Who We Are
Survivor Support Now
Survivor Support Now
Executive Team
Survivor Support Now's Executive Team is comprised of accomplished senior professionals with expertise in organizational and financial management and health care who care deeply about supporting Israel, the October 7th survivors and those directly impacted by war in Israel and antisemitic or antizionist terrorism
Suzanne Shaw
Founder, CEO & Executive Director, Interim Board Chair
Dror Stanitsky
Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Yori Gidron
Director of Training
Dalia Yellin-Weil
Assistant Director of Training
Orientation Manager
(TBD)
Tel Aviv, Israel
Program Director - HR
(TBD)
Host-a-Survivor Program
Asst. Program Director
(TBD)
West Coast & Southwest
Asst. Program Director
(TBD)
East Coast & Mid-Atlantic
The Survivor Support Now Board of Directors
Suzanne Shaw
Founder, CEO & Executive Director, Interim Board Chair
Dror Stanitsky
Chief Financial Officer
Yael Levin-Sheldon
Board Secretary
Adam Abrahams
Board Member
Aviva Miller, Esq.
Board Member
Future Board Member
Never Again is Now
Future Board Member
Am Yisrael Chai!
Future Board Member
Never forget!
Executive Team & Board of Directors Bios
Suzanne Shaw, Founder,
CEO & Executive Director,
Interim Board Chair
October 7th, 2023 was a devastating wake up call to many US Jews, including myself. This is a deeply heartfelt mission for me as I'm one of those Oct. 8th Jews who was completely changed to the core by the events of October 7th. In the spirit of Tikkun Olam, I am resolved to make a difference by helping the survivors of the Oct. 7th massacre, Oct. 7th and Iran Wars and other recent horrific antisemitic and antizionist attacks and hope you will join us by engaging to support and provide the opportunity for much needed relief, recovery and spiritual renewal for them through our US based Host a Survivor program.​​​
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I had a bat mitzvah with a long torah reading as a kid and then at 17 first visited Kibbutz Revivim in the Negev for 3 months where I met Golda Meir's daughter Sarah, who taught Hebrew to my Ulpan class. A year later I returned to visit, and continued on to Kibbutz Ma'abarot in Netanya where I spent 2.5 months as a volunteer before leaving for a brief trip to Europe and then back home to NJ.
My birth father Chaim 'Jimmy', (I was adopted as a baby by a 'Conservative Jewish' couple in NJ), was born in Poland in 1919 and moved with his parents to Israel in 1924, where as a young man he fought in the Irgun for Israel's independence. He later moved to New York City where he met my mother, but they didn't stay together. On the other side, I remember hearing a story at a family reunion at my uncle's house in 1995, having found him only months after my birth mother passed away, of my great grandmother in Russia who during the pogroms, chased a Cossack on her roof with a metal pipe in her hand. So along with eleven first cousins, including multiple doctors, lawyers, artists, an engineer and a comedian descended from her, I think I have good genes, or at least am in good company.
I was more than halfway through completing an Aliyah application when I developed long Covid in Oct. 2022 (which lasted over 2 years), so decided to hold off on Aliyah. The weekend after October 7th, a friend from LA came to visit and as we discussed the horrific events in the Negev, I felt profoundly shaken and deeply connected in real time to the consciousness of Israel. As we witness the continuing rise of antisemitism and antizionism since Oct. 7th, the need for unity supporting Israel by the greater global Jewish diaspora continues to grow exponentially. This is my effort to call upon those in our community and others that care, to join us in doing all we can to meet that need.
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With 25+ years working in various industries including financial services, real estate, tech and fine arts, as a prior FINRA Registered Rep, senior sales consultant and fine art gallery director, Suzanne has significant experience in operations and administrative management, developing and managing projects and new business initiatives in real estate and finance. She earned a graduate level Paralegal Certificate from UCLA, a Masters in Art Education from Tufts University and a BFA from Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts, and is also a Certified Reiki Master having first studied under Evelyn Padma Morel in Cambridge, MA in 2007.​
Dror Stanitsky
Chief Financial Officer​
American-Israeli and former IDF Captain, Dror Stanitsky is a results-driven CFO with over fifteen years of financial leadership experience. He is the founder of MelodiCapital, a fractional CFO firm that serves and partners with both US-based and Israel-based companies, providing strategic financial advisory and high-level board support.
His military service in the Israel Defense Forces shaped his leadership philosophy—built on disciplined execution, transparent communication, and a commitment to mission. Dror brings this same rigor to his financial advisory work, earning the trust of founders and boards through high personal integrity and collaborative problem-solving across complex organizational challenges.
A globally seasoned professional with extensive cross-cultural experience, Dror has navigated board-facing roles in competitive markets, built strong relationships across organizational levels, and developed the adaptability that comes from working within diverse teams and geographies. His deep ties to Israel fuel his commitment to Survivor Support Now's mission of supporting those impacted by October 7th and the ongoing conflicts affecting Israeli communities. Dror believes that meaningful change requires both strategic financial stewardship and genuine human compassion.
