Board Members
CO-PRESIDENT
Elie Rubinstein is a non-profit professional and humanitarian with more than 20 years of leadership experience working for the advancement of underserved individuals, families and children, locally and internationally. A skilled fundraiser, Elie Rubinstein most recently served as the Executive Director of Emergency USA, an international non-profit organization that supports various healthcare projects around the world through advocacy, fundraising, and recruitment of medical staff.
Elie Rubinstein earned his Bachelor of Science from Belorussian Polytechnic Institute in Minsk, Belarus, as well as his two master's degrees from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management and the Hornstein Program in Jewish Professional Leadership at Brandeis University. In his free time, Elie likes to play chess and run marathons.
CO-PRESIDENT
Eva-Maria Frank Tausig, is a long-time member of the Board. Her father, Ernst L. Frank, was one of the founding funders of the New York Foundation for Nursing Homes, the predecessor organization. Eva was born and raised in NYC. She received a B.A. in modern European history and German Literature at the University of Michigan, and she later studied linguistics at Columbia University. Eva and her husband Hans proudly raised four children in NYC.
Eva Maria Tausig joined the National Dance Institute board in the late 1970’s and is currently the longest serving board member. Her passion for the arts was further fulfilled as a co-founder of both the Nantucket Community Music Center and the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum. She has served as President of the Nantucket Musical Arts Society since 1977. A prolific fiber artist, Eva has donated over 1,000 handmade baby blankets, hats and scarves to Florida, Texas and most recently to Ukraine. Eva’s love for the arts, music and children complemented her commitment to supporting healthy communities.
VICE PRESIDENT
Elizabeth Scheines has served as the Project Manager at John H. Elton, Inc., spice brokers, for more than 20 years. Previously, she was a Film Archivist and Reference Book Editor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art/Getty Trust, Museum of Modern Art and at other arts organizations. Liz is a Trustee of the Park Slope Civic Council. Her experience as caretaker for her elderly mother sparked her interest in improving elder care. Her husband, Ron Elton, previously served as President and Board Member of NYFE. Liz received her BA from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and pursued graduate work in Cinema Studies at New York University.
SECRETARY
Masha Pearl is the Executive Director of The Blue Card, where she oversees national efforts to provide direct financial assistance to over 3,000 Holocaust survivor households living in poverty. Under her leadership, The Blue Card has expanded its reach to 35 states and raised over $30 million in support for survivors, offering services such as medical care, home care, and emergency response systems. Her leadership has earned the organization top honors, including Charity Navigator’s four-star rating and the Independent Charities of America’s Best in America Seal of Excellence.
Masha holds a B.A. from Binghamton University and an MBA from Pace University, and has been recognized by The Observer and Jewish Week for her philanthropic contributions.
TREASURER
Karen C Fang is an experienced board member with deep financial services and asset management experience. A passionate volunteer on behalf of her community, Karen cares deeply for the needs and welfare of the elderly. She is a strong advocate for healthy aging so that older adults may enjoy fulfilling independent lives.
Dr. Valerie Abel is a clinical psychologist who received her Psy.D. from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology in 1997. She is Board-certified as a Geropsychologist by the American Board of Professional Psychology and has specialty training and certification in neuropsychology. Throughout her 25+ year career, she has worked in various settings to apply psychology services to help older persons and their families to maintain well-being, overcome problems and achieve maximum potential during later life. Her work experience has spanned private practice, consultation and provision of services in long-term care and assisted-living facilities. Across her career she has contributed on state and national level professional psychology committees focused on psychological practice with older adults, advocacy for mental health services, and development and growth of Geropsychology as a professional specialty practice. For the last 18 years she has worked at the VA New York Harbor Healthcare system where she is the Chief of Psychology overseeing all psychology services integrated throughout the Brooklyn and St. Alban’s campuses of the medical center. Her clinical responsibilities continue to focus on working with interprofessional teams in various clinical settings including oncology-hematology, palliative care, geriatric primary care and neuropsychology/cognitive clinics. She also directs a Geropsychology postdoctoral training program to support the future development of psychologists in this specialty area.
Jill Ferrari has been a resident of New York City for over 35 years. She has served the senior community through her work as a volunteer with the New York Junior League since 1998. Throughout her volunteer experience with NYJL, Jill has been the chairperson of several committees, including some which focused exclusively on seniors, working in weekly partnership with at Mount Sinai Hospital and The Carter Burden Center. She Jill and her committee members developed educational programs, served lunch and produced entertainment programs. In 2010 she was honored as an Outstanding Volunteer at the New York Junior League annual Winter Ball. Jill earned a B.A. in English from Clark University and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. She is licensed to practice law in New York and Connecticut. She works as an attorney in the areas of landlord/tenant and consumer debt in the New York and Connecticut courts, appearing for many cases involving seniors who are being evicted or sued for nonpayment of rent or debt.
Jill has been a licensed residential real estate broker with Douglas Elliman Real Estate since 2007, earning numerous rewards, the most recent being Top 10 Sales Agent out of the Top 25 Sales Agents at s at Douglas Elliman. Jill is a high performing real estate broker in works in the sales, purchase, and rental markets throughout New York City.
Jeff Leb, MPA, began his career over 25 years ago at Salomon Smith Barney, where he developed a strong analytical foundation that shaped his work in public administration and advocacy. After transitioning to public service, he served as Chief of Staff to a New York City Council member, where he passed environmental legislation and negotiated with the Mayor’s office. Jeff later joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration, working in the Office of Management and Budget while acting as a liaison to faith-based communities. As Managing Partner at Capitol Consulting, Jeff has successfully led efforts on legislative, budgetary, and zoning issues, contributing to major victories such as the passage of landmark healthcare legislation. He has also been involved in more than 100 political campaigns across various levels of government. In addition to his political work, Jeff has held leadership roles in the non-profit sector, including as Managing Director of Government & External Relations at UJA-Federation of New York and Executive Director of the Sephardic Community Federation. He serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Peninsula Public Library and provides pro-bono services to nonprofits throughout New York. A resident of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Jeff holds a Master’s in Public Administration from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner School and is frequently cited in major media outlets for his expertise in public policy.
Dr Jephtha Tausig (Dr. Jeph) is a licensed Clinical Psychologist working with children, teens, adults, and older adults. She maintains a private practice in New York City and is the Supervising Psychologist for Family & Children’s Services on Nantucket, a Clinical Supervisor at Adelphi University’s Derner Institute, a Clinical Supervisor at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, and a Testing & Assessment Supervisor at Teachers College - Columbia University.
Dr. Jeph is a proud Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, and a member of the China-American Psychoanalytic Alliance, New York State Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, National Register of Health Service Psychologists, American Psychoanalytic Association, International Psychoanalytical Association, and the Association for Psychological Science. She is also a dedicated volunteer with social service organizations such as the Junior League of the City of New York, Dancing Classrooms, and the International Twelve Metre Association.
Dina Zempsky is a licensed clinical social worker, LCSW with more than thirty years of experience working with older adults and their caregivers. Her Brooklyn and Manhattan based care management practice supports elders to age in place successfully at home with autonomy and dignity.