ImpactIsrael is pleased to welcome new and returning members to its volunteer Board of Directors and Board Observers.

The new Board members were unanimously elected during ImpactIsrael’s November 2017 biannual board meeting in New York City. They will serve a three-year term beginning on January 1, 2018. Board Observers are next-generation members who serve a two-year term, after which it is determined whether they will be nominated as a board member

The new Board Members  are Michelle Bond Copelin (Fayetteville, AR) and Rabbi Michael Paley (New York); new Board Observers  are Michael Rosenfeld (New York) and Daryl Shore (New York); returning board members are Dr. Steven Rosenfeld (Boca Raton, FL) and Lewis Shubin (Atlanta).

“We are honored by the commitment and diversity of our new board members and observers and inspired by the dedication of our returning board members,” said Karen Sallerson, Executive Director, ImpactIsrael.  “All of these individuals bring insightful perspectives to our Board and a passion for our mission to transform immigrant and at risk youth into productive members of Israeli society through value driven education and support.”

New Board Members

Michelle Bond Copelin is an educator focused on breaking the poverty cycle in families and children. She recently received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Arkansas with an emphasis on content literacy.

“We visited the Village after the fire in 2010 and saw the destruction. Recently, we visited again and we saw a miracle,” said Michelle Bond Copelin. “I am inspired by the beauty at Yemin Orde and look forward to deepening my commitment to the people and philosophy of Yemin Orde.”

As an educator, Michelle served in both public and private schools. She has also provided tutoring services to students, taught children’s bible studies in her church, and volunteered in a local summer program for underserved children. Today, Michelle is serving on the Advisory Board of the Northwest Arkansas Salvation Army. She has served as the Volunteer Coordinator, and the Primary Coordinator for the Springdale Salvation Army Angle Tree program.

Rabbi Michael Paley is the Scholar-in-Residence and Director of the Jewish Resource Center at the UJA-Federation of New York. Prior to his arrival at UJA-Federation, he was a Professor of Jewish Studies at Bard College where he was engaged in the design of a Jewish Academy. He also served as Vice President of the Wexner Heritage Foundation, where he remains a member of the permanent senior faculty. For the past four years he has been named one of Newsweek’s 50 most influential rabbis.

Rabbi Paley was Director of the Earl Hall Center at Columbia University where he was responsible for the overseeing of all campus ministries. Prior to his appointment at Columbia, Rabbi Paley was the Jewish Chaplain at Dartmouth College and Rabbi of the Upper Valley Jewish Community. In l987 he initiated the Community Impact volunteer network, and in l989 he coordinated the Road to Peace Conference, which brought together leading Israeli and Palestinian peace activities, politicians, and religious leaders.

Returning Board Members

Dr. Steven Rosenfeld is returning to the board after stepping off for a year due to term limits.  Steven first served on the board from 1998-2016. He and his wife, Lisa, organized a trip to Israel in 2015 for their friends that focused on Yemin Orde programs. They have hosted numerous meetings in their home and have introduced many people to Yemin Orde.

Steven is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist in private practice. He also serves as a Clinical Professor on the clinical faculty at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami. Steven’s philanthropic endeavors include the Corporate Board for State of Israel Bonds, the South Palm Beach County Jewish Federation, and Class Agent for the Yale Alumni Fund.

Lewis Shubin is returning to the board  after stepping off for a year due to term limits. He first served from 2001-2016.

Lewis is a native of Atlanta and a principal with Crowne Partners, developing apartment communities in the southeast and Colorado. He has been actively involved in Jewish community activities for the past 35 years and has served on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, the Marcus Jewish Community Center, the Weber School, Hillels of Georgia and the ADL. He also served as Chair of Camp Barney Medintz, an overnight Jewish summer camp.

Click here to see a complete listing of our Board of Directors.


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