolen - BOARD

Justin Rosen Smolen

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Kara Silverman - BOARD

Kara Silverman

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sarit Wishnevski, Executive Director

Sarit Wishnevski

Executive Director sarit@kavodvnichum.org

Prior to joining Kavod v’Nichum, Sarit (she/her) trained as an end-of-life doula through INELDA (International End Of Life Doula Association) and produced a podcast and a newsletter called The Be.Side Project focused on where Judaism intersected with the end of life. Sarit has worked for a number of Jewish organizations that seek to weave connections to ancient Jewish rituals and values through modern connection and understanding including OneTable, Repair the World, PresenTense, DOROT, and Hillel. Sarit is an alumna of the Wagner School for Public Service at NYU (MPA-PNP, 2012) and the Ruskay Institute for Jewish Professional Leadership (2017). Sarit lives in Maplewood, NJ with her partner, Ari, and their two-year-old daughter, Adira. Sarit is a member of the Chevra Kadisha at Congregation Beth El in South Orange, NJ.

Educators/Trainers

Dan Fendel - GAMLIEL

Heidi Katz

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HollyBlue Hawkins - GAMLIEL

Alix Lutnick

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HollyBlue Hawkins - GAMLIEL

Nina Rubin

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our founders

David Zinner and Rabbi Stuart Kelman

DAVID ZINNER & RABBI STUART KELMAN 

Kavod v’Nichum was founded in the year 2000 by David Zinner in order to connect the disparate Chevra Kadisha across the United States so they might learn from one another, share resources, and develop community. 

In 2010, Rabbi Stuart Kelman and David co-founded the Gamliel Institute as part of Kavod v’Nichum. in order to train and educate Chevra Kadisha Leadership. For twenty-one years, Kavod v’Nichum was led by David Zinner and stewarded by lay leaders and volunteers who were and are committed to the growth and impact of a progressive and pluralistic Chevra Kadisha movement in North America. 

The incredible contributions of educators and volunteer staff built the foundation from which we operate. We honor the wisdom and care that has been infused into the fabric of Kavod v’Nichum and are grateful that we are able to continue their work today.