Being married to Sarah Rivkah means that Rabbi Kohn is practically married to Links. He is a social worker in Brooklyn, as well as the English principal in Klausenburg Cheder of Boro Park. He also helps Mrs. Gross run Shlomie’s Club, the boys’ division of Links.

A rebbi, principal, and camp director, Rabbi Kohn began his role at Links by designing the magazine and supporting his wife in her work. When Mrs. Mimi Gross founded Shlomie’s Club in 2012, Rabbi Kohn assumed the role of Director. He joins the boys at events, and connects with each boy individually, making sure every member has his needs met.

An only child, Sarah Rivkah was 9 years old when her mother passed away after 6 ½ of battling an illness. Her father remarried a few months later.

The loneliness she felt following her mother’s passing sparked a determination to one day provide comfort and support to teen girls dealing with parental loss. She founded Links in 2006, with the publication of the first issue of Links Magazine, and has continuously expanded the scope of the organization as she seeks to address the specific needs of each child.

Mrs. Mimi Gross lost her husband Shlomie suddenly, when he had a heart attack while playing tennis. They had been married for 27 years and had 4 children. Left with her 11½-year-old son still at home, she understood too well the need for a program for boys in his situation. With the encouragement of Rabbi and Mrs. Kohn, Mrs. Gross established Shlomie’s Club in 2012. Together with Rabbi Kohn, Mrs. Gross organizes and attends every event, and ensures that each boy feels special and noticed.

Mrs. Mirrel Eissenberg was in 10th grade when her father became ill, and he passed away after 10 painful months when she was in 11th grade. Her older sister was a newlywed and her brother was away in yeshivah. 

Mr. and Mrs. Eissenberg were introduced to Links in 2017 and they were so excited by what they heard. They dedicated the new division, Little Links of Pearls, for young girls who lost a parent, in memory of Mrs. Eissenberg’s mother, Mrs. Pearl Benisch.

Rabbi Bender lost his father when he was 15. He was learning in Yeshiva of Philadelphia, when his Rosh Yeshiva, Harav Shmuel Kaminetzky, woke him at 6:30 a.m. to tell him that his father was sick. In truth, his father had already passed away, but they did not want to tell him yet. Rav Shmuel and Harav Elya Svei accompanied young Yaakov Bender by train to NY to “visit” his father. When he transferred from the Amtrak train to the subway in New York City, at the West 4th Street station, and saw all his cousins coming from Lakewood, he knew it was over.

Today, he is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, a school with just under 2,000 students, in Far Rockaway. He is a world-renowned lecturer has authored several books on chinuch.

In addition to attending the annual Shabbaton, speaking weekly on the Links and Shlomie’s Club hotlines, and answering questions for the magazine and newsletter, Rabbi Bender is always available to offer a listening ear to any of the children of Links and Shlomie’s Club. They know he is always there for them.

Rabbi Muller is the menahel of Yeshiva Tiferes Tzvi in Chicago, and is a tireless advocate for our children and their families, reaching out to school administrations and Rabbanim and working as a liaison to ensure each child and teen feels supported.

Rabbi Muller’s Erev Shabbos Mevorchim teleconference inspires the Links and Shlomie’s Club family with his monthly dvar Torah, and joining everyone together through a powerful 10 minutes of Tehillim.

Rabbi Krohn feels a strong affiliation with Links because his father passed away when he was 21. As the oldest child in the family, he became the one who supported his mother and 6 younger brothers and sisters. He is a fifth-generation mohel and a prolific author.

Rabbi Krohn travels and lectures throughout the Jewish world, and leads tours to Poland, Lithuania, Spain, Morocco, Italy, etc. He may be in a different time-zone each Shabbos, but he’s never missed recording his Erev Shabbos brachah for the Links family.

Rabbi Plotnik was 5 years old, the youngest of 6 children, when his father was niftar. His oldest sister’s wedding was right after the shloshim ended. His mother never remarried and raised the family alone, sending her sons, one by one, to out-of-town yeshivos.

