Board and Staff

I have been on the JFHF Board since the Fall of 2023 and Chair the Ritual Committee.  My wife Judith Ullman and I moved to Hemlock in 2021 in part because of the existence of a Jewish Community here.  Visiting the Jewish Fellowship and being greeted by a welcoming smile sealed the deal.  I love that the Fellowship encourages people with different interests and levels f observance.  Before moving to Hemlock Farms, for decades I was very involved at my Brooklyn shul, the Park Slope Jewish Center.  Professionally, I worked as an informal Jewish educator and social service administrator, working with people from "cradle to grave."

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BONNIE FRIEDMAN

I am honored to be a member of the Board of Trustees for JFHF. I was born and raised in Queens NY where my family was a member of The Forest Hills Jewish Center. I went to college 1 year in Plattsburgh NY where I experienced anti-Semitism then transferred and ultimately graduated from The University of Maryland. I met Eric and moved to NJ where we raised our 3 children until moving to Charleston SC 19 years ago. Moving someplace with a thriving Jewish community was very important to us and I served on the Board at KKBE in Charleston. When we decided to move back north finding a Jewish community was again very important and having the fellowship right here in Hemlock was a big selling feature for us. As we embark on a year of many changes, I look forward to helping our community grow and thrive!

NAOMI LEHRER

Naomi Lehrer is a dedicated leader and lifelong member of the Jewish community, bringing over 12 years of banking experience and over 22 years of experience in education along with a strong foundation in finance and organizational management to the Jewish Fellowship. Born in Israel, her commitment to Judaism and service is deeply personal.

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Financial Expertise and Resource Management

Before her long career as a NYC Public School teacher (licensed in K-5 and Math Grades 5-9), Naomi spent approximately 12 years in the banking industry. This background, coupled with her degrees in Accounting, Finance, and Education, provides her with the expertise& needed for financial oversight and strategic planning. Crucially, in her career in education, Naomi is actively involved in technology procurement and grant writing for her school.

Dedicated Community Leadership

Naomi is adept at problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking, skills demonstrated through her extensive board and volunteer commitments:

• Brooklyn Community Board 18 Serves as Chair of the Youth and Technology Committee and is a member of the Capital & Expense Budget and Planning & Zoning committees.

• Board Member for the Sebago Canoe Club

• Vice President of Kiwanis Kings Plaza Canarsie - Website developer and Google Workspace Admin

• Judaic Involvement: Her deep commitment includes extensive volunteer work at the Marine Park Jewish Center and East Midwood Jewish Center, in addition to developing technical resources and organizing events for local Yeshivas.

• Naomi is eager to leverage her comprehensive skills to support the organization's mission and continued success.

               DAVID NISSENBAUM 

My name is David. My parents bought a house here in Hemlock Farms in 2022, partly because of the presence of a Jewish community. The Fellowship is a special place for outreach and discussion and maintaining a positive and fulfilling residence. I visit them as often as I can, and the Fellowship has become an important part of our life.

I was raised Orthodox and went to yeshiva for my elementary education. I have continued with my learning and observance throughout my life. Since earning my MBA, I have taken varied positions in the medical management field, and social services, implementing technologies to enhance the experience for all involved. I am happy, and proud to be of service on the board, to ensure that any tech gadgets and gizmos are working properly here in the Fellowship. Of particular importance, is ensuring that Yiddishkeit is available for those who seek it, ensuring that we can be seen, heard, and accessible in any way that we can be. This should result in a positive and                                                                        fulfilling influence for all.

SARAH GOODIS-ORENSTEIN, DIRECTOR

My family and I moved to Greeley, PA, 3 summers ago, seeking a radical change from our lifestyle in Brooklyn, and we have been so grateful for the abundance of nature and the communities we've joint through our children's school and here at Hemlock. One of the trickiest parts of leaving the city, however, was the access to Jewish programming and Hebrew schools, which is what I now hope to help rebuild through joining the board. I was a public-school educator and literacy specialist for 15+ years before shifting to an administrative / teaching role at an independent, permaculture farm school setting here.

CARY RINGEL

MELISSA STEINBERG                                                  

I have always had a strong Jewish identity. Born and raised in New Jersey in a proud Conservative Jewish family, I attended yeshiva schools throughout my life—Yavneh Academy, Frisch Yeshiva High School, and later Yeshiva University’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where I also completed my Ophthalmology training at Einstein/Montefiore Medical Center.

My connection to Judaism has always guided me. In high school and college, I was active in NCSY, serving as chapter president and later as an advisor. Those experiences deepened my religious commitment and desire to live by Torah values. At Lehigh University, I helped establish the first Hillel House on campus to strengthen Jewish life for students—a legacy that continues today.

Wherever I’ve lived, I’ve remained involved in Jewish community life. In Passaic, I was active in my synagogue Tiferet Israel, my children’s yeshivas, and served as the ophthalmology consultant for Hatzolah. I’ve been an AIPAC Club Member for nearly a decade and a Jewel Member of Sharsheret.

Since making Hemlock Farms my home, I’ve fallen in love with this community—especially the Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms. The warmth and sense of connection here are very special to me. I would be honored to play an active role in helping the Fellowship grow and continue to serve as a beacon of Jewish life and spirituality in our community.

                                                         CINDY ZITO