Meet our Executive Board:

Our Young Israel Executive Board, who took office in July 2008, have taken on the responsibility of running the Young Israel at a challenging time in our history. We thank them all for stepping forward and volunteering their time and talent!

Avi Goldberg President Originally from New Haven, CT, Avi first arrived in Boston as an undergraduate at Boston University where he graduated with a BA in political science. After marrying his college sweetheart and Boston native Alanna, they chose Brookline as their home and have lived here since 1998. Avi has had an immediate impact on our shul by serving on key committees and becoming Vice President and being chosen with Alanna as recipients of our Chessed Award at our shul dinner in 2007. They have three children. Yisrael Dov, Shoshana, and Menucha. Avi is currently the Chief Operating Officer of GreatPoint Energy.

Jonathan Abbett Vice President A lifelong Bay Stater, Jonathan moved to Brookline in 2003 with his wife Sarah and promptly joined the Young Israel family. Jonathan holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Computer Science from Brandeis University, where he was drawn to the Orthodox community by gracious offerings of delicious cholent. (His devotion to fine kosher food continued with the creation of the Kosher Blog in late 2003.) Following a brief stint as an event volunteer, he was tapped to chair the shul's Programming Committee; our annual barbecue remains his pet project. Jonathan works at the Children's Hospital Informatics Program as a user experience engineer. The Abbetts have one son, Avraham, whose weekly highlight is Shabbat morning kiddush.

Mordecai Kramer Vice President Originally from Montreal, Mordecai enjoys kayaking in the offseason and also retains his passion for ice hockey, attaining USA Hockey Level 3 coaching status. An Accounting and Economics major at YU, Mordy received an MBA from McGill University in International Business, and currently works at Harvard Clinical Research Institute where he serves as Director of Business Development. A shul member since 1993, Mordy serves on our High Holiday seating committee and leads us in Pesukei D'zimrah during the yamim noraim. His wife Sharon (Hecht), a Brookline native, has a PhD in Social Psychology from Harvard and they have three children: Adam, Charlie and Theodora.

Dror Michaelson Vice President Originally from Teaneck, NJ, Dror moved to Boston with his family and joined the Young Israel in 1997. After graduating from Princeton University, Dror received his MD and PhD degrees from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and is currently a physician and clinical researcher at Mass General Hospital. He is married to Brookline native Jennifer (formerly Kosowsky) and they have three children, Sam, Jonathan and Ilana, who have grown up in our Kehilla. Jen and Dror have been active in the Young Israel and Maimonides communities for many years.

Rachelle Sara Morgenstern Vice President A West Lost Angeles native, Shelley joined Young Israel in 2006 moving to Brookline by way of Philadelphia and New York City. After graduating from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania she moved to the Upper Westside to work as a hedge fund analyst. While in NYC, she served on the Young Leadership Board of Manhattan's Jewish Center and performed with Juilliard. Shelley now lives in Brookline with her husband Michael and works at a Boston hedge fund as an investment professional covering the Healthcare Services and Biotechnology sectors.

Neeli Sudin Vice President Neeli grew up in Milwaukee and has followed in the footsteps of her parents, who are heavily involved in their synagogue and the community. She moved to Boston in 2001 after she graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in nursing. She then obtained her masters degree from the University of Massachusetts and now works as a nurse practitioner at Children's Hospital. Neeli and her husband Lyle were recently married and have been active members of YI Brookline for several years.

Robert Wolff Financial Secretary Bobby has been involved in YIB shul leadership positions for over 35 years. He served three tours of duty as our President, and has been Gabbai of our Hashkama Minyan and our Yomin Noraim "Social Hall" Minyan. Bobby has been chairman of the Young Israel Cemetery organization, and has executed the burdensome and thankless responsibilities as chairman of our Finance Committee. His wife Gladys has always been available to offer her active and enthusiastic support and counsel.

Julian Gorfajn Corresponding Secretary Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Julian joined the Young Israel of Brookline community in 1997. Julian received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in electrical engineering from Cornell University, where he was an active leader in the Orthodox community. He has used his technical skills to develop and improve a number of member services at the shul, including online high holiday seating reservations and mishloach manot ordering. Julian and his wife Shanna reside in Brookline with their twin toddlers, Eliezer and Devora.

Stanley Rabinovitz Honorary President After serving as president, Young Israel is happy that Stanley remains active in his position as honorary president. He was instrumental in organizing the renovation of our temporary facility, and by keeping an eye on expenses and working closely with the building contractors, assuring that the renovations were carried out quickly and inexpensively and applying that same sense of urgency and dedication to our new building.

Aaron Feuerstein Treasurer As treasurer, Aaron Feuerstein is in charge of the financial health at the synagogue, and has been responsible for financial planning and fundraising, having organized committees to solicit contributions for our Building Fund. Aaron has been recognized nationally in the press and has been profiled on TV's 60 Minutes for his unbelievable altruism to his workers, and long-standing service to our Young Israel and the Orthodox community.