Board of Directors
Leonid Vayner
Leonid Vayner was born in Kiev, USSR, and moved to the United States in 1989, graduated with an MBA in strategic management, works in the financial service industry, and resides in the Manhattan Beach area with his wife and three children.
Leonid has been involved with several nonprofit organizations as a volunteer for many years (e.g., Per Scholas, Mentor New York, Ellis Island-Statue of Liberty Foundation) and served as president of the Jewish Student Union at NYU-Polytechnic University.
Leonid has served on Kings Bay YM-YWHA’s Board of Directors since 2014 (and held various roles as Vice President of the Board, Chair of the Finance Committee, and Chair of the Strategic Planning & Board Governance Task Forces).
Leonid is an alumnus of the Wexner Heritage Program. For his service to the community, he has been recognized by Morgan Stanley as a “Volunteer Honoree” in 2013 & 2017, the UJA-Federation of New York with the “Community Changemaker Award” in 2016, and the NYC Mayoral Service Recognition Award in 2018.
Leonid has been involved with several nonprofit organizations as a volunteer for many years (e.g., Per Scholas, Mentor New York, Ellis Island-Statue of Liberty Foundation) and served as president of the Jewish Student Union at NYU-Polytechnic University.
Leonid has served on Kings Bay YM-YWHA’s Board of Directors since 2014 (and held various roles as Vice President of the Board, Chair of the Finance Committee, and Chair of the Strategic Planning & Board Governance Task Forces).
Leonid is an alumnus of the Wexner Heritage Program. For his service to the community, he has been recognized by Morgan Stanley as a “Volunteer Honoree” in 2013 & 2017, the UJA-Federation of New York with the “Community Changemaker Award” in 2016, and the NYC Mayoral Service Recognition Award in 2018.
Leonard Gekhman
Leonard Gekhman is an attorney practicing law in the New York metropolitan area. He was born in Kiev, Ukraine, and immigrated to the United States in 1992 with his family, graduating from law school in 2000. Prior to attaining his law degree, Leonard was employed as a Russian Outreach Coordinator for Hillel of New York, organizing Jewish life at City and Hunter Colleges.
Leonard has been active in the Jewish community as well as the community at large, serving as pro bono counsel for various community organizations.
He is a past member of Brooklyn Community Board 13 and a member of the Advisory Board and Chair of the Committee on Litigation of the Russian American Bar Association. He resides in Merrick, New York, with his wife and daughter.
Leonard has been active in the Jewish community as well as the community at large, serving as pro bono counsel for various community organizations.
He is a past member of Brooklyn Community Board 13 and a member of the Advisory Board and Chair of the Committee on Litigation of the Russian American Bar Association. He resides in Merrick, New York, with his wife and daughter.
Igor Gorelik
Igor Gorelik was born in Bobruisk, USSR. In 1996, he moved to the United States with his family.
Igor graduated with a degree in orthodontics and prosthetic dentistry from Vitebsk Medical School and obtained his BS in computer science from NYU-Polytechnic School of Engineering.
Igor has served the local community as an NYPD auxiliary officer. For his outstanding service and dedication to the community, Igor has been recognized by the NYPD with the “APO Of The Year 2017” award. Igor has been an active member and lay leader in the Jewish community.
He provided technology and audiovisual services for Kings Bay YM-YWHA, Shorefront Jewish Center, Brooklyn School of Inquiry, Limmud FSU, COJECO Project Dacha, and iMishpacha and hosted the Jewish Youth Film Series.
Igor resides in the Sheepshead Bay area with his wife and three children.
Igor graduated with a degree in orthodontics and prosthetic dentistry from Vitebsk Medical School and obtained his BS in computer science from NYU-Polytechnic School of Engineering.
Igor has served the local community as an NYPD auxiliary officer. For his outstanding service and dedication to the community, Igor has been recognized by the NYPD with the “APO Of The Year 2017” award. Igor has been an active member and lay leader in the Jewish community.