Dr. Yori Gidron
Director of Training​
Israeli, Yori Gidron, PhD, is Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Haifa, Israel. He specializes in the protective role of the vagal nerve in severe disease, in addition to another research domain for the development and testing of a neuroscience-based treatment to prevent PTSD called 'MSI' for memory structuring intervention. It aims to replace debriefing that was found not to prevent and even increase the risk of PTSD.
During the last war in Israel, Dr. Gidron trained over 4500 therapists in PTSD prevention, stress management and in the topic of war stress and physical disease. He has also trained many people in disaster zones with NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief. He aims to increase the effectiveness of mental health support with scientifically based routine assessment, for the benefit of survivors of trauma.
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Yori has over 150 scientific publications and served as Professor of Health Research at Brunel University, London (2007-2009), Professor of Behavioral Medicine at the Free University of Brussels (VUB; 2009-2017) and as Chair of Psycho-oncology at Lille Univsity, France (2017-2019). Since 2019, he is at the University of Haifa, Israel.
Executive Team & Board of Directors Bios continued
Dalia Yellin-Weil
Assistant Director of Training
​Dalia Yellin-Weil, MSc, Psychotherapist in Private Practice (Israel), Somatic & Integrative Trauma Recovery Practitioner (California), Brain Vision & Development Specialist (International)
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American-Israeli, Dalia, is a trauma psychotherapist integrating EMDR, Somatic Experiencing®, and parts work to support adults experiencing PTSD, complex trauma, and developmental trauma. Her clinical work includes supporting individuals and communities affected by the Oct. 7th terrorist attacks and Iran war.
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She is also a rehabilitation specialist for individuals with Multiple Disabilities and Visual Impairments (MDVI). Since 2001, she has worked with children with visual impairments and additional disabilities and their families, serving as Director of Rehabilitation at Keren Or School for the Blind from 2013. She previously facilitated a support group for parents of visually impaired infants at the Eliya Center.
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Dalia also co-led Nonviolent Communication (NVC) dialogue groups through the Meeting Place Project in Jerusalem’s Zion Square, bringing together participants from across Israeli society, including Ultra-Orthodox, secular, Palestinian, and Druze communities.
She has lectured extensively for professional audiences, including the Israel National Conference for Child Development, Leumit Health Services, the Israeli Ministry of Education, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, and David Yellin Academic College, and maintains private practices in trauma psychotherapy and vision rehabilitation.
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Yael Levin-Sheldon
Board Secretary
Yael Levin-Sheldon is a strategic leader with extensive experience in data analysis, communications, education reform, and community advocacy. She has held senior roles in nonprofit organizations focused on improving K-12 education through parental involvement, curriculum transparency, and evidence-based policy.
As Chief Data and Communications Officer and Virginia Chapter President for No Left Turn in Education, a national education reform nonprofit, Yael founded the Central Virginia Chapter, developed national data infrastructure, directed communications and media relations, and led legislative initiatives supporting strong educational standards and parental rights.
In 2023, she conducted a competitive campaign for the Hanover County Board of Supervisors, nearly defeating a long-serving incumbent. Yael currently serves as Chief Data and Legislation Officer for Army of Parents, collaborating with legislators on policies that promote high-quality core academic education, parental rights, and student protections, including Title IX fairness and privacy safeguards under FERPA and PPRA.
With more than 15 years in the insurance industry as a data analyst and underwriter, she specializes in predictive modeling, risk assessment, geo-mapping, and regulatory compliance.
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She is the Founder and President of Red Arrow Partners, LLC, a strategic consulting firm, and has served on the boards of community and educational organizations, including the Virginia Dogwood Institute, Emek Sholom Holocaust Memorial Cemetery, Rudlin Torah Academy (Richmond Hebrew Day School), and Good Lion Veterans in Richmond, VA.
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Yael served in the Israel Defense Forces (1994–1996) before her U.S. career. After moving from Israel to Washington, D.C. in 1996, she worked as a Marketing Assistant for Israel Aircraft Industries in Arlington, Virginia (1996–1998). She later earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Maryland, College Park, while supporting her studies through teaching Hebrew school in the Washington, DC area, tutoring mathematics, bartending, and babysitting. Fluent in English and Hebrew, Yael brings strong skills in leadership, data-driven decision-making, strategic planning, and communications to mission-driven organizations.
Adam Abrahams
Board Member
Adam Abrahams is a Partner in the law firm of Meyers Hurvitz Abrahams LLC, located in Rockville, Maryland, specializing in Tax Planning, Tax Litigation, Estate Planning and Probate matters. Adam helps clients meet their legal and tax planning goals and objectives in the areas of business tax planning, entity formation, business transactions, wealth preservation, protection of assets, estate planning and probate estates. Adam represents individuals and businesses in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Ohio.​
Adam has over 25 years of substantive legal experience. In addition to a law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Adam has an Advanced Degree in Taxation from the Georgetown University Law Center. Adam is licensed in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Ohio. Additionally, Adam is admitted to practice in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the Federal 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States Tax Court, and the United States Supreme Court.