Rabbi Plotnik was fortunate to spend eight years in Yeshiva of Philadelphia, followed by a bit over a year at Ponovezh in Eretz Yisrael, before returning to the States, marrying and moving to Chicago two years later, where he’s been living ever since. 

He was a shul Rav for 25 years and currently travels extensively for Shabbatons and other events for organizations such as Links. He is currently R”M of Yeshivas Me’or Hatorah in Chicago.

Rabbi YY, as he is known to many, is an author, lecturer, and former BBC broadcaster. Originally from Scotland, he was called home from shul on Purim morning when he was 18 because his father had passed away. Later, after 26 years of marriage, Rabbi YY’s first wife passed away following a 5-year battle with cancer, leaving behind 6 children. In 2011, he remarried and relocated from the UK to NY, where he now lives. He is a popular lecturer and prolific writer, and teachers in two yeshivos in Far Rockaway.

After many years of teaching high school, Mindy Blumenfeld became a social worker in private practice, Mindy Blumenfeld writes regularly for Links Magazine, covering a wide variety of topics, ranging from demystifying traumatic reactions to loss, to dealing with delayed grief, to managing family relationships post-loss.

Mindy is also a regular speaker for the Links hotline, where she helps girls process their feelings through writing. Mindy attends the Shabbatons, and has been very successful at helping many of our girls make sense of the tough situations they’ve been through.

Dr. Koslowitz has been a psychologist in private practice since 2002. She’s been instrumental in helping many of our girls get the help they need by sharing her professional experiences as well as her personal experience of losing her father when she was just 16 years old.

Dr. Koslowitz joins our Shabbaton and provides practical advice, fields a wide-range of questions, and leads group sessions. As the educational director of the Targeting Parenting Institute, she has been a help to many Links parents as well as to some of our girls as they get married and raise families of their own.

Daniel Danesh, Esq., is the Chairman of Legally Links. Daniel started his career at Goldman Sachs and was a member of the Goldman Sachs Firmwide Strategy Group. Daniel holds a bachelor's degree from Yeshiva University and a law degree from Yeshiva University’s Cardozo School of Law. As Chairman of Legally Links, he is responsible for the management of all Legally Links cases.

Ari is the Director of Asset Management at The Alliven Group, a real estate private equity firm.  Ari is trained as both an accountant and value add investor, with a focus on maximizing efficiencies in investment portfolios. He holds a Master’s in Accounting and is a former Certified Public Accountant. At Legally Links, Ari is the Chairman of the Financial Advisory Division where he guides Links families through complex capital preservation and deployment questions.  

Rebecca Heller, Esq., is Managing Partner of Heller and Associates, a boutique NYC law firm. Rebecca has been assisting clients with estate planning and probate/trust administration for nearly15 years. Rebecca is a graduate of Yeshiva University and Brooklyn Law School. At Legally Links, Rebecca is the Chairman of the Trusts and Estates Division and provides guidance on trusts and will formations.

Rivky Posner is Chief Financial Officer of Hamodia and Binah Magazine. She has been with the publications since 2007. Prior to that, she held several senior roles at pharmaceutical companies. At Legally Links, Rivky is Chairman of the Social Security Division. Her division assists individuals navigate the sometimes complex world of personal finances, including Social Security applications.

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Chaim Stern, Esq., is the former Global Head of Alternative Risk Solutions at Goldman Sachs. He has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 15 years at Goldman Sachs, where he led a number of capital, liquidity, and tax initiatives. Chaim holds a J.D. from University of Pennsylvania School of Law and an LL.M. from New York University School of Law. At Legally Links, he serves as Co-Chairman of the Tax Advisory Division and maintains oversight for the most complicated cases involving tax, family funds, and financial management.

Yitzchak Goldsmith is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) with Goldstar Investment & Insurance Services. Yitzchak has been advising clients on financial planning, wealth management, and insurance solutions since 2004. Yitzchak has a master’s degree in accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is also a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP). At Legally Links, Yitzchak assists clients with initial financial guidance and planning.

