Meet Kesher Yehudi’s Leadership
Mrs. Tzili Schneider, Founder and President
Tzili Schneider is a veteran teacher, a member of the Orthodox mainstream, the mother of eleven and a woman who cares. Deeply.
Tzili grew up in Meah Shearim surrounded by all shades and hues of Jewish life. She remembers as a little girl dancing joyfully with soldiers following the capture of the Kosel at the end of the six-day war.
As she grew up, Tzili noted that the general atmosphere in Israel outside the sheltered alleyways of her youth was diametrically different. She began to encounter hostility and mistrust, dissension and stigma.
In fact, when she worked as a teacher, she rode the public bus every day alongside another staff member. But they never spoke because Tzili was religious and the other woman was not.
Tzili desperately wanted to do something to bring her people together again.
In 2012, she fulfilled her dream. She founded Kesher Yehudi, a groundbreaking platform for diverse sectors to meet and connect through Torah learning.
Kesher Yehudi welcomes all segments of the Jewish nation with love, providing the support and tools necessary to foster personal connections and long-term unity.
With her relentless determination, Tzili has created an unprecedented movement that has transformed lives and changed Israeli society for the better.
Rabbi Elliot Mathias, CEO
Rabbi Elliot Mathias joined Kesher Yehudi in September 2026 as CEO. Rabbi Mathias has over 25 years of experience in the Jewish educational world, leading multiple organizations. He is dedicated to inspiring and connecting Jews to the beauty and meaning of their Jewish heritage, and empowering Jews to take responsibility for the Jewish People.
Before joining Kesher Yehudi, Rabbi Mathias served as COO Global and Director of Programming of Aish, overseeing global programmatic and educational activities, including an expansion of Aish’s online presence and branches around the world. Under Rabbi Mathias’ leadership, Aish launched an ambitious vision to engage 3 million Jews around the world with meaningful Jewish engagement. He oversaw the launching of innovative initiatives such as Clean Speech NYC, The Jewish Wisdom Society, and opened a hub in the lower east side of Manhattan, providing Jewish experiences to thousands of Jewish young professionals.
Rabbi Mathias is also the Founder of Hasbara Fellowships, a leading pro-Israel advocacy organization working with over 100 Universities across North America. Rabbi Mathias created Hasbara Fellowships in 2001 while he was a student in Israel upon seeing the deep challenges Jewish University students were facing in keeping their connection to and pride in Israel. Under his guidance, Hasbara Fellowships brought thousands of University students to Israel, gaining tools and strategies to return to campuses as advocates.
Rabbi Mathias graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Political Communications and studied for 5 years at Yeshiva Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem where he received his Rabbinic ordination. After living in New Jersey for 25 years, he made aliyah with his family in August 2025 and currently lives with his family in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
The Kesher Yehudi Board
Jenny Felder
Lawrence, NY
Judy Frankel
Hillcrest, NY and JerusalemAviva Hoch
Kew Garden Hills, NYShmuel Rieder
Monsey, NY
Jonathan Rosenblum
Jerusalem, Israel
Moshe Schmell
Woodmere, NY
Dr. Allan Seidenfeld
Toronto, Canada
Leonard Wassner
Brooklyn, NY
Esther Wein
Lawrence, NY