HINDY POUPKO

Executive Director

In September 2008, Hindy Poupko was appointed as Director of Israel and International Affairs at the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. She also serves as Executive Director of the Council of Young Jewish Presidents, the umbrella for 25 young professional organizations. Previously, Hindy was a Senior Associate at Brand Sphere, a political consulting firm, where she worked on print and radio advertising for the Hillary Clinton for President Campaign. Prior to that, she served as a communications intern for Hon. Corey Booker, Mayor of Newark, NJ. She earned her B.A. at Stern College for Women (Yeshiva University) and was subsequently chosen as a Yeshiva University Presidential Fellow. Hindy received her MA in Israel Studies and MPA in Public Policy at New York University (May 2009) and is a Wexner Graduate Fellow Alumnus. In June 2010, Hindy was listed in the Jewish Week’s “36 under 36.”

BRAM WEBER

Officer

Bram D. Weber is a Co-Founder and Partner of 8-attorney WEBER LAW GROUP LLP, Long Island’s premiere commercial real estate firm with practice groups in zoning and land use, real estate transactions and financing, environmental matters, commercial and real estate litigation, and governmental relations.

Mr. Weber is also proud to represent pro-bono, Long Island’s premier performing arts organization, Friends of the Arts, Inc. (FOTA) and Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism (NSSA) Martin C. Barell School, a school for autistic children and young adults. Mr. Weber also acts as pro-bono legal counsel and Board member to the Hannah Banana Foundation (an organization dedicated to making the hospital experiences of adult cancer patients more enjoyable).

Bram is the Chairman of the UJA-Federation of New York Real Estate and Allied Trades Division Young Real Estate Executives, Past Co-Chairman, American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Co-Founder and Former Co-Chairman, Brandeis University Emerging Leaders Society and was listed in the Long Island Business News (LIBN) in their “Rising Business Stars 40 Under 40.

JASON SHELLER

Officer

Jason is currently a Director with JP Morgan doing business development for Private Equity Fund Service group working with Private Equity and Institutional investors. Previously Jason was Senior Vice President with the Solomon Page Group where he was focused on project based consulting in the financial services industry. Jason became involved with the CYJP during its formation and is currently Vice Chairman of the Council. Jason came to the Council through his dedication and commitment to the Anti Defamation League (ADL) in which he has been involved in since 2002. Jason is currently a member of the New York Regional Board, is the former Chair of the Young Professionals division, a graduate of the Steinberg Leadership Institute, and was last year’s recipient of ADL's Future is Now Award.

ZOYA RAYNES FRIEDMAN

Chairwoman

Zoya Raynes Friedman is a senior member of the Capital Introduction team at Morgan Stanley. Outside of the office, Ms. Raynes is very active in the nonprofit and philanthropic community and in addition to her role as Chairwoman of the Council of Young Jewish Presidents, also serves on the board of directors of the following organizations: JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council) and is Co-Chair of it's Israel and International Affairs Commission, Executive Board Member of the Jewish Heritage Program, Head of the Nominating Committee and Executive Board Member of the Jewish Communal Fund and serves on the Drexel University LeBow College of Business Finance Advisory Council.  Ms. Raynes is a current Wexner Heritage Program participant.

Zoya Raynes Friedman was born in Kiev and immigrated to the US with her family in 1979. Ms. Raynes is married to Robert Friedman and together they are the proud parent’s of Avi Max Friedman.

BIANA SHILSHTUT

Officer

Biana Shilshtut is a member of the Wealth Management team at Morgan Stanley. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2010, she was an analyst at Bernstein Global Wealth Management Group. In New York, Biana is very active in the nonprofit community, specifically, within the Russian Jewish community. She serves on the boards of the NY Jewry Task Force at UJA-Federation, in addition to being an Executive Board member of the Council of Young Jewish Presidents. She is also one of the founding members of RJeneration, a grass-roots organization for young Russian Jewish Americans. In 2009, The Jewish Week included Biana in the “36 Under 36”, a list of the year’s 36 Jewish leaders and innovators. In 2012, Biana was selected to participate in the Wexner Heritage Program 2012-14.

ADENA PHILIPS

Officer

Adena began her consulting career as an analyst in the strategy and operations group at Deloitte Consulting and has since worked independently with numerous non-profit organizations, governments, and Fortune 500 companies in the US and internationally, providing strategic consulting services as well as executive coaching and workshop facilitation. Prior to consulting, Adena interned at a number of public sector organizations including the Israeli Foreign Ministry Center for International Cooperation (MASHAV). Adena is currently serving as co-chair of the AJC ACCESS board. She has served on the executive committee of CYJP since 2009.

Adena graduated summa cum laude from York University with a BA in Philosophy and Communications. She is currently pursuing her MBA at New York University Stern School of Business.

