Our Board + Advisors

Kari is the Director, External Affairs at the William Davidson Foundation, where she oversees the Foundation’s work in community relations, communications, special events, and Board support. A proud two-time graduate of the University of Michigan, Kari is also a trustee of Clover Hill Park Cemetery, a Board Member of JPro, and an active 2G speaker at the Zekelman Holocaust Center in suburban Detroit. Kari lives in Michigan with her husband and dog, and is the proud mother of two young women.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
Shabbat is my favorite Jewish holiday – and with OneTable, I am fortunate enough to work with an organization that deeply understands the joys and opportunities each week offers us in resetting ourselves, celebrating our Judaism, and appreciating a great meal and conversation with family and friends.

Sara Bloom is the founder and the Chair of the Board of Directors of Hebrew Public. From 2004 to 2008, she was a weekly columnist for The New York Sun, focusing on raising children in New York City. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life, OneTable, the Jewish Food Society, and the Areivim Philanthropic Group. She works as a mediator at the Long Island Dispute Resolution Center and in a private practice specializing in family disputes. Sara has six children and lives in New York City.

Why did you join the OneTable board?
My father, Michael Steinhardt, believes that having regular Shabbat dinners is a critical component of Jewish continuity, one that is accessible to all Jews regardless of levels of observance or educational background. We started OneTable, and I joined the Board in the hopes that adults in their 20s and 30s would develop this joyous, lifelong habit of having Shabbat dinners with family and friends.

What does Shabbat mean to you?
Shabbat is the opportunity to recharge and reconnect with people I love. Dinner each Friday with my family and friends is the grounding force in my life, around which everything else revolves. It’s also always about the challah…

Steven Boal is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Matia Mobility, a manufacturer of robotic standing wheelchairs. Prior to Matia Mobility, Steven founded Quotient (NYSE:QUOT) in 1998 and served as its CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Prior to founding Quotient, Steven served as VP of Business Development for Integral Development Corporation. Steven also previously was VP and Head of global emerging markets derivative technology at J.P. Morgan. He is also the founder and Chairman of electronic gift card company Cashstar (sold to Blackhawk). He has held board positions on the Oshman Family JCC, Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, and Kehillah Jewish High School.

Lauren is the founder of Love + Chew Brands, a protein cookie company based out of San Francisco. Before starting Love + Chew Brands, Lauren worked in renewable energy for companies such as Tesla and Stem for six years. She graduated from the University of California, San Diego. She is currently involved with Jewish Nevada and Three Square Food Bank, and completed her Jewish conversion in 2018. She splits her time between Las Vegas and San Francisco with her husband and two kids.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
I am a Jew By Choice and wanted to give back to the Jewish community with my time and resources. I think Shabbat is one of the easiest ways to get involved, and I love what OneTable does by sharing the joy of Shabbat.

What does Shabbat mean to you?
Shabbat is a weekly ritual that I share with my two little ones. It is a time to reflect on the week and a time for spirituality.

Jake Cohen is a cookbook author and nice Jewish boy from New York. A former food staffer at Saveur, food editor of Tasting Table and Time Out New York, and editorial director of The Feedfeed, Jake wrote his first book, Jew-ish, about his love of Jewish food and Shabbat. When he isn’t writing about food, he’s posting challah-braiding videos and recipes on his Instagram and TikTok (@jakecohen).

Karen W.  Davidson is the Director and Executive Committee Chair of the William Davidson Foundation, a private family foundation established by her late husband William “Bill” Davidson, to advance for future generations the economic, cultural, and civic vitality of Southeastern Michigan, the State of Israel, and the Jewish community. She also serves as a Board Member of several renowned philanthropic organizations including the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan, the Weizmann Institute of Science, and Startup Nation Central. She is also a member of the University of Michigan’s President’s Advisory Group and is a supporter of both the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower at Hadassah Hospital and the Israel Antiquities Authority. She has three children and two step-children, and is a proud grandmother of 10 grandchildren.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
For the purpose of the vision, which I support.  

What does Shabbat mean to you?
The beginning of the best day.

