Our Staff
Get to know the passionate individuals who bring NCSY’s vision to life.
Their expertise and dedication are shaping the Jewish world, one teen at a time.
Karen Steinberg
Regional Director
Regional Director
Karen’s tenure with NCSY spans over 20 years, including roles in Southwest, Southern, and New York NCSY. She attended Shafrman’s seminary in Israel and graduated Touro College with degrees in Business and Sociology.
Karen lives with her family in Boca Raton, FL. Her cat, Rocket, is the unofficial mascot for Southwest NCSY.
Emily Yaffe
Operations Manager; City Director, Austin NCSY & JSU
Operations Manager; City Director, Austin NCSY & JSU
Emily has been with Southwest NCSY, helping to grow the Austin chapter and organize the region’s operations, for about three years. A graduate from San Diego State University, with degrees in English Literature and Theatre Arts, Emily has worked in a variety of fields prior to joining Southwest. Previous roles include Communications and Donor Relations for a non-profit theatre, Hebrew School Director, and Disneyland Attractions Hostess (feel free to ask her how amazing this job was!).
In her work and life, Emily is guided by the wisdom of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and Dennis Prager, believing in the importance of modeling and teaching Torah values to the world. Outside of work, Emily enjoys performing improv, singing, dancing, and baking desserts for other people. She lives with her husband and three children in Leander, TX.
“Shammai says, ‘Make your Torah [study] fixed, say little and do much, and receive every person with a pleasant countenance.'”
Rabbi Avi Honigsfeld
City Director, Dallas NCSY & JSU
Shiffy Jacobs
City Director, Houston NCSY & JSU
Rabbi Yisrael Kellner
Denver NCSY High School Director
Rabbi Michel Lomner
Olami Launch Gap Year Specialist
Rabbi Yonatan Nuszen
City Director, Denver Junior NCSY & JSU
Meira Viramontes
Chapter Director
Chapter Director
Meira is the Chapter Director for Southwest NCSY in San Antonio, Texas. She first got involved with NCSY as a high school student and is excited to now be part of the team helping create the same meaningful experiences for the next generation. She has a passion for building relationships with teens, creating engaging Jewish programming, and helping young people feel connected to their Jewish identity and community. She is currently a senior at UTSA studying Business Management.
Outside of NCSY, Meira enjoys staying active, baking sourdough, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to continue growing with NCSY and helping build a strong Jewish community in San Antonio!
Dovi Matthews
JSU Coordinator, Houston
JSU Coordinator, Houston
Dovi is from Montreal and is, first and foremost, a proud, loving, and patient father of two beautiful girls.
Dovi has a special passion for kiruv and for helping others discover the genuine fulfillment and happiness found in Yiddishkeit. Beyond the otherworldly reasons for serving Hashem, he has grown to deeply appreciate the very real, this-worldly meaning and benefits that Yiddishkeit brings to our lives. He especially enjoys sharing these perspectives and introducing ideas that others may never have considered before.
Having experienced the regular ups and downs that come with anyone’s journey of growth, Dovi is passionate about sharing thoughts that spark meaningful conversations, encourage personal growth, and help build deeper relationships.
He is incredibly excited to join the NCSY team and to have the opportunity to spend his working days doing meaningful work and true avodas Hashem. He looks forward to meeting, learning from, and getting to know everyone!
Dina Robkin
Dallas JSU Coordinator
Dallas JSU Coordinator
Dina Robkin is the JSU Coordinator for Southwest NCSY in Dallas, Texas, where she enjoys building meaningful relationships with teens and creating engaging Jewish programming. Before joining Southwest NCSY, Dina worked as a teacher at a local Jewish day school. She is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and expects to graduate next year. Dina is committed to supporting young adults, fostering community, and helping others grow in their Jewish identity.
Outside of work, Dina enjoys spending time with family and friends, grabbing her favorite coffee (a brown sugar shaken espresso), traveling, enjoying good food, and staying active through Zumba. She looks forward to combining her love for Jewish education, community, and social work throughout her career.
Haiely Fiero
Administrative Assistant & Rebo Coordinator
Administrative Assistant & Rebo Coordinator
Hailey has been with Southwest NCSY for almost 7 years, starting in her freshman year of high school as an NCSYer! After spending a year and a half in Jerusalem in Aish Gesher for Women, she is now going into her Junior year at Stern College for Women in Manhattan, studying Psychology. She currently serves as an advisor and spent this past summer working on NCSY GIVE. She can’t wait to continue her time with NCSY this coming year!
Shmuely Pak
Advisor Coordinator
Advisor Coordinator
Shmuely Pak is from Cedarhurst, NY and has been a Southwest advisor for the best 3 years. He’s super excited to join the team as an advisor coordinator and to continue working with all of the Southwest teens!
Rabbi Yehoshua Marchuck
Executive Director of NCSY Alumni
Rabbi Israel Lashak
Senior Educator, International NCSY
