Administration

Dr. Norman Blumenthal is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Cedarhurst, New York. Having received his masters in 1976 and doctorate in 1981 from Adelphi University, he is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Education of CAHAL. In addition, Dr. Blumenthal serves as the Coordinator of Group Psychotherapy Training for Interns and Residents at the North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System and consultant to TOVA – a mentoring program for disenfranchised teens. A past Vice President and current Board member of NEFESH (The International Network of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals), Dr. Blumenthal also runs a program for parental loss and grief for Chai Lifeline and recently assumed the position as Education Director of the Bella and Harry Wexner Kollel Elyon and Semikha Honors Program at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University which provides training in counseling, public speaking and the like to prospective rabbis.

Dr. Blumenthal has been instrumental in the growth and development of the CAHAL program since its inception. As CAHAL’s founder, he served as the first president of the organization and remains an active member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board of Education. He supervises the staff psychologists and is a consultant to the CAHAL administration and teachers.

sheldon@cahal.org

Shimmie Ehrenreich has been Executive Director of CAHAL since 2003. He is responsible for the daily financial management of the program. This includes all accounting duties, tuition collections, payroll, fundraising, and office management. Mr. Ehrenreich has a BA degree in Economics and Business Administration from Brooklyn College. He spent most of his business career in importing and wholesale distribution of industrial sewing machinery, factory equipment, parts and supplies. He left that industry in 2003 and was recruited by the officers of CAHAL to take command of the management of the program.

Mr. Ehrenreich is a 45 year resident of West Hempstead. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Young Israel of West Hempstead for 42 years, and has served in many leadership capacities including President, Vice President, Financial Secretary and Gabbai. He is a former member of the Board of the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County, and current President of American Friends of Zir Chemed, a halachic fertility clinic in Israel.

naomi@cahal.org

Naomi Nadata has been the Program Director of CAHAL since its inception in the summer of 1992. She is responsible for all educational aspects of the program including staff selection and supervision, student admissions, parent communication and support, interaction with mainstream staff and administration, curriculum design, and staff training and development.

Prior to her position in CAHAL, Mrs. Nadata spent twelve years as Resource Room Coordinator at Yeshiva Tifereth Moshe and the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County, where she established and coordinated their resource room programs. From 1997 through 2002, Mrs. Nadata served as a member of the Presidium of the Council of Jewish Special Educators, a coalition of special educators in yeshivas and Jewish day schools providing staff development and networking opportunities, sponsored by the Board of Jewish Education of New York. In 1999, Mrs. Nadata participated in a New York State workshop contributing to the development of the fourth grade social studies state assessment for Goals 2000.

Mrs. Nadata has presented workshops at various Jewish day schools and teacher training programs throughout the tri-state area. In addition, she has traveled to many states to provide support and workshops to communities designing and implementing special education programs modeled after CAHAL.

Mrs. Nadata has a BA degree from Barnard College in psychology and general education, and an MS degree from New York University in learning disabilities and neurological impairment. She earned New York State certifications in School Administration and Supervision and School District Administration at Queens College.

alice@cahal.org

Alice Feltheimer is the Educational Coordinator for the CAHAL Program. Mrs. Feltheimer develops curriculum and special projects, and coordinates student-related services for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and counseling. She is responsible for coordinating all New York City and Nassau County CSE (Committee of Special Education) paperwork, guiding parents through the CSE process, and, along with Mrs. Nadata, attending all CSE meetings. Mrs. Feltheimer meets with staff members on a regular basis and coordinates General Studies staff development. She is responsible for the purchasing and implementation of special education materials for each CAHAL class and oversees the English Resource Library. Mrs. Feltheimer also evaluates students for class placement, and participates in the hiring and supervision of teachers and teacher assistants.

Mrs. Feltheimer has a B.A. degree from Brooklyn College, and MA degrees in Reading and General Education. Prior to her current position, Mrs. Feltheimer was a Master Teacher in the New York City Public School system with extensive experience in teaching English as a second language, general education, special education and classes for gifted students. She also directed many workshops for New York City teachers in these areas. Mrs. Feltheimer spent over sixteen years in the New York City Public School system prior to assuming her current position as the CAHAL Educational Coordinator.