He provided technology and audiovisual services for Kings Bay YM-YWHA, Shorefront Jewish Center, Brooklyn School of Inquiry, Limmud FSU, COJECO Project Dacha, and iMishpacha and hosted the Jewish Youth Film Series.
Igor resides in the Sheepshead Bay area with his wife and three children.
Natalya Malamud
Natalya Malamud was born in Khmelnitsky, Ukraine, and moved to the United States with her family in 1993. She graduated with a BA in management and a certification in project management, and she works in the public health industry.
In addition, Natalya is a certified Russian language translator and interpreter. Natalya resides with her husband and two children in Marine Park, Brooklyn. Since 2009, Natalya has actively engaged with the Jewish community, participating in various programs that aim to enhance Jewish education.
Natalya, together with her husband Dmitriy, hosted Jewish Youth Film Series and helped organize and run events such as Annual Family Picnics, Shabbat Project, etc.
In addition, Natalya is a certified Russian language translator and interpreter. Natalya resides with her husband and two children in Marine Park, Brooklyn. Since 2009, Natalya has actively engaged with the Jewish community, participating in various programs that aim to enhance Jewish education.
Natalya, together with her husband Dmitriy, hosted Jewish Youth Film Series and helped organize and run events such as Annual Family Picnics, Shabbat Project, etc.
Dmitriy Malamud
Dmitriy Malamud was born in Odessa, USSR, and moved to the United States in 1991, graduated with an MS in Computer Science, works in the financial services industry, and resides in the Marine Park area with his wife and two children.
Dmitriy has been involved with the Jewish community since 2009 and participated in several programs aimed at increasing Jewish education and engagement among the RSJ community.
He, together with his wife, had hosted the Jewish Youth Film Series and organized outdoor picnics aimed at strengthening community bonds, and he showed his support for Israel as a participant in the Israel Day parade.
Dmitriy has been involved with the Jewish community since 2009 and participated in several programs aimed at increasing Jewish education and engagement among the RSJ community.
He, together with his wife, had hosted the Jewish Youth Film Series and organized outdoor picnics aimed at strengthening community bonds, and he showed his support for Israel as a participant in the Israel Day parade.
Dmitry Nadelson
Dmitry Nadelson was born in Minsk, USSR, and moved to the United States in 1991 and established a small business in Sheepshead Bay, where he resides with his wife and two children.
Dmitry served as the president of Hillel at Baruch College from 1996 to 1999 and has led program planning for the annual Limmud FSU NY from 2012 to the present.
Dmitry organized, hosted, and led several successful programs in the RSJ community, such as multi-day Jewish Heritage Family trips, ‘Autism Walk’ to raise awareness and funds for autism programs, etc.
For his service to the community, Dmitry has been recognized with the NYC Mayoral Service Recognition Award in 2018.
Dmitry served as the president of Hillel at Baruch College from 1996 to 1999 and has led program planning for the annual Limmud FSU NY from 2012 to the present.
Dmitry organized, hosted, and led several successful programs in the RSJ community, such as multi-day Jewish Heritage Family trips, ‘Autism Walk’ to raise awareness and funds for autism programs, etc.
For his service to the community, Dmitry has been recognized with the NYC Mayoral Service Recognition Award in 2018.
Inna Paller
Inna Paller was born in Minsk, USSR, and moved to the United States with her family in 1990, where she resides in Brooklyn with her husband and three children.
Inna works in the financial services industry, specializing in quality control, process improvement, and coaching, and recently has been spotlighted as an outstanding quality professional.
She has also been involved as a volunteer in the Women’s Leadership Project and The Women’s Initiative, where she has helped organize and run multiple events.
Inna is passionate about preserving Jewish heritage, outreach among Russian-speaking Jewry, and community building.
Inna works in the financial services industry, specializing in quality control, process improvement, and coaching, and recently has been spotlighted as an outstanding quality professional.
She has also been involved as a volunteer in the Women’s Leadership Project and The Women’s Initiative, where she has helped organize and run multiple events.
Inna is passionate about preserving Jewish heritage, outreach among Russian-speaking Jewry, and community building.
