"I feel sorry for the person who was killed, but I feel sorrier for the people left behind."
KOBY MANDELL
Speaking to a classmate at the funeral of an Israeli father of six, murdered by terrorists three months before Koby was murdered.
The Koby Mandell Foundation helps bereaved mothers, fathers, widows, orphans and siblings to rebuild their lives and create meaning out of suffering.
Rabbi Seth and Sherri Mandell established the Koby Mandell Foundation in 2001 after their 13 year old son Koby Mandell and his friend Yosef Ishran were brutally murdered by terrorists near their home in Israel.
Their personal loss led the Mandells to envision a system of support programs that they hoped would make a real difference in the lives of people who had lost parents, children or siblings through terrorism.
The Mandells took their vision to professional therapists and grief counselors for refinement. The Koby Mandell Foundation soon developed a three-tiered model of support including informal therapeutic programming, recreation/ relaxation programming, and community building /social integration programming.
Today, The Koby Mandell Foundation is the largest provider of emotional support services for the thousands of bereaved Israelis who have lost an immediate family member to terror via multi-faceted therapeutic programs.
These unique programs are focused on teaching the tools necessary for victims of trauma to translate their pain and suffering into positive personal growth, deeper interpersonal relationships, and active community leadership. Most programs are provided free of charge, combining formal, informal, and recreational therapeutic techniques that foster an environment of healing and emotional support.
meet our staff
Rabbi Seth Mandell
Co-Founder, Co-President
Rabbi Mandell has been involved in Jewish education programs since 1982. He served as Director of the Hillel Foundation at the University of Maryland. During that time, the Hillel program became one of the largest and most active Jewish college educational programs in North America. A seasoned orator, Rabbi Mandell speaks globally about The Koby Mandell Foundation and current topics in Israel.
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Danielle Keats Berkowitz
Executive Director - USA
Danielle has spent over 26 years serving in the non-profit sector in the US, Israel and Europe, leading teams to achieve systematic growth while meeting demanding social service needs. Danielle holds a MSW from Wurzweiler School of Social Work with a concentration in Community Planning and training in business development.
Jeremy Wimpfheimer
PR & Production
Jeremy has served as communications consultant, working intensively on numerous high-profile public affairs and political campaigns. Jeremy received his BA in Political Science and History from Rutgers University with concentrations in Political Communications and International Relations prior to pursuing a Masters Degree in Israeli Politics and Society at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Sherri Mandell
Co-Founder, Co-President
A certified pastoral counselor, Sherri runs healing groups for bereaved mothers and manages the women's healing retreats. She won a National Jewish Book Award in 2004 for her spiritual memoir, The Blessing of a Broken Heart (Toby Press, 2003). She is also the author of The Road to Resilience: From Chaos to Celebration (Toby Press, 2015).
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Tamar Baumol
Project Coordinator
Tamar holds a bachelor's degree in community social work and is an interior designer. She has worked at mentoring and facilitating social change within marginalized sectors of the population as well as with youth and small business owners. Tamar has been working for The Koby Mandell Foundation since 2021.
Eliana Braner
Executive Director - Israel
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Eliana Mandell Braner started as a camper and went on to become a division head at The Koby Mandell Foundation camps.
She has an BA in psychology and communications from Ariel University and previously was the director of MASA programs for Sachlav touring companies.
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Dena Wimpfheimer
PR & Production
Dena has worked in the fields of media relations, public relations and entertainment event production for more than 20 years. Originally from New York, Dena received her degree in Media Studies from Queens College of the City University of New York prior to moving to Israel in 2001.
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our board
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Rabbi Seth Mandell - President
Tekoa, Israel​
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Margery Libin - Chair, Emeritus
New York, NY
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Lee Lasher - Chair
Englewood, NJ​
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Robert Mischel
Dobbs Ferry, NY​
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Arielle Tradburks
New York, NY
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Meryl Braunstein
West Hartford, CT -
Deanna Blank
Englewood, NJ -
Heshy Feldman
Englewood, NJ
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Melissa Hatter
Manhattan, NY​
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Todd Sukol
Silver Spring, MD​