JTS Board of Trustees Elects New Members
The Board of Trustees of The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) has elected five new members: Hazzan Rabbi Luis Cattan, Hillary Gardenswartz, Ariel Glasner, Allan Kahan, and Deborah Shapira.
“By welcoming these new Board of Trustee members, we welcome new ideas, skills, and wisdom. This group represents committed Jewish communal leaders of diverse backgrounds and experiences and continues to build on the transformation of the Board with the next generation of Jewish leaders,” said Alan Levine, chair of the board.
Hazzan Rabbi Luis Cattan serves as the president of the Cantors Assembly, as well as the cantor at the Conservative Synagogue in Westport, Connecticut. Hazzan Cattan is a native of Montevideo, Uruguay, and previously worked at the Cuban Hebrew Congregation of Miami as cantor and executive director and at Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus as cantor and education director. He has also held several roles in synagogues and Jewish organizations in Latin America.
Hillary Gardenswartz is a senior project manager at the Jewish Education Project, a role that she’s held since August 2019. Previously, Ms. Gardenswartz worked at several Jewish education institutions including The Leffell School (previously the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester), Camp Ramah in California, and Makor / Steinhardt Center of the 92nd Street Y. She is a 2002 cum laude with high honors graduate of Brandeis University. Ms. Gardenswartz also holds an MA in Jewish Education from the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education of JTS and an MA in Talmud from the Kekst Graduate School.
Ariel Glasner is a partner at the law firm of Blank Rome LLP, specializing in white-collar defense and government investigations. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Economics and International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from the New York University School of Law. Mr. Glasner also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists and on the Attorney/Client Arbitration Board for the District of Columbia Bar Association. He previously served as a member of the Board of Directors for Equality Maryland.
Allan Kahan is the president of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs. Professionally, prior to his retirement in 2017, Mr. Kahan served as a program analyst with the Transportation Security Administration, doing database analysis, while also practicing law part-time. Mr. Kahan graduated from the University of Tulsa College of Law and continues to practice law part-time.
Deborah Shapira is a facilitator and consultant living in New York City. In her consulting practice, she works with the boards of non-profit organizations, crafting processes to guide them toward successfully meeting their organizational needs and goals. Ms. Shapira is an active community volunteer, serving on the boards of Pardes North America, Prizmah, and SAR Academy and High School. She received her BA in Public Policy from Stanford University, and holds certificates in Facilitation (Georgetown University), Non-Profit Board Consulting (BoardSource), and Jewish Education (Drisha Institute).
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About The Jewish Theological Seminary | JTS is a preeminent institution of Jewish higher education, training thoughtful, innovative leaders—rabbis, cantors, educators, lay leaders, and scholars—who strengthen our communities with a vision of Judaism that is deeply grounded in the Jewish past and thoroughly engaged with contemporary society. JTS also provides high-caliber lifelong learning and professional development to our alumni, adult learners, and Jewish communities throughout North America. Through its Library, JTS preserves and makes accessible to students and scholars throughout the world the greatest collection of Judaica in the Western Hemisphere.