After completing his JD/MBA, Gregg built a career working with and contributing to the development of world-changing start-up companies. In 2016, Gregg founded G Three Media, a media relations and strategic marketing agency focused on helping startups find their voice and communicate their vision to the world. He’s worked with renowned tech companies, including Face.com (acquired by Facebook), AOL, Docusign, Element AI, and Ripcord. Gregg lives in San Francisco and New York.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
It’s rare when you see an opportunity to work with amazing people who are dedicated to accomplishing extraordinary things. From the moment I joined, I felt lucky and honored to be in the presence of like-minded people who are passionate about all things Am Yisrael Chai. Since joining, OneTable has grown beyond my wildest expectations and I’m proud to have a meaningful part in contributing to its continued success. 

What does Shabbat mean to you?
Shabbat is the vehicle through which the ordinary becomes extraordinary and meaningful. Growing up, it was the ritual that connected our family on a weekly basis. Now that I’m a busy adult, it’s evolved into a habitual palace in time where we have the opportunity to be present, reflective, and joyful. Only Shabbat has the power to regularly elevate a day of the week into something pristine.

Julie is a community activist and investor who is passionate about education, social justice, and children. She has mentored over 100 students through the Posse Foundation, Teach for America, Women of Tomorrow, and Achieve Miami. She co-chairs the Advisory Board of The Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP) at the University of Pennsylvania, is on the Advisory Board of The School of Social Policy and Practice (SP2), and is an active member of the Trustee Council for Penn Women. She is a director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Jewish Philanthropy and on the Boards of Teach for America – Miami Dade and the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and currently resides in Miami with her family.

Why did you join the OneTable board?
I was inspired to join the board by my mother-in-law, Nina Franklin (of blessed memory), whose deep love of Shabbat united her large, growing family each week. I also can’t say no to Sara Bloom — a true inspiration who enriches everything she touches.

What does Shabbat mean to you?
Shabbat symbolizes family, ritual, peace, and shalom.

David is President & CEO of The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life, which is dedicated to revitalizing Jewish identity through innovative initiatives that build connections with the richness of Jewish civilization, the Hebrew language, and the life and culture of Israel. He holds a B.A. from Hamilton College, an M.A. from Duke University in Comparative Religion, and Rabbinical Ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. In addition to the OneTable Board, he serves on the Boards of The American Pardes Foundation, the Council for Hebrew Language and Culture, and YAFFED. He lives in Harlem with his wife, Judith Turner, and their three children, Nomi, Anina, and Ziv.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
I joined the OneTable Board at the inception of the project in early 2014 in order to help realize Michael Steinhardt’s vision for harnessing the power and meaning of the Friday night Shabbat dinner experience to give American Jewish young adults opportunities for Jewish expression and connection.

What does Shabbat mean to you?
Shabbat provides the metronome of my life, setting a rhythm whose spiritual discipline opens a window to the infinite in the context of the finite.

Emeri is a parent education and mental health consultant, community volunteer, philanthropist, and life-long learner. Focusing on developmental and clinical psychology for over 30 years, Emeri works with families to create long-term, healthy relationships. She previously worked as the Associate Director/Director for Education at the Anti-Defamation League in San Francisco. Emeri is active on various Boards and committees, including regional theater companies, education and mental health organizations, and Jewish non-profits. She is also passionate about collective grant-making, having co-founded and managed a women’s philanthropy fund that granted over $400,000 in five years. Emeri resides in Boulder with her husband, Brad; they are the proud parents of three young women.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
I joined the Board after advising leadership almost since the founding of the organization. It is a much-needed, brilliant pathway to connection and belonging. 

What does Shabbat mean to you?
Shabbat means breath, and light, and gathering, and friendship.

Debbie serves as Senior Advisor to The Paul E. Singer Foundation and is Board President of Momentum. She joined The Singer Foundation in 2013 to help establish and grow its efforts in global Jewish philanthropy, build relationships for the Foundation, and scale entrepreneurial projects. Debbie also serves as Co-Chair of Areivim, and is on the Boards of The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the Jewish Food Society, and the Jewish Funders Network. Prior to her non-profit roles, she served as Director of Investor Relations for Multex, Inc. She began her career at Merrill Lynch & Co. Debbie holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB in biology from Harvard College. She lives in Scarsdale, New York, with her husband and their three children.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
I was one of the co-founders of OneTable. We believed — and still believe — that Shabbat is a meaningful way for Jews of all ages to find meaning, community, and ritual. We hope that OneTable makes Shabbat personal, accessible, and meaningful and that it leads to regular Shabbat meals and unity and stimulates curiosity about the Jewish people and Israel.

