Our Board + Advisors

Kari Alterman is a senior advisor at the William Davidson Foundation, where she has worked for the past 9+ years, in roles related to Jewish Life and External Affairs. 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.

Jill Aschkenasy is a dedicated philanthropist, social entrepreneur, and community volunteer with a passion for Jewish philanthropy and addressing basic needs for underserved communities. In 2011, she founded Our Closet in Your Neighborhood (OCIYN) to provide accessible clothing services to those in need. OCIYN later merged with the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia (JFCS), where it now operates as a comprehensive basic needs program. Before establishing OCIYN, Jill served as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan’s Domestic Violence Unit. She is also a longtime volunteer with the Innocence Project, advocating for incarcerated individuals seeking justice. Jill earned her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her J.D. from the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law. She is the Board Chair of the Aspen Community Foundation and serves on the boards of JFCS of Greater Philadelphia and the Women’s Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Jill resides in Haverford, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Paul, and their four children: Kate, Ben, James, and Charlie.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
OneTable’s mission to bring the magic of Shabbat into the homes of young adults in an accessible and affordable way is truly inspiring. The visionary approach of adapting Jewish culture to meet people where they are, while fostering a deep and meaningful sense of Jewish identity, deeply resonates with me. I joined the board to contribute to this transformative movement and to be a part of the magic that OneTable creates.

What does Shabbat mean to you?
Shabbat is a time for family, reflection, and taking a moment to breathe. It’s also a celebration of the beautiful chaos around the table—filled with laughter, lively conversation, love, and support.

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…

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.

Gregg Delman, after completing his JD/MBA, 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. Gregg lives in San Francisco.

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 Franklin 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.

Rabbi David Gedzelman 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 Handler 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.

Deborah Hochberg 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 Kopelman is an advisor, strategist, and philanthropist in the non-profit community who advocates for Jewish education and identity-building programs, including by serving on the board of Perelman Jewish Day School and the national boards of Hillel International, Jewish Federations of North America, and OneTable. Trained as a corporate lawyer, Rena has worked with numerous organizations on governance and strategic planning and created the Kopelman Foundation with her husband to fund early-stage, entrepreneurial social projects. She has been involved in several Israeli television and film productions, in hopes of using the power of storytelling to change perspectives. She mostly lives in Philadelphia, from where she launched two emerging adults.

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 Levine 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, and Israel Policy Forum. Previously, he served on the Boards of 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).

Bruce Newman is currently a Principal of Addison Feen Insight, a consulting firm helping clients distill the perceived complexity of their business into a few simple clear objectives, metrics and measures that drive faster growth and wider margins.

He is a Senior Advisor to Graham Partners, a private equity firm investing in market-leading companies spurring innovation in industrial technologies and advanced manufacturing. At Graham, in addition to the wealth of knowledge he brings to Graham Partners’ portfolio companies through his 20+ year career, he also serves on Graham’s Buyout and Growth Gating Committees. He is also a founding Partner of Entrepreneur Partners, a firm of veteran private equity professionals and experienced operating executives acquiring direct marketing companies and contributing as engaged investors.

As an engaged investor and operator, he has led businesses including Northern Brewer, Peachtree Business Products, Amerifile, Bayshore Marketing, Franklin Mint and Paramount Citrus.

Bruce earned his M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and his B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin. He is a long-time member of YPO/YPO Gold.

He is married to Laurel and is proud father to two sons.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
We have been long-time supporters of OneTable because we focus on the development and expression of Jewish identity in young people. In joining the board, I hope to help secure the continued growth and viability of its mission.

What does Shabbat mean to you?
Shabbat is an opportunity to set aside dedicated space for gratitude and a moment to bless our children and their friends.

Victoria Kimerling Oliphant, driven by a passion for philanthropy and a deep commitment to Israel and the Jewish people, is a seasoned nonprofit professional and lay leader. Holding a BS from Indiana University in Nonprofit Management and an MPA from George Washington University, she has a rich background in supporting organizations through strategic marketing and engagement. After living in Tel Aviv for over 5 years, Victoria is now based in Atlanta, Georgia, where she runs Kimerling Creative, her one-woman consultancy dedicated to empowering women-led nonprofits and small businesses. She also serves remotely as the Marketing Consultant and Assistant Director of Israel Advocacy & Engagement for the Birmingham Jewish Federation. She is currently a sixth year on the Jewish Federations of North America’s National Young Leadership Cabinet, the Chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Core Allocations Committee, and a member of AJC Atlanta’s ACCESS Board. Victoria enjoys life in Atlanta with her husband, Phil, and their beloved dogs, Queso and Pepper.

Why did you join the OneTable Board?
I joined the OneTable board because I absolutely love how they bring the Jewish community together. Their focus on making Shabbat a space for meaningful connection and joy really resonates with me.

What does Shabbat mean to you?
To me, Shabbat is all about that special magic that happens when friends and family come together around the dinner table. It’s a testament to the beautiful diversity of our community that no matter where we are in the world or our level of observance, we can all make Shabbat our own in a way that is meaningful to us.

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 Unell 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.