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 have enjoyed serving on the Romemu board as Treasurer, Chair, and now ex-Chair. It is an honor to help nurture and grow this community that feeds our spiritual, learning and communal needs.

 My wife Pam and I found our way to Romemu with the help of our dear friends, Caren and Arthur. Rabbi David and the Romemu community have enriched my Jewish experience and enabled me to connect with the spiritual part of Judaism that had been missing in my life.

I have over 35 years of finance experience in a wide range of businesses from real estate services and development to media, technology and consumer products. 

I also serve on the boards of The Jewish Child Care Association, a comprehensive child and family services agency whose work is motivated by tikkun olam and Eden Village Camp, a summer camp rooted in the Jewish vision of creating a more environmentally sustainable, socially just, and spiritually connected world.

Born, raised, and schooled in Manhattan, Liora Yalof is a native of the Upper East Side. A graduate of Syracuse University, Liora started her career in retail joining her family’s swimwear business, Gottex Industries, where she held a senior position at the premier women’s resort and swimwear line before turning her talents to real estate. For the past 15 years, Liora has enjoyed a partnership in the “Yalof/Sahlman Team” of Manhattan real estate, she and accomplished fellow broker Elizabeth Sahlman have excelled in their industry with countless coveted awards.

Liora is someone who contributes meaningfully to the people and community to which she is connected. She is a devoted mother of two and wife to Stephen Yalof. This depth of care extends beyond her immediate family. Liora joined the Advisory Board of Farm Aid, a non-profit organization that has raised $57,000,000 to promote a healthy and resilient family farm system of agriculture. She currently serves on the Board of Generation S.O.S, an organization that aims to spread awareness about substance misuse to high school students through the stories of young adults who have suffered from addiction. In addition, she supports HRC, which serves as America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBTQ equality.

Allan Bahn grew up in the Dorchester section of Boston before moving to Israel and later New York. Allan has practiced law for the last 35 years, 15 of which were in government. Allan came to Romemu when his wife Vicky decided to convert to Judaism with Rabbi Mira in 2019. The welcoming spiritual climate of Romemu has provided a home for Allan’s Conservative Judaism and Vicky’s recently acquired Chinese Jewish identity. Allan and Vicky split their time between the UWS and Cornwall Ct.

Adam Greene feels blessed to have found Romemu at a moment when he was deepening his Jewish spiritual practices and searching for a community based in Torah and learning. In Romemu and Rabbi David, he, his wife, and two children discovered that a deep and meaningful Jewish experience could also be inclusive and accessible. The music and prayer at Romemu lift their spirits, the classes at Romemu strengthen their understanding of their faith, and the community at Romemu offers profound connections. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve as a member of Romemu’s board.

Adam has 15 years of experience as a practicing corporate attorney. He is also a practitioner of Tai Chi, a runner, and a smoked fish enthusiast.

While not a big fan of organized religion, I find Romemu a very inviting and calming place.

Like so many at Romemu, I have always been curious about the many ways one can live a spiritual life and have developed a deep commitment to my daily yoga practice. At Romemu, I have begun a long desired exploration of Kaballah. David is an amazing human being and presents a wonderful example of how spiritual practice can be meaningful in today’s world.

My career has been in finance. I have been an investor for over 30 years. During this time, I have served on several not-for-profit boards, including my three children’s schools and university.

I was born and raised in Israel with limited spiritual or religious connection to Judaism. Moving to America over twenty years ago, raising children and finding a home here, led me on a quest for a spiritual home as well. In Romemu I found a wonderful confluence of Jewish traditions, mindfulness, deep ethics and values, an exceptional community and incredible leadership. Professionally I am an entrepreneur in the financial technology space. I started my first company (Traiana) about 20 years ago, backed by Israeli and American venture capital firms and successfully sold it several years later to a British brokerage company
(ICAP). I stayed with ICAP for the following 8 years and ran the electronic markets division. Two years ago a went back to the garage to start a new company, Capitolis, again with Israeli engineering presence, and US and Israeli backing.

At this stage in my life my focus is all about re-imagining what an engaged Jewish community can look like.  Part of the reimagining comes from people who are willing to teach and dream in a way that makes sense in the hectic nature of our lives.  Rabbi David has given me hope that such a place is possible.  Friday night services at Romemu are inspirational and beautiful and I always leave feeling uplifted.

