Romemu Board

Jonathan Fassberg is currently the Vice Chairman of Healthcare Investment Banking at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., a leading investment bank, wealth manager, and a subsidiary of Oppenheimer Holdings. He is also a founder and general partner of the MD Anderson Focus Fund, a venture fund focused on bringing novel cancer drugs through clinical trials. Jonathan founded The Trout Group, a leading Biotech investor relations firm and boutique investment bank in 1996 and served and CEO until it was sold to PNC bank in 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry from The University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and a Master of Business Administration degree in finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business. He serves as chairman of the board of the center for Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina and is on the board of the Partnership with Children. Jonathan has three children.

I was raised Reform in Dallas, TX, but always sought out more from my spiritual and community experience. Moving to NYC twenty-two years ago, I assumed finding a Jewish home that fit would be easy. Not so. I’m fortunate though, that the confluence of a Shabbat dinner, a Yom Kippur mitzvah, and a documentary film led me to Romemu. I’m excited to be of service to this wonderful community and grateful to have finally found my Jewish home. My professional life has always revolved around live performance. I founded Groundswell Theatricals, Inc in 2011, after eight years cutting my teeth in commercial theater with a Broadway production company. Groundswell produces and manages concerts, musicals, and plays for Broadway, Off-Broadway, and on tour in the US and abroad. I’m fortunate that I spend my days immersed in a world I’m so passionate about, and with people who share that passion.

Michael Appelbaum has worked in the wealth management business for the past 40 years,
formerly as a Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns and currently, for past 9 years, at Merrill Lynch, where he advises individuals. He has served on the board of the Center for Social & Emotional Education for the past 15 years, working to combat bullying in schools. Michael and his wife, Suzy, live in New York City where they are inspired members of Romemu. They have two daughters, Sydney and Mia.

I grew up in Jerusalem. Like so many New Yorkers I ended up here by chance. I came here in 2001 with my wife, Dorit, and our three kids Uri, Hillel, and Timnah.

Growing up in Israel I served in the IDF as an officer and instructor. I later graduated from the Hebrew University Faculty of Law where I realized that the great Jewish texts like the Talmud can be as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago.

I specialize in renewable energy finance law and devote my days to converting the world to clean renewable energy, slowly but surely, one megawatt at a time.

I consider Romemu an oasis in a desert of Jewish existence; a spiritual home that breathes renewed, modern life into what it means to be Jewish today. I enjoy teaching and love the breadth and depth of Romemu’s educational offerings.

I first met Rabbi David in 2005 at the JCC Manhattan, a year before Romemu was created and I was fortunate to be at our first service in March 2006.

As a spiritual seeker, it was an incredibly powerful, heartening and enriching experience for me when I discovered a spiritual community that I could call home.

I was inspired to join the Romemu board and served in that capacity for a year before applying for and becoming the second Executive Director in 2009. I was honored to serve in that capacity for 18 months and then became the first Director of Development, Membership and Outreach.

I held that position for 2½ years, during which I helped Romemu grow from a congregation with less than 200 members to its current community of over 500 families. I am humbled and honored to have made contributions to this organization and community.

I am also active with other Jewish Renewal organizations, currently finishing up my tenure on the ALEPH board, as well as other social justice non-profits, including the Social Venture Network, Zen Peacemaker Community and Common Fire Foundation.

I have had a long and exciting journey at Romemu and look forward to serving the community in new ways. Of particular interest to me is continuing to strengthen relationships with our donors, serving as an ambassador when attending conferences and events to introduce Romemu to new individuals and organizations and participating in new member orientations.

As a Brooklyn born and bred woman, I always knew I would return to my roots despite having lived elsewhere for thirty years. I returned first by way of Manhattan where I was thrilled to join Romemu with its warmth, spirituality and musicality. When I moved to Brooklyn  in 2017,I was honored to became the liaison to the Manhattan board concerning the activities of the newly formed Romemu Brooklyn.

I have been on the leadership board of Romemu Brooklyn since its inception and greatly look forward to once again joining the Manhattan board as its Brooklyn liason.

I am a semi-retired Internist having worked in private practice, academic settings, and most recently as staff physician in homeless residences in NYC. I have provided Covid counseling to both Romemu Manhattan and Brooklyn for several years.

I reside in Brooklyn with my husband, a retired cardiologist, and down the street from my son and his family. I enjoy travel, book clubs, music and dance  and our house in the Catskills where I garden,bike and kayak. I am a member of the Bellevue Hospital board and also work with Literacy Partners designing their health literacy education. I would be honored to be part of the Romemu Manhattan board again while continuing my leadership role at Romemu Brooklyn.

Paul has been a proud member of Romemu since 2021 and was called to the Bimah as a Bar Mitzvah in January 2023 at the ripe young age of 65. 

Paul is currently a semi-retired financial executive who was a Founding Partner (2010) and Chief Investment Officer of Asset Based Lending, LLC – a residential real estate lending firm. Prior to ABL, Paul was President and Chief Investment Officer of Highland Financial Holdings Group an investment company that specialized in managing mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities portfolios for a global clientele. Paul began his career, in 1982, at Salomon Brothers Inc. in NYC.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Washington University in St. Louis. 

Paul has been married for 33 yrs., has two terrific children aged 30 and 27, and lives in CT and NYC. His charitable interests are wide ranging, but the focus is on financial literacy. Paul teaches the subject to 7th to 8th graders at the George Jackson School in lower Manhattan. Paul recently served on the rabbinical search committee for his CT. shul Temple Shalom. 

Paul looks forward to contributing to the Romemu community as a member of the Board with a focus on

Strategic Planning. Clearly, there has been a lot of change within Romemu post-pandemic. As a serial entrepreneur I understand change and how to find opportunities to create and maintain a strong organization. 

I was raised in Long Beach, NY. My wife Shelley and I have been attending services at Romemu for several years having been drawn to Romemu for its unique spirituality, prayer experience and engaging clergy. Shelley and I share five children, two daughters in law and two adorable grandchildren.

I grew up in a home that was filled with Jewish music. My mother was an accomplished Jewish educator and father was active in temple life. With the foundation of my Jewish home life, attending Camp Ramah and living and attending school in Israel for a year as a teenager, I was instilled with a strong Jewish identity and sense of volunteering.

I am an attorney and after being a partner in a law firm for over 25 years, I am now a solo practitioner focusing on construction, corporate, real estate and business transactions. I currently serve as co-chair of Romemu’s Yad b Yad committee.

I have been active in my local congregation, the Oceanside Jewish Center. I am a past President and currently serve as a Board member. I have served on various committees, including as the chairperson of the ritual, future planning, real estate development and budget committees. For over a decade I also coordinated an alternative lay led monthly Shabbat morning service. I am a member of the Board of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). I serve as chairperson of its human resources and governance committees, as well as serving on other committees. I am also a past District Chair for the New York Metropolitan District of USCJ. I look forward to utilizing all of my prior experiences to help foster the growth and future of the Romemu community.