Speakers and Mentors

List in Formation

• Debbie Fox, LCSW
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  Debbie Fox, LCSW

  Founder and creator of the internationally recognized Safety Kid program, Debbie Fox has facilitated a unique partnership between schools, families and children to create a safer world for our community’s youngest members; at home, school and at camp. Guided by her passion for keeping children safe, she established Magen Yeladim Child Safety Institute in 2013 and currently serves as its director, consulting throughout the world on abuse prevention and intervention. A licensed social worker, Debbie also lectures frequently and has published within her areas of expertise and most recently authored Seminary Savvy: Every Girl’s Guide to a Successful, Safe, and Satisfying Experience – in Seminary and Beyond. Her work as a consultant has been utilized by county and state agencies in the areas of child, family and cross-cultural sensitivity training, for which she has received letters of honor and recognition. 

• Dr. Rachel Wilensky
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  Dr. Rachel Wilensky

  Dr. Rachel Wilensky is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Lower Merion, PA, specializing in working with teens and adults with anxiety, depression, and ADHD. As part of her private practice, she consults with Jewish day schools in the broader Philadelphia area. She worked previously as a psychologist at Lehigh Valley Health Network, Center for Integrated Behavioral Health, and Maayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls. In addition to her work as a psychologist, Dr. Wilensky currently teaches Judaic studies at Kohelet Yeshiva High School. For 13 years, Dr. Wilensky served as a Rebbetzin in both the Upper West Side of Manhattan and Allentown, PA. In this capacity, she was involved in many initiatives, including running the Lehigh Valley community mikvah, teaching kallah classes, and serving on the board of the local Jewish Family Services and was a sought-after lecturer at the Jewish Federation. In her Jewish communal work she enjoys engaging with people of all backgrounds in their Jewish growth and learning. 

• Roz Sherman, M.A., Ph.D.
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  Roz Sherman, M.A., Ph.D.

  Dr. Roz Sherman is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Manhattan.  She earned her B.A. in English Literature from Barnard College, her Hebrew Teacher’s Diploma from Yeshiva University Teachers Institute for Women, and her M.A. in Jewish Studies from the Touro Graduate School of Jewish Studies.  After a successful career as manager of a technical documentation department at JPMorgan Chase, she received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University.  Dr. Sherman currently serves as co-director and adjunct professor at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology/Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary program where she teaches psychology to rabbinical students to increase their psychological sensitivity, knowledge, and skills.  She also serves on the board of the Orthodox Union, where she is chair of Jewish Action magazine, and the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health in Manhattan. 

• Rebbetzin Dr. Jessica Kalmar
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  Rebbetzin Dr. Jessica Kalmar

  Rebbetzin Dr. Jessica Kalmar is Associate Professor of Psychology, Director of the Psychology Laboratory and Coordinator of the Honors Program at Lakeland University in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. She and her husband, Rabbi Wesley Kalmar, are Rabbi and Rebbetzin at Anshe Sfard Kehillat Torah (ASKT) in Glendale, Wisconsin. Jessica takes an active role in the shul including teaching varied classes, leading book reviews, providing inspiration at Women’s Tehillim Group and teaching kallot.  Prior to serving as a Rebbetzin, Jessica’s involvement in Jewish communal work included teaching with Operation V’shenantem in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, YUSSR in Minsk, Belarus and T’Chiya Volunteers in Israel. Jessica studied at Michlalah in Jerusalem before earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology and political science from Stern College, Yeshiva University. She holds a master’s degree in psychology from Queens College, City University of New York and a doctoral degree in neuropsychology from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Jessica and her husband are the proud parents of four children who love living in the wonderfully warm ASKT community. The Kalmars are one third of the way towards reaching their goal of hiking in the beautiful 79 Wisconsin state parks, forests and recreation areas.

• Bea Hollander-Goldfein Ph.D., LMFT
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  Bea Hollander-Goldfein Ph.D., LMFT

   

  Bea Hollander-Goldfein is the former Director of the Post Graduate Certificate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy at the Council for Relationships. Since 1991 Bea has been the Director of the Transcending Trauma Project which is a large scale research program investigating coping and adaptation after extreme trauma. She holds the position of Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Couple and Family Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA. Bea is licensed as a Clinical Psychologist and as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She is an AAMFT approved supervisor. She is also a member of the American Family Therapy Association. Bea received her doctorate in psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University and subsequently expanded her academic training to include certification in Marriage and Family Therapy. Systemic theory has guided her clinical practice and research activities for over 30 years. She has presented broadly on the topic of trauma and the importance of an integrated model of coping and adaptation. She has also published in the fields of Marriage and Family Therapy and Trauma studies. 

• Mrs. Cheryl Epstein, MSW
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  Mrs. Cheryl Epstein, MSW

  Mrs. Cheryl Epstein is the Dean of Kosloff Torah Academy, a girls’ high school in suburban Philadelphia, and an experienced teacher and school leader.   Mrs. Epstein has worked as an Associate Program Consultant for the Jewish New Teacher Project, training veteran teachers to become mentor teachers and facilitating training for novice Jewish day school administrators.  She currently serves as a consultant to Torah Umesorah, mentoring school leaders in girls’ schools. She has presented professional development workshops in a wide range of schools and education conferences. Mrs. Epstein is a graduate of Harvard University and earned a Masters degree in Social Work from Columbia University. 

• Mrs. Tamar Sheffey, LCSW
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  Mrs. Tamar Sheffey, LCSW

  Mrs. Tamar Sheffey, LCSW, is the Director of Guidance at Yeshiva University High School For Boys and has worked with the adolescent population for over twenty-five years in both clinical and prevention settings. Tamar is a member of the OHEL Trauma and Crisis Intervention Team and is a part of Prizmah’s Rising Leaders Cohort. She has presented on the topic of “Navigating Crisis Planning within a School Setting” for both OHEL and Prizmah. Tamar has a private practice where she meets one on one with teens, young adults, and adult women as well with parents for parents counseling. She offers school consultations regarding mental health and successfully setting up a school-based guidance department while offering off-site supervision for practicing school social workers. She received her Master’s of Social Work from Fordham University with a specialization in Children and Families. 

• Frani S. Pollack, LSW, Ph.D.
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  Frani S. Pollack, LSW, Ph.D.

  Frani S. Pollack is a licensed social work and psychologist. She has worked with individuals, couples, and families for over 25 years. Frani specializes in family work and teens/young adults struggling with multiple challenges. She teaches courses on eating disorders at the Sara Schenirer school of social work and teaches family work at the University of Pennsylvania, Council for relationships, and is a senior trainer at the Home-Based Family Program in Pennsylvania. Frani has taught family and couples work at the Family Institute in Har Nof Jerusalem. She has spoken at conferences, co-authored several book chapters, and has written in peer reviewed journals.