What does Shabbat mean to you?
Shabbat marks the end of the work week and the beginning of time with my family and friends. The rituals of lighting candles, blessing the wine, and challah bring our family together after a hectic week and reconnect us to each other. We use prayer books and kippot from prior generations to connect us spiritually to our ancestors. Post-October 7, we have found tremendous gratitude for Shabbat and always light an extra candle for our extended family — the millions of Jews— in Israel.

Rena is an advisor, strategist, and philanthropist in the non-profit community. In the Philadelphia area, she serves on the Board of Perelman Jewish Day School and is a member of the University of Pennsylvania’s Trustees Council for Penn Women and of the Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center President’s Advisory Council. Nationally, Rena is an advocate for Jewish identity-building programs and co-chairs Changemakers, a global young adult leadership initiative for Jewish Federations of North America, upon whose Board of Trustees she sits. She has been involved in several Israeli television and film productions, using the power of storytelling to change perspective. Rena received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and her MBA and law degree from Villanova University. She practiced corporate law and was a consultant to several non-profit women’s organizations before devoting her energies to family and volunteerism. Rena and her husband created the Kopelman Foundation, which funds early-stage, entrepreneurial social projects.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
OneTable has brilliantly found a scalable way to elevate and amplify Shabbat from a moment to an experience. I joined the OneTable Board to be part of the incredible team facilitating this work.

What does Shabbat mean to you?
For me, Shabbat is both the end and the beginning of the week — time to wind down and be contemplative and also to ramp up for what comes next. 

Adam is President of Circle of Service Foundation based in Chicago. He has served on the Board of COSF since 1997 and joined COSF professionally as President in 2007. Prior to 2007, Adam practiced corporate law as a partner at Kirkland & Ellis. In addition to OneTable, he is a member of the Boards of the Partnership for College Completion, Jewish Funders Network, and Chicago Jewish Day School.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
I am inspired by how OneTable supports young adults to experience how Shabbat dinner has coalesced people for centuries, and also how to adapt it as their own today.

What does Shabbat mean to you?
A weekly break from the routine – permitting us to rest and to be refreshed by reflection and gathering with family and friends (old and new).

Rob Orley serves as a Principal at O2 Investment Partners, LLC. He’s a real estate developer and a seasoned executive and private equity investor with more than 35 years of experience. Rob holds a J.D. degree from Detroit College of Law, a bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Michigan, and an L.L.M. in Taxation from Boston University School of Law. Rob has served as an advisor to OneTable, helping us secure a match for Detroit funding and hosting a Shabbat dinner to introduce OneTable to the Detroit community with his wife, Marcie Hermelin Orley. Rob is an active JFNA Cabinet alum.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
I joined the OneTable Board because I loved their mission: bringing Shabbos to young adults. 

What does Shabbat mean to you?
Shabbat is where everything starts for me. It’s my favorite day of the week. It’s my favorite meal, and that has nothing to do with food. It is when I stop every week, bless my family, and count my blessings. Celebrating Shabbat was the beginning of my Jewish journey.

Kylie is a Dean’s Doctoral Fellow at NYU, concentrating in Jewish philosophy. Her research focuses on the intersection between the Black and Jewish community through the philosophies of Moses Mendelssohn and Booker T. Washington. In 2021, Kylie was named an “aspiring Jewish philosopher” by the New York Jewish Week for their annual 36 Under 36. Kylie has hosted two #1 Jewish podcasts with Tablet Studios: “How to Fix a Soul in 30 Days” and “49 Days to Stretch My Soul.” She has also hosted a YouTube series on the history of the relationship between the Black and Jewish communities with Unpacked, which has amassed over 1.2 million views. She currently lives in Upstate New York with her canine sidekick, Miley.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
I joined the OneTable Board because I am passionate about the journey of Jewish self-discovery and exploration and the spaces like OneTable that support Jews in that process.

What does Shabbat mean to you?
Shabbat means a time of supercharging. It’s stepping into a space in time where I joyfully receive energy from the Divine without the expectation of giving anything in return.