The Kesher Newton Board of Directors

The Kesher Newton Board of Directors is comprised of thirteen volunteers dedicated to supporting Kesher’s goal of providing excellence in Jewish and Hebrew education in a joy-filled, nurturing, and creative environment. The board focuses its efforts on fundraising, fiscal management, strategic planning, marketing, and communications. This year’s board members are: Gail Schulman (Co-Chair), Andrea Nadai (Co-chair), Arthur Applbaum, Lauren Brooks, Rose Day, Margie Ross Decter, Galit Heimlich, Rebecca Hoitash, Lauren Levine, Rabbi Audrey Marcus-Berkman, Jill Radsken, Asya Shestopal, and Michael Weissman 

Gail Schulman, Co-Chair

Gail Schulman is the mother of a daughter and son in Kesher’s Nitzanim class. She is thrilled that they’ve found a home at Kesher to help nurture their love of Judaism. Professionally, Gail is a business executive and consultant, who currently advises investment technology firms on strategy, marketing, and operations. She has over 25 years of experience growing and managing global technology businesses, including ten years as CEO of Thomson Financial Software Solutions. Gail graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University, with a bachelor of arts in psychology and social relations. In her spare time, she is an avid runner with a penchant for marathons.

Andrea Nadai, Co-Chair

Andrea is the co-chair of the Internal Communications committee. Her daughter Rachel (Anafim) is in her fifth year at Kesher Newton. Andrea has 25 years of experience in the health care industry as a physical therapist, educator and administrator. She has a Masters of Health Professions from Northeastern University. Andrea currently works as a consultant in the medical device industry. She likes to spend vacations traveling throughout the U.S. and abroad with her family.

Arthur Applbaum, Treasurer

Arthur teaches political philosophy and ethics at the Harvard Kennedy School. Philosophers make very useful treasurers, because they can simply assume a balanced budget. His twin daughters are proud Kesher alumnae.

Lauren Brooks

Lauren Brooks is the parent of two Kesher students, Sydney (Nitzanim) and Ella (Shorashim). Having spent two years living in Israel with her husband, David, they have strived to find meaningful Jewish connections for their family- and have found that connecting point at Kesher. Lauren works year-round at the Newton JCC as the registrar of Camp Kingswood and their Vacation Camp Program..

Rose Day

Margie Ross Decter

Margie Ross Decter is a past chairman and has served on the Kesher Board for four years. She is a parent with two children attending Kesher and the Memorial Spaulding School in Newton and a third who will begin next year. Margie brings 20-years’ experience as a business executive, community leader and public policy advisor. Her professional career has focused on strategic planning and developing creative solutions to improve quality of health care and educational programs amidst financial constraints. Margie also serves on the Leadership Council of the Hebrew College Board of Overseers and was recently elected to the Newton School Committee.

Galit Heimlich

Rebecca Hoitash

Lauren Levine

Rabbi Audrey Marcus-Berkman

Jill Radsken

Asya Shestopal

Asya is serving her third year on the Kesher Newton Board. She is a parent of two boys, ages eight and six, and is very passionate for her sons to take a part in a local Jewish community, as well as to learn to appreciate a special connection they have to the Jewish world, and especially to Israel. Professionally, Asya is an educator, who spent years teaching in Israel and in the U.S. More recently, Asya began concentrating on learning styles and challenges. She earned a Master’s degree in Special Education from Simmons College, and is currently serving as a Special Education Teacher in a public school, where she works with children in elementary and middle grades. In her spare time, Asya practices yoga and exercise, travels to Israel and reads literature in three languages.

Michael Weissman, Clerk