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Adam has published in numerous tax-related publications including: “Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts as an Effective Estate Tax Reduction Technique” in The Practical Tax Lawyer (Summer 2013) and ABA Section of Taxation News Quarterly (Summer 2013); “Employment Cases and Planning Implications” in the ABA Tax Times (November, 2017); “Medical Cannabis Business Operations: How can business owners navigate the Tax and Banking Law Minefields” in Bloomberg Tax (Tax Management Memorandum – February 4, 2019) (Reprinted in Maryland State Bar Association Tax Talk in 3 parts in 2019 and 2020); “Graegin Loans – Another Way to Reduce Estate Tax” in Bloomberg Tax (Tax Management Memorandum – May 2, 2019); “Representing the Professional Selling or Purchasing a Minority Interest in a Corporate Practice” in The Practical Tax Lawyer (Winter 2022) (Reprinted in Maryland State Bar Association Tax Talk in May 2022); “Update on Worker Classification for Professional Practices and Businesses” in The Practical Tax Lawyer (Winter 2023) (Reprinted in Maryland State Bar Association Tax Talk in Spring 2023).
Adam is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), Sections of Taxation, Business Law and Real Property/Trusts and Estates, as well as a member of the Maryland Bar Association, Section of Taxation and the DC Bar Association, Section of Taxation.
Adam served as a member of the Maryland Bar Tax Section Council from 2019-2025, acting as Chair of the Tax Council Legal Education Committee, and working with the Tax Council Diversity and Inclusion and Special Program Committees. In June 2023, Adam served as a panelist on the Tax Council’s Sports Betting and Trust Taxation panels at the Maryland State Bar Association Annual Meeting in Ocean City, Maryland. Adam also served as a Panelist at the MSBA Annual Meeting in June 2025, discussing the expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Adam is currently the Chair of the Tax Council’s Subcommittee for Maryland Tax Legislation.
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From July 2019-2021, Adam served as Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association Tax Section Closely Held Businesses Committee. From 2021-2023, Adam served as Chair of the Closely Held Businesses Committee. On February 11, 2023, Adam was elected a Fellow of the American College of Tax Council. Adam served as a Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association Section Outreach and Inclusion Committee from 2024-2025, and is currently serving as Chair of such committee. He has also been serving as a mentor in connection with the Loretta Collins Argrett Fellowship program since 2023.
Adam has been selected as one of Bethesda Magazine's 2025 Top Attorneys and was featured in Bethesda Magazine’s November/December 2025 edition.
Aviva Miller, Esq.
Board Member
​Aviva Miller is a nonprofit executive, strategic fundraiser, and cultural leader who has built and expanded the donor base, visibility, and global impact of several influential institutions. Her work has strengthened organizations including the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Creative Community for Peace, the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, and the Gold Coast International Film Festival.
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Most recently, as U.S. Director of the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation, Aviva led operations across the United States and Poland and significantly expanded the organization’s international profile and fundraising capacity. She tripled annual fundraising, recruited thousands of new donors, and broadened global engagement through innovative programming, high-profile missions, and strategic partnerships. She also helped elevate Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism by organizing educational delegations to Auschwitz for global figures including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, and Joe Scarborough of MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
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Throughout her career, Aviva has been recognized for her ability to combine storytelling, media strategy, and large-scale events with mission-driven philanthropy. She has successfully launched new nonprofit offices, rebranded historic cultural institutions, and built major donor networks across the United States, Israel, and Europe. Her leadership has consistently resulted in substantial increases in revenue, audience engagement, and public visibility.
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Before focusing full time on nonprofit leadership, Aviva spent many years in the entertainment industry, where she worked closely with producers, artists, and cultural institutions in film, television, theater, and live events. That experience continues to inform her creative approach to advocacy, cultural programming, and global storytelling initiatives.
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Aviva is currently a nonprofit, fundraising, marketing, and branding consultant advising organizations in the United States and Israel on strategic growth, donor engagement, and mission-driven media initiatives.
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She holds a J.D. from Cardozo School of Law and a B.A., cum laude, from Michigan State University, and studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Aviva is fluent in Hebrew and lived and worked in Israel for four years. She has served on several nonprofit boards and has been honored for her charitable and community leadership.​
Survivor Support Now
Future Board Member
Am Yisrael Chai!
Survivor Support Now
Future Board Member
Never forget!
We're presently seeking qualified individuals to join our executive team, Board of Directors & Board of Wellness Advisors to help grow our organization as we develop the Host a Survivor program with community engagement in the US and Israel.
If you are interested in joining us in any capacity, please contact us at: info@anewtime.org or on our 'Contact us' page.
Thank you for your kindness and support.