STAFF
Stephen Bisk
Executive Director
Stephen Bisk is the founding Executive Director of JOIN Israel and the Israeli nonprofit, Ofkei Chaim. Stephen is a serial social entrepreneur with a disciplined analytical approach to efficient philanthropy. He has channeled his passion for meaning and helping those most in need to create 85 philanthropic projects over the last 30 years.
Stephen graduated with a B.Sc. from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania. He also has rabbinic ordination and eight certificate degrees. Stephen has taught post-high school courses, and written and taught a 70-week online course on relationships. He also advises other nonprofits. Stephen is also a co-founder of the Israeli social enterprise, Prakti Perfekt, an affordable and financially pragmatic system to reduce wedding expenses for low- income families.
Email: sbisk@joinisrael.org Phone: (212) 561-5343
Alex Schieber
Director of Development
At JOIN, Alex combines his deep-rooted love for Israel, philanthropic pursuits, and enthusiasm for inspiring the younger generation to cultivate a culture of giving. He obtained his degree in Political Science from Rockefeller College at The University at Albany, and participated in The Semester at Sea program by The Institute of Shipboard Education. Alex has organized several trips to Israel for young Jewish professionals, served as an intern at AIPAC, and was a fellow at the Jewish National Fund. Before joining JOIN Israel, he worked in development at the Long Island Chapter of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.
Email: alex@joinisrael.org Phone: (516) 521-3625
Libby Bergier-Pesin
Development Assistant
Libby is a recent graduate from Muhlenberg College with a degree in music. She feels deeply connected to JOIN Israel’s mission to help at-risk youth, families and elderly in crisis across Israeli populations. Libby has previously participated in initiatives such as Project TEN, a service-learning program on Kibbutz Harduf, and Kol HaNearim, a summer volunteer program at a children’s home in Bnei Brak. She is grateful for the opportunity to support JOIN Israel in its important work for those in need.
Email: libby@joinisrael.org
The JOIN Israel Staff
Administrator
Avigile May
JOIN Big Brother
Simcha Seperuk, Program Coordinator
Bolster Education
Hila Shraga, Science Consultant
Family Services
Leah Shternberg, Retreat Coordinator
Ester Offengenden, Workshops and Therapy Coordinator
Zvi Kaplan, Family Counselor
Yehudis Engel, Somechet (Professional Family Mentors)
Chaya Kushnir, Youth Assessments
Pitronot (Solutions)
Meir Shternberg, Senior Financial and Legal Director
Shimon Mor-Yosef, Legal Counsel
Mordechai Stein, Intake and Family Financial Management - Department of Implementation
- Miriam Klein, Head of Department
- Yael Cohen
- Rachel Broyer
Department of Bureaucratic Processing
- Michal Klein, Head of Department
- Raizy Ben-Chaim
- Chani Langnauer
Shmuel Veitsman, Financial servicing
Dina Mirte, Administrator
The JOIN Israel Team
Bolster Education
David Ivgi, Educational Consultant
Miriam Schachor, Educational Administrator
Dr. David Wapner, English Consultant
Family Services
Sarah Gikroiter, Community coordinator, Beitar
Mira Veisbin, Community Coordinator, Ofakim
Natan Miller, Coordinator of Youth Programming
Alexander Chelminitsky, Educational Coordinator
Moshe Kopstein, Programming Coordinator
Naomi Cohen, Youth Intervention Coordinator
JOIN Lifeline
Ofra Cohen, Coordinator in Bat Yam
Maya Feder, Coordinator in Beitar Illit
Bruria Zeno, Coordinator in Netivot
Sigalit Chonen, Coordinator in Nof HaGalil
Suzy Marciano and Dani Ashkanazi, Coordinators in Ofakim
Stella Rotman, Coordinator in Or-Akiva
Ronit Mahasari, Coordinator in Or-Yehuda
Medical Advocacy
Aryeh Geller, Program Coordinator
Our Own Way
Gonen Harel, Program Coordinator
Gadi Sivan, Program Supervisor
Jerusalem Soup Kitchen
Yaakov Ostrovsky, Program Coordinator
Boris Wolf, Chief Cook