AVI RYZMAN

Treasurer

Avi Ryzman is a principal at Croft Properties, the real estate division of a third-generation family-office. His work entails acquisitions, asset management and redevelopment. Previously, Avi was an investment broker at Marcus & Millichap, a national real estate investment brokerage company.

Avi joined the CYJP in its founding years and assisted in its infancy. Currently, Avi is a member of the CYJP Executive Committee. In addition to his CYJP role, Avi has been involved in many lay roles, including the formation of the Ohel Children’s Home & Family Services Young Leadership Division, a member on the Dor Chadash Educational Committee, and over a decade of volunteering at the American Red Cross of Greater New York where he serves in the capacity of Partner Director of Logistics & Field Communications, providing logistical strategy planning and implementation. Additionally, he’s been selected to stand in formation as a representative in the 9/11 Honor Guard at Ground Zero, representing the emergency responders and victims of September 11. More recently, Avi has been appointed to be the Chair of the New York UJA-Federation’s Committee on Young Adults at Risk, as well as a member on the New York UJA-Federation’s Caring Commission Cabinet and on the Task Force on Poverty.

DAVID YA'ARI

Founder

David Ya’ari (formerly Borowich) is currently the CEO of DermaCloud™ and Chairman of A.B. Ya’ari Holdings. Mr. Ya’ari earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Yeshiva University and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Mr. Ya’ari has been influenced several philanthropic organizations, including Dor Chadash,  Parallel Lives, the West Side Institutional Synagogue on the UJA Commission on the Jewish People and JCRC-NY (Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. For Israel’s 60^th anniversary, David conceived of and chaired the official NY celebration at Radio City Music Hall and was selected as the Grand Marshall of the Salute to Israel Parade.

He was active with the NY City Mentoring program and is the recipient of a Community leadership award from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a recipient of the first annual Herzl prize.   In 2008, David was listed among the Forward’s 50 most influential Jewish individuals in America.  David and his wife Sivan, founder of Innovation: Africa (a United Nations member NGO), reside in Tel-Aviv, Israel with their three children, Aaron, Emily and Adam.

ROBYN POLANSKY

Secretary

Robyn Polansky is Vice President, Research Analyst in the New York City office of Bessemer Trust, a privately-owned wealth management and advisory firm that focuses exclusively on high-net-worth individuals and families. At Bessemer Trust, Robyn is responsible for traditional (long-only) equity and fixed income investment manager research, selection and oversight as well as client assest allocation and portfolio construction.

Robyn is an avid volunteer and active lay leader for numerous charitable organizations in New York. In addition to her position the Executive Board for CYJP, Robyn currently serves on the Young Leadership Boards of the Friend of the Israel Defense Force (FIDF), the Jewish Children'#39;s Museum in Brooklyn, as well as at the Bottomless Closet, which provides disadvantaged women with the skills needed to attain economic self-sufficiency including training and business attire. In 2011, The Jewish Week included Robyn on its annual "36 Under 36" list which honors professionals and lay leaders who are reshaping Jewish life around the world.

Robyn received a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Union College in Schenectady, New York and is currently pursuing an M.B.A. in Fin

ANDY ASHWAL

Vice Chairman

Andy Ashwal is an Executive Director with KW Property Management and Consulting. He manages the day-to-day operations for KW’s interests in the New York Metro Area.

Andy became involved with CYJP while serving as JNFuture’s Chairman and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Council. In additional to the CYJP, Andy remains involved with JNF serving as a member of JNF’s New York Board of Directors and is a member of Algemeiner Inner Circle.

MICHAEL LITTENBERG-BROWN

Member of the Board

Michael Littenberg-Brown works in development and strategy for the OneVoice Movement. Michael is also the founder of the Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) Young Leadership Group, and serves as the Young Leadership Chairman in a volunteer capacity. Michael received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and holds a Masters from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

SHIRA BOSCHAN

Member of the Board

Shira Boschan has joined the CYJP board through her involvement with the Council as one of the co-chairs for the Anti Defamation League'#39;s Next Generation Philanthropy (NGP) group and as a member of ADL'#39;s Regional Board. She has helped grow and lead the ADL NGP group throughout the past few years and received the ADL Daniel Ginsberg Leadership Award in 2012. Additionally, she continues to be involved with AIPAC and UJA Federation.

Shira is currently the Regional Director of Customer Care for Raymour & Flanigan Furniture. She oversees and manages the Customer Care offices in multiple Raymour & Flanigan showrooms. Shira graduated from the University of Pennsylvania'#39;s Wharton School in 2007 followed by a year of Jewish study in Israel at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. Shira is married to her husband Jared and together they live in NYC.