Rina@cahal.org

Mrs. Rina Hirsch serves as the Director of Development and is the assistant Program Director to Mrs. Naomi Nadata. She has worked in the field of education for over twenty years, teaching and developing curriculum. Mrs. Hirsch is passionate about theater and education, and has spent many years giving children the opportunity to learn about the world and themselves through drama as a modality. Prior to her position at CAHAL, Mrs. Hirsch was the director of Drama for Life!, in which cultivating relationships, fundraising, and event planning were the foundations of running a successful business. Mrs. Hirsch developed and implemented community-wide programs with great success and continues doing that in her current role. Additionally, she is promoting community relations by developing monthly newsletters and organizing community events.

Mrs. Hirsch has a BA degree from Stern College in psychology, and an MA degree from Hunter College in theater.

RabbiL@cahal.org

Rabbi Justin Lepolstat has been a part of the CAHAL team both as an experienced and dedicated Rebbe as well as an outstanding general studies teacher since 2010. CAHAL is fortunate to have Rabbi Lepolstat expand his role to Associate Program Administrator, establishing new relationships with the teachers and students in CAHAL’s classrooms. Additionally, Rabbi Lepolstat looks forward to connecting with CAHAL’s ten partner schools and working closely with their administrators and teachers to ensure the success of the students.

Rabbi Lepolstat has a BA degree in Sociology from Yeshiva University and an MA degree in General and Special Education from Touro College. He is New York state certified in both general and special education. Rabbi Lepolstat lives with his family in West Hempstead, New York.

Rabbi Waxman studied at Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim in Israel and learned for two years in Kollel Harbotzas Torah. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2000 from Touro College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and a minor in Psychology.

Rabbi Moishe Waxman has been a Rebbe with CAHAL since 1999 at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island, and HAFTR. Since 2010 he has been teaching our students at the Yeshiva of South Shore. Rabbi Waxman has served as the Hebrew Curriculum Coordinator for CAHAL since 2005 and is responsible for organizing and disseminating Judaic Studies teacher-developed materials within the CAHAL program. Additionally, he provides curriculum development support for the CAHAL Judaic studies staff.

Mrs. Sori Herskovits, LMSW, is the staff social worker consulting exclusively for the CAHAL program. She was educated in our local community. Mrs. Herskovits received a Bachelors degree in Education and psychology from Touro College. She attended Adelphi University for her Masters in Social Work.

Mrs. Herskovits brings years of experience in the yeshiva and clinical setting to her role with our students. She interacts with our students both, on an individual basis and in the classroom setting. Each child’s individualized psycho-educational goals are developed in consultation with the classroom teacher. Sori is committed to enabling each student to thrive in both his and her educational development and in becoming successful and active members of their communities.

shira@cahal.org

Mrs. Shira Cohen serves as the Program Coordinator of CAHAL. She has a BA in Psychology from Touro College and a M.Ed. in Child Development from SNHU. Mrs. Cohen brings over twenty years of experience and professionalism in working with nonprofit organizations. Mrs. Cohen helps coordinate the day-to-day operations of CAHAL, including communications, meetings, and the general functioning of the program. She also acts as a liaison between CAHAL’s participating schools, the parent body, teachers, administration, and both Nassau County and New York City school districts and personnel. Mrs. Cohen is a skilled fundraiser and event coordinator, both creative and innovative in her ideas. She is passionate about helping children and families in the community, and generates fresh ideas and opportunities to benefit CAHAL’s students. When she is not working with CAHAL, Mrs. Cohen spends time with her husband and five adorable children. She also volunteers for her shuls’ Neshei committees.

cahal@cahal.org

Mrs. Chani Lonner has been the Office Manger for CAHAL since 2018. She is responsible for assisting with all aspects of running the office’s day-to-day operations. Mrs. Lonner previously worked at Shor Yoshuv and Mesivta Ateres Yaakov in Accounts Receivable, helping to coordinate special events and fundraising campaigns.  Prior to starting a family, Mrs. Lonner worked as a Personnel/Benefits Manager at Bank Leumi.

Mrs. Lonner has a BA degree in Sociology from Brooklyn College and an MA degree in Personnel Management and Labor Relations from New York University.