Advisory Board

Ma'alot's Advisory Board is a compass that keeps our community focused on our unique blend of nature, music, and Jewish wisdom. Through their expertise, the Board shapes our strategic vision, ensuring that we create innovative programs that reflect our mission, vision, and values.

Samantha Berinsky (Chair)

As a young professional herself, Samantha is inspired by Ma’alot’s mission to provide an accessible community for young adults, young families and all seeking new and meaningful ways to connect to their Judaism. Engaging young adults is a daily task for Samantha, who serves as the City Director of Repair the World Atlanta, providing opportunities for Jewish community members to connect through service and learning. She has been a Jewish professional for the past eight years, having most recently served in the synagogue sector - she is eager to find new and innovative ways to make community accessible for all! When she isn’t busy “repairing the world”, you can find her exploring Decatur or outside somewhere - Beltline, hiking, a roadtrip - with her husband, Tyler and two dogs, Izzy and Max.

Jerome “Jerry” Tolochko (Treasurer)

Jerry believes in ‘doing Jewish’ inclusively, musically, and (weather-permitting) outdoors. Jerry leads financial services for Uber’s logistics business Uber Freight, and in previous lives he ran a luxury leather goods business and worked as a defense contractor. Born and raised in Atlanta, Jerry lives in the Old Fourth Ward with his wife and three kids. Ask Jerry about living in Colombia and going backpacking with small children.

Alexis Cohen

Alexis finds that her soul most awakens through music, in nature, and in deep conversation.  Ma’alot does just that. Professionally, Alexis is a serial entrepreneur and innovator - applying those skills to start up social enterprises, corporate innovation, local nonprofit boards, and philanthropy. She lives on a homestead in north Decatur with her husband, 2 kids, dog, chickens, and all the plants you can imagine (inside and outside).  In her free time, Alexis enjoys painting, hiking, traveling, singing, and reading.

Russell Gottschalk

VP of Campus Support Services for Hillels of Georgia, Russell Gottschalk is an Atlanta native who loves developing innovative and compelling methods for creating community. He did that for almost 10 years as the founding director of the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival (now known as Neranenah). And he continues to live that truth as the Chair of Ma’alot’s growing Advisory Board. When not serving as a Jewish professional, Russell loves cycling, throwing a disc (both ultimate and disc golf), and putting together a puzzle while drinking an alcoholic, brown liquid over ice. He lives in Morningside with his incredible wife, Mimi, their delightful son, Irving, and their rambunctious fur baby, Berry.

Lindy Miller

Lindy Miller feels grateful for the distinct Ma’alot focus on nature and Jewish wisdom.

Professionally, Lindy has two decades of public policy and corporate strategy experience. She helped build Deloitte’s global public policy practice, co-founded a clean energy company, ran for Georgia  statewide office, and co-founded the Georgia Onward PAC. She now runs a commercial real estate development firm and serves as a Strategic Advisor to HerTerm, helping other women run for office. 

Lindy lives with her husband and three sons in Decatur, Georgia. She is a certified end-of-life doula, sings renaissance-inspired music with her chamber choir, and is inspired by new ventures focused on systems-change.

Rebecca Stapel-Wax

Rebecca feels drawn to the Ma'alot mix of practical and spiritual Judaism that she finds in the haimish (warm) community and creative programming.

A Licensed Professional Counselor, Rebecca Stapel-Wax serves as the executive director of Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity (SOJOURN), part of an 18-year journey advocating for LGBTQ+ communities in the south.

Born in Brookline, MA, Rebecca has lived in Atlanta with her wife for 30 years. They have two teen sons, and all of their pets are named after Greek myths. She enjoys hiking and loading dishwashers just right. Her superpower is being able to drive almost any automobile.

Andrew Stein

If Judaism is a structure by which we are bound to one another, then Andrew feels elevated by the Ma'alot connective tissue of music, nature, and authentic meaning-making. His day job as CEO of 1Unit is to help hospitals improve frontline nurse and physician teamwork, and he's advised 100s of organizations in the private, public, and non-profit sectors for more than 15 years. An Atlanta native, he lives in Inman Park with his wife, 2 kids, and an ever-growing board game collection. He enjoys cocktails, meditation, and travel -- sometimes all at once.