Inna Yavorsky
Inna Yavorsky was born in Odessa, USSR, and moved to the United States with her family in the 1990s and resides in Sheepshead Bay with her husband and two children.
Inna graduated with an MS degree in pharmaceutical marketing; she is a registered pharmacist (NY, NJ) and an accomplished senior product/project manager with extensive experience in the digital and healthcare industries.
Inna has been extensively involved with the local RSJ community. As co-founder and lay leader in iMishpacha, Inna helped with event planning and organization, volunteered, and provided many innovative ideas to improve Jewish community outreach, including hosting iMishpacha events for teenagers that bolstered their Jewish identity. In addition, Inna performs concerts at the Jewish community’s nursing home with her children.
Inna graduated with an MS degree in pharmaceutical marketing; she is a registered pharmacist (NY, NJ) and an accomplished senior product/project manager with extensive experience in the digital and healthcare industries.
Inna has been extensively involved with the local RSJ community. As co-founder and lay leader in iMishpacha, Inna helped with event planning and organization, volunteered, and provided many innovative ideas to improve Jewish community outreach, including hosting iMishpacha events for teenagers that bolstered their Jewish identity. In addition, Inna performs concerts at the Jewish community’s nursing home with her children.
Ayzik Shikh
Ayzik Shikh was born in Chernovtsy, USSR, moved to the United States in 1994, graduated with an MS in Information Security and Physics, works in the financial services industry, and resides in Sheepshead Bay with his wife and three sons.
Ayzik has been involved as a volunteer and lay leader in many community initiatives. For example, Ayzik established the Brooklyn Lions Basketball Club (operating since 2012; the largest in southern Brooklyn, serving more than 100 boys). For five years, Ayzik has served as head of the Kings Bay YM-YWHA delegation to the JCC Maccabi program.
Ayzik created and led “The Brooklyn Beats” (a kids musical rock group made up of talented kids from the local RSJ community) that performed at numerous events and venues.
Ayzik, together with his wife Rimma, created “Amazing Minds,” a STEM program for the young children aimed at teaching different science topics in an interactive and engaged manner.
Ayzik led, hosted, and organized numerous events such as the Shabbos Project, Chanukah Celebration, Jewish Youth Film Series, etc. For his tireless and dedicated work in the Russian-speaking Jewish community, Ayzik (and his wife, Rimma) was recognized with the Daily Point of Light Award in 2018.
Ayzik has been involved as a volunteer and lay leader in many community initiatives. For example, Ayzik established the Brooklyn Lions Basketball Club (operating since 2012; the largest in southern Brooklyn, serving more than 100 boys). For five years, Ayzik has served as head of the Kings Bay YM-YWHA delegation to the JCC Maccabi program.
Ayzik created and led “The Brooklyn Beats” (a kids musical rock group made up of talented kids from the local RSJ community) that performed at numerous events and venues.
Ayzik, together with his wife Rimma, created “Amazing Minds,” a STEM program for the young children aimed at teaching different science topics in an interactive and engaged manner.
Ayzik led, hosted, and organized numerous events such as the Shabbos Project, Chanukah Celebration, Jewish Youth Film Series, etc. For his tireless and dedicated work in the Russian-speaking Jewish community, Ayzik (and his wife, Rimma) was recognized with the Daily Point of Light Award in 2018.
Vadim Vaiman
Vadim Vaiman was born in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine in the former USSR. In 1990 his family made Aliyah to Israel, where he got an education and completed military service. He and his wife have followed their passion in information technology and immigrated to the USA in 2000, where he built a successful career as an IT specialist.
Being a man of many trades, Vadim is involved in everything related to technology and media and helps iMishpacha reach its members and audience through a variety of channels.
Vadim, as Director of Account Management at a global IT company, has very deep relations with communities around the globe, including Eastern Europe, the European Union, China, India, and Mexico.
Being a man of many trades, Vadim is involved in everything related to technology and media and helps iMishpacha reach its members and audience through a variety of channels.
Vadim, as Director of Account Management at a global IT company, has very deep relations with communities around the globe, including Eastern Europe, the European Union, China, India, and Mexico.