Dori has served as Matan’s Exectuive Director since 2009, and has been part of Matan’s administrative team since 2007. Under Dori’s leadership, Matan has shifted from a purely direct service organization to one which significantly impacts the field of Jewish Special Needs Education by training current and future leaders in a multitude of settings — congregational schools, early childhood programs, camps and Jewish Day Schools. Matan has been featured in The Slingshot Guide of the most innovative Jewish organizations in North America six times since Dori joined Matan.

Dori believes that 85% of what we do as a Jewish community vis a vis inclusion can be summed up in one word: Attitude. With an open heart, open mind, and a willingness to partner with parents and other professionals, we can all be part of the solution of making inclusion a reality.

Prior to coming to Matan, Dori worked at The UJA-Federation of New York for seven years, in both planning and fundraising capacities.  Dori began her professional career at The Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan as a bi-lingual educator (Hebrew and English). Dori holds a Masters of Arts in Education from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America and a BA in Sociology and Judaic Studies from Emory University. Dori is a sought-after national speaker on the issue of Jewish inclusion, and has published articles and Op-Ed’s in such publications as The New York Jewish Week, eJewish Philanthropy and Zeh Lezeh, a blog of The Ruderman Family Foundation.