Lilian Hamadani, CPA, is an Audit Supervisor at Citrin Cooperman and Company, LLP, where she prepares and audits financial statements for multimillion dollar corporations with a focus in the real estate, not-for-profit, and employee benefit plans industries. At Legally Links, Lilian is vice chairman of the Social Security Division, where she guides and assists individuals with Social Security applications. Lilian holds a bachelor's degree from Touro College.

Joshua Kurz, Esq. is a Trusts and Estates and Elder Law Attorney at Korsinsky and Klein LLP. Joshua assists clients with estate planning, elder law, Medicaid planning, and administering estates. Joshua is a graduate of Touro College and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. At Legally Links, Joshua provides guidance on trusts and will formations.

Eli Fried is the CEO of Leatherback Investments, an investment firm specializing in corporate 401k advisory. He is on the board of the Ripple Effect Entrepreneurs' Fund (REEF) and his popular blog about frum personal finance can be found at geltguide.com. At Legally Links, Eli helps clients with investment guidance and financial planning.

Etty Surkis is the CEO of Excelsum Capital, a boutique financial services firm that provides multistrategy financial solutions for a range of clients. Etty’s expertise includes individual and family budgeting, personal financial management, life insurance options, and retirement planning. At Legally Links, Etty educates, guides, and supports our clients in achieving a disciplined approach to budget management and ensuring long-term financial stability.

Shira Nabatian is a community organizer within the Jewish community and has led volunteer missions at Masbia Soup Kitchen and Yad Eliezer. She has additional experience in healthcare management at ODA Primary Health Care Network. She is a graduate of Macaulay Honors College at the City College of New York. At Legally Links, Shira guides and assists individuals with social security applications.

Michael Kohan, Esq., is the founding partner of Kohan Law Group, PC, a boutique civil litigation law firm. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Hofstra University School of Law. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree from Queens College and a law degree from Hofstra University School of Law. At Legally Links, Michael assists clients with personal injury litigation guidance.

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Jida Kababeh, CPA, is Vice Chairman of Legally Links, Co-Chairman of the Tax Advisory Division, and Director of the Tax Filing Service. He is currently a senior tax manager at Husney CPA. Jida started his career at PricewaterHouseCoopers in 2012. He also runs a nonprofit synagogue, helping his neighborhood grow and transform into a vibrant Orthodox community.

Sarah (Sarala) Krieger, Esq., is an attorney in Alston & Bird LLP's Real Estate Finance Investment Group. In her capacity as an associate, she assists banks and institutional lenders in the origination and refinancing of CMBS, balance sheet, mortgage and mezzanine loans. At Legally Links, Sarah aids the Social Security Division, guiding clients in obtaining Social Security Survivor benefits.

Rivky Fink is a service coordinator and student advocate within the Jewish community.  She has substantial experience as a financial aid administrator in higher education and has worked closely with many families in need.  As the Executive Director of Legally Links, Rivky directs and facilitates all operational matters for Legally Links.

Rabbi Chanoch Krohn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has a private practice in Lakewood NJ, and specializes in marriage, trauma, anxiety disorders and grief. Rabbi Krohn is the in-house clinical director of Zissel's Links and Shloimy’s club.

Miriam Rivky’s mother was sick for 10 long years; her mother passed away when she was in 12th grade. During that time, Miriam Rivky took charge of her younger siblings and kept their home running smoothly. Miriam Rivky loves her work at Links, and considers it a privilege to be a part of the Links family.

Our case manager, Mrs. Idy Fischer, lost her mother when she was 11. Her father remarried but then became sick when she was 19. She got engaged and married during his battle with cancer; shortly thereafter, he too passed away.

Toby Klein lost her father when she was only 15 months old. Now married and the mother of a beautiful family, k”h, (her pride and joy!), she continues to nurture in her capacity as a Transformational Life Coach and by running the Little Links of Pearls division.

Mrs. Donna Marcos interned at Links during 2019-2020 and continues to run our Chosson/Kallah programs seeking out all that is available and helping our families navigate paperwork, pre wedding schedules and setting up homes. She loves being involved in simchos!

Rabbi Adelman, LMSW, is a 12th grade rebbi at Mesivta Derech HaTorah in Brooklyn.

Rabbi Adelman joined the staff at Shlomie's