Matan’s Staff

Matan is proud to have a uniquely qualified staff, bringing together professionals with diverse backgrounds in order to meet the needs of Jewish institutions, families and children.  For Matan’s dedicated staff members, creating Jewish opportunities for children with special needs is much more than a job.

Dori Frumin Kirshner, Executive Director
Before becoming the Executive Director, Dori served as Matan’s Associate Executive Director for a year and a half.  Prior to joining the Matan team, Dori was at UJA-Federation of NY for seven years, in both planning as well as fundraising capacities.  Dori served as the Director of The Jewish Leadership Forum, a department which seeks to cultivate and engage the “next generation” of philanthropic leaders, raising $3 million annually from fewer than eighty donors.  Dori began her professional career at The Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan as a bi-lingual educator (Hebrew and English), upon completion of her MA in Education from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America.  Dori received her BA in sociology and Judaic Studies from Emory University.

Maya Blank, Site Supervisor
Maya Blank was born in Israel where she completed her theater studies at the prestigious Thelma Yellin School of the Arts. She was seen in leading roles in several films and stage productions, among them at the National Habimah Theater. Upon completing her military service as a film producer in the Israeli Defense Force Film Unit Maya went on to design and direct theater and storytelling workshops for children ages 3-13 in Israel. She moved to New York where she earned a Bachelor’s degree focusing on Psychology and Media Studies from Hunter College and a Master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in autism from Columbia University’s Teachers College. After working for several years as a teacher delivering special education services to children and their families at home and at school, Maya became the head teacher and designer of a unique Jewish tradition program for children with autism at the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue.

Chava Kadosh, Site Supervisor
Chava Kadosh, LMSW, holds Masters Degree in Social Work from New York University and Child Development from Sarah Lawrence College.  She has had a wide range of clinical and educational experience working with children. Last year, she was the Child and Maternal Health Fellow in neurodevelopmental and related disabilities at the Rose Kennedy Center of Albert Einstein College. In addition to serving as a Matan site supervisor, Chava is currently working in a clinical capacity with children, adolescents and adults at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services.

Orlee Krass, Director of Education
Orlee Krass obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Judaic Studies from the University of Massachusetts and her Master of Science degree in Education from Mercy College in New York. She taught students with a wide range of special needs at elementary schools in Manhattan and the Bronx for 8 years. Orlee has taught students with special needs in multiple formal and informal Jewish educational settings and has been with Matan since 2010.

Fran Pearlman, Professional Development Consultant
Frances B. Pearlman has been working in Jewish education for over twenty-five years. She is currently pursuing an EdD at the Jewish Theological Seminary in the areas of Jewish Education and Special Education. She holds an MA in Jewish Education Administration from Spertus Institute of Chicago and a BA in Hebrew Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Fran also holds an RJE (Reform Jewish Educator) certificate from the Union for Reform Judaism. Fran has worked in Jewish day schools, congregational schools, Jewish summer camps and public schools. She has extensive experience with curricular development (particularly in adapting curricula to accommodate diverse learners), teacher training, as well as in training shadows to work with students with special needs. Fran is a past President of CAJE (the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education).

Meredith Englander Polsky, Special Education Coordinator
Meredith was one of the co-founders of Matan, and recently returned to the professional staff after serving as a board member for 4 years.  Meredith holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan, a Masters degree in Special Education from Bank Street College and a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work from Columbia University.  In 2001, Meredith was one of eight national recipients of the first fellowships awarded by Joshua Venture: A Fellowship for Jewish Social Entrepreneurs.  Meredith currently resides in Gaithersburg, MD with her husband and three children.