I currently sit on Boards that embrace our tradition in an honest way and are fiercely committed to making a difference for the next generation. JCC Manhattan, The Jewish Education Project, CLAL, and UJA Federation,  all  keep me energized and informed. It’s a honor to be a part of Romemu’s journey moving forward and helping Rabbi David further his vision.

I am forever grateful to my dear friends, Caren and Arthur Fried, for introducing Richard and I to such a wonderful community.

Claudia Romo Edelman is an advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion. Her mission is to use her voice to build bridges and remind us that we are all human. She is a Special Adviser for the We Are All Human Foundation; she is also the Co-Host of ‘Global GoalsCast’, a podcast distributed by CBS News Digital, which highlights global progress through the stories of champions making a difference. Claudia is the Editor at Large of Thrive Global and it was recently announced that she will step into the role of Editor in Chief of Thrive Hispanics. Prior to this, the Mexican-Swiss diplomat was seconded to the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to lead communications and advocacy for the Sustainable Development Goals. Claudia is the former Chief of Advocacy of UNICEF. While living in Europe for 25 years, she successfully led public relations and brand and marketing for global organizations including the World Economic Forum, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB & Malaria.

A frequent public speaker on development and humanitarian affairs, Claudia holds degrees in Communications, Philosophy and Photography as well as a Masters of Political Communications from the London School of Economics. Claudia is married and has two children. She enjoys sports and speaks six languages. Joining the Board of Romemu is right for me because it has inspired my work and nurtured my belief in the potential of human beings to be more compassionate and inclusive. I believe strongly in bringing acceptance to this diverse world and advocating for every human to be respected and empowered. Romemu has inspired my spirit and my mind, cared for my family and broadened my understanding of my faith. I feel ready to give back and contribute to the growth and development of this community.

When my wife, Betsy, and I found Romemu, we knew we had found our spiritual home. We love the ruach and the positive energy, and the combination of traditional learning and
meditation. Rabbi Ingber is so open and honest about his own spiritual journey and it has helped us explore our own in a more meaningful way. He makes the large congregation feel intimate and helps everyone feel connected.

I first learned of Romemu through my colleagues and friends on the boards of Isabella
Freedman, Hazon, Camp Eden Village, and the Harlem Hebrew Charter School. I feel proud to have participated in these organizations over the past decade. I have particularly been moved to watch Eden Village grow from an embryonic start up to a bi-coastal organization serving 500 children annually in a “community of kindness.”

Our two children, Jake and Henry, have been part of the Heschel community for the past two decades. I have been privileged to oversee the Heschel investment club for the past decade. Professionally, I manage the small cap investment team at Boston Partners, where I have been a money manager for over 30 years.

Gregorio Schneider is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of TC Investment Partners and TC Latin America Partners, an institutional real estate fund manager that invests with an opportunistic approach in the USA and Latin America.

Prior to forming TC Latin America Partners in 2012, Gregorio was Managing Director and Head of Emerging Markets at Och-Ziff Capital Management (now Sculptor Capital Management), Portfolio Manager at The Rohatyn Group (TRG), and worked at Spinnaker Capital.

Gregorio has served on the board of directors of various Latin American companies and has been recognized by the World Economic Forum for his work with developing countries. He is also a member of the EMPEA (now GPCA) Latin America Council and the LAVCA real estate council. He serves on several Non-Profit Boards, including the Qualitas of Life Foundation and the Social Enterprise Program at Columbia University. He holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and received a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) in Mexico City. He is also actively involved with different Jewish Latin American Communities. He is a Comay fellow from the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and has served on their NY Board.

Gregorio is married to Sybille and they have three children.

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.

I have been a student of contemplative practice for many years with origins dating back to my youth as an avid practitioner of various forms of martial arts and later meditation. While I have always been drawn to the teachings and practices of the east, having found Rabbi David and Jewish Renewal, our family has deepened its commitment to Jewish life and practice.

I have found the opportunity to study with Rabbi David and my fellow community members to be deeply enriching as we explore mystical interpretations and the practical relevance of the teachings in our daily lives. Romemu is a trusting, warm environment that embraces all congregants in a place where it is safe to be expressive and find a heartfelt connection with the profound truths of Torah.

Professionally, I have spent the last 20 years as a private equity investor and served on numerous public, private, and non-profit boards.