The members of the Gateways Board of Trustees are a diverse and experienced group of community leaders, professionals, funders, and parents representing a wide range of backgrounds, religious observance and generations. Each trustee is committed to fulfilling the needs of our stakeholders through strategic, financial and governance best practices that align with Gateways’ mission and vision.
Click on a name to view each board member’s bio.
Officers
Lisa Hills, President
Lisa Hills received her MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and her BA in Politics from Brandeis University. She is a management consultant who specializes in organizational strategy and talent development. Lisa has a long history of involvement in the Jewish community including as president of Temple Emanuel, chair of Camp Yavneh’s strategic planning process, chair of the Prozdor Advisory Board, and as a member of CJP’s strategic planning committee on supplemental Jewish education. She has chaired numerous searches for senior professionals and clergy as well as provided executive coaching to ensure successful on-boarding. Lisa’s passion for Gateways developed through two of her children’s (Meredith and Amanda) transformative volunteer experiences. She is the proud parent of four adult children and a son-in-law and resides in Newton with her husband, Matthew.
Mike Fishbein, Vice President of Education
Mike Fishbein’s super-hero mom has been a special educator for 50 years; Mike hopes to honor her with his service to Gateways. Mike moved to Boston with his then-fiancee, Rebecca, right before the Red Sox broke the Curse. He was a high school biology teacher and then the GM of a restaurant before joining the staff of Temple Israel (TI) of Boston as coordinator of the Riverway Project, the 20s and 30s outreach community that had transformed Mike’s own Jewish life. Mike spent 10 years at TI, ultimately as Assistant Director of Education and founding director of The Tent, an innovative Jewish teen education community. Mike graduated from the Hornstein Program at Brandeis (MA/MBA) on Zoom in the spring of 2020. Since then he focused on being Quarantine Dad, served the Gateways Strategic Planning Committee (and now the Ed Committee), and is honored to currently work for the Campaign to Elect Sonia Chang-Díaz Governor of MA. Mike lives in Jamaica Plain with Rebecca and their 11-year-old twins, Benjamin and Ezra.
Marty Oppenheimer, Vice President of Finance and Treasurer
Marty Oppenheimer is Associate General Counsel at Boston University, where he handles contract and transactional matters for several schools and academic centers. He has been a higher education attorney for 16 years, and was previously General Counsel at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and Senior Counsel at Tufts University. Marty and his wife, Dr. Deborah Platek, are committed to supporting special needs organizations, both inside and outside the Jewish community. They have supported Camp Yavneh’s Yedidut program, which has created an inclusive environment for campers with special needs. Marty and Deb are members of the Newton Centre Minyan and Temple Emanuel in Newton, where Marty leads High Holiday services. He is a longtime member of the Zamir Chorale of Boston, and has previously served on the boards of Zamir and of DOROT in New York. Marty and Deb have three children who are currently scattered around the country.
Jamie Perelman, Clerk
Jamie was born and raised in New York, where she developed a passion for storytelling and production. After college, Jamie landed a job as a TV producer, where she honed her skills for over a decade. In 2013, she and her husband Shoel relocated to the Boston area and soon after they welcomed their two boys, Simon and Charlie. Jamie’s journey with Gateways began with her eldest son, who was receiving services from the organization through his school. She was deeply moved by the work Gateways was doing and became passionate about spreading the word about Gateways. In 2022, she joined both the Parenting with Purpose committee and the Marketing Committee. Jamie currently resides in Needham with her husband and two boys. When not volunteering her time, Jamie enjoys exercise, hanging with friends, painting/drawing, and anything on Bravo.
Itia Roth, Vice President of Governance
Itia Roth is an employment lawyer, who has practiced in the Boston area for the past 15 years. She currently works in-house at the Waltham headquarters of Fresenius Medical Care. Itia also acts as treasurer of The Maimonides School PTA, sits on the personnel committee of a local non-profit, and is a member of Congregation Beth El-Atereth Israel’s inclusion committee. Itia lives in Newton with her husband Menachem and their three children, the oldest of whom is a happy Gateways participant.
Linda Mann Simansky, Vice President of Development
Linda Mann Simansky is a consultant specializing in work with non-profits. Linda worked for the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE) from its inception in 1997 until the fall of 2011. Since 2011, Linda has worked with a number of organizations focusing on a wide range of initiatives including needs assessments, program evaluation, grant assessments and development, and stakeholder interviews. Linda served on the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston Board of Trustees from 2005 – 2013. During that time, she served as VP of Governance, Nominating Committee Chair, Co-Chair Head of School Search Process, and Acting President. Recently, she has served as the Chair of the Inclusion Committee for Kehillath Israel Synagogue, Brookline, MA. Linda is married to Harold Simansky and they have three children.
Robert Finkel, Presidential Appointee
Robert Finkel is a real estate and business attorney in Wellesley, MA. Rob has been an active member of leadership at Temple Emanuel in Newton, where he has served on the Temple’s Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, Budget Committee and Nominating & Governance Committee. Rob is also a Past President of Temple Emanuel Brotherhood and a past Chair of the Temple’s Youth Task Force where he helped innovate new programs and initiatives for teens. Rob has a history of involvement with other educational organizations including Schechter Boston where he served on the school’s Board of Trustees and as Chair of the school’s Strategic Facilities Committee. As a community leader, Rob has served as a commissioner on the City of Newton’s Economic Development Commission. Rob is proud to say that Gateways is a family affair. He is married to Sherene Michlin (past member of Gateways’ Board of Trustees) and they have three children, Josh (past Gateways Teen Volunteer), Leora, and Shira (a graduate of Gateways’ Sunday Program).
Trustees
Ilene Beckman
Ilene Fruman Beckman grew up in Newton where she attended the Newton Public Schools, Temple Reyim Hebrew School, Prozdor, Camp Yavneh and Hebrew College. A graduate of Simmons College, with an MSW from Boston University and a certificate from the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute, Ilene was a Jewish educator for nearly her entire professional life, culminating with her years as the Religious School Director of Temple Emanuel, Newton. Along the way, she taught every age from Early Childhood through Middle School. Life-long passions for Israeli dance and music became models for the multiple points of access Ilene brought to her students, always eager to find the key that will open each mind and heart to a love of Jewish living and learning. Temple Emanuel’s Religious School has been the beneficiary of Gateways’ support for many years and Ilene is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the organization as a member of both the Education Committee and the Board. Ilene is married to her “better half,” David, and they share two sons, two daughters-in-law and a granddaughter.
Jordana Bluestein
Jordana Bluestein received her BA from Brandeis University and her J.D. from Cardozo School of Law; she practiced law from 2004-2010 in New York City before moving to Boston. Presently, Jordana is the Social Action Chair on the PTO Board at Peirce Elementary School and is on the JF&CS: Center for Basic Needs Assistance Advisory Committee. Jordana lives in Newton with her husband, Scott, and their two boys, Aiden and Mason.
Alan Breitman
Alan is the General Partner of Breitman Investments, LP a financial services and investment fund where he provides strategic and financial consulting for start-ups as well as established businesses, including recapitalization, work-out, cash flow management, financial planning and analysis, and mergers and acquisitions. In addition, he manages an investment committee that seeks to make opportunistic investments across multiple industries. Alan has held various senior financial positions in high growth technology, financial service, and media companies where his responsibilities include private and public equity financings, corporate development, investor relations, risk management, treasury, and human resource management. After participating in CJP’s Acharai program in 2021-22, Alan joined Gateways’ Finance Committee and subsequently Gateways’ Fiscal Sustainability Working Group.
Coby Coll
Coby is a Manager of Research & Measurement in the Fan & Partner Insights department at Live Nation Entertainment in New York. A native of Newton, he is an alumnus of Schechter Boston, Gann Academy, and The George Washington University. Coby volunteered in the Mitzvah Mensches program throughout his time at Gann, and believes that joyful Jewish experiences should be accessible to every single Jewish student. Coby has been serving on the Gateways Marketing Committee.
Ethan Freishtat
Ethan Freishtat graduated from Brandeis University with a major in political science, and currently serves as a financial planner in the Boston and MetroWest areas, as well as in Palm Beach County, Florida. He has a Chartered Special Needs Consultant title, which is a professional designation for those who help with the planning needs of families who have a child with a disability. Ethan was an active participant in the Rashi Development Committee and a board member of the Jewish Family Service of MetroWest. He lives in Jupiter, Florida with his wife, Erica, and their three children, Thomas, Zoe, and Dylan.
Rabbi Suzie Jacobson
COMING SOON
Josh Jick
Josh Jick has worked in the financial/banking industry for 10+ years, primarily in the marketing, municipal, operations, and strategy areas. Currently, Josh is the Assistant Vice President and Treasury Management Advisor at The Washington Trust Company. Most recently, he was the Retail Strategy and Analytics Manager at Everett Bank. Josh is an active volunteer with CJP and Brandeis University, an Incorporator of Beaver Country Day School, and has served on the Gateways’ Finance Committee for several years. He also serves on the Board of Directors at Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters. Josh enjoys traveling, Boston sports, and running.
Judy Levin-Charns
Judy Levin-Charns holds an MS in Speech/Language Pathology and an EdD in Reading and Language – both from Boston University. She is currently the Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Special Education Administration at Bay Path University. Previously Judy was the Assistant Superintendent for Student Services in the Newton Public Schools. Judy is a member of the Board of Trustees of Temple Shalom as well as member of Sisterhood. She is currently on the Educational Programming Committee and Social-Emotional Learning Committee at Gateways. Judy lives in Newton; she and her husband have one son.
Samantha Schnall
COMING SOON
Robbie Singal
Robbie works as the Director of the Science and Technology team at Ariadne Labs. She and her family have been members of Temple Sinai in Brookline for 10 years where she has served on several committees including the Mitzvah Day Committee, the Board Nomination Committee, and as the Chair of the Retreat Committee. She also recently started volunteering with a new organization called the Institute for Exceptional Care that aims to transform healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Robbie has been involved with Gateways for the past 4 years as a parent of a daughter in the B’nei mitzvah program and Mitzvah Menshes. She and her husband, Jonathan live in Brookline with their kids, Ezra and Raya, and their part-time dog, Bella.
Linda Sternberg
Linda Sternberg graduated from The George Washington University with dual degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education. She has worked for Newton Public Schools as a special education teacher since 1974, taking a break to stay home with her children, returning 25 years ago to her current role as the Early Childhood Consultant in the Newton Early Childhood Program. Linda serves on the Board of Overseers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, participates in various committees at Newbridge on The Charles (where her father resides) and is a team captain for the American Heart Association Heart Walk. Linda has collaborated with Gateways as a grant reader, provided consultation to Sunday Schools and has given in-service presentations about strategies to support preschoolers to teachers and parents. She is honored and thrilled to serve on the Gateways’ Board!
Robert Wexler
Bob Wexler has over 50 years’ experience in management, finance, acquisitions, real estate, start-ups, and turnarounds with a focus on financial and operational restructuring. Prior to his consulting career, Bob was a senior executive at the Rockport Shoe Company and a co-owner of a $50 million real estate development and general contracting company. Bob helped in the turnaround of Northeastern University Hillel House and worked as the Chief Restructuring Officer for the non-profit Childhelp in Arizona whose mission is to meet the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused, neglected and at risk children. Bob joined Gateways’ Fiscal Sustainability Working Group in January 2023 and led the effort with the senior staff and Board leadership to: (i) develop growth initiatives, (ii) complete external landscape analysis and communal needs study, (iii) build comprehensive financial and marketing business plans for each growth initiative, and (iv) analyze the return on investments of the growth initiative.
Michelle Zisow
Michelle Zisow is deeply involved with CJP’s Women’s Philanthropy and has been on CJP’s mission to Israel several years ago. She is also active in Yachad, The Rashi School’s parent council and with JF&CS’s Center for Early Relationship Support, which focuses on new parents as they manage the challenge of caring for their baby. Michelle first became involved with Gateways through her time on the Parenting with Purpose committee, and last year year, co-chaired the committee together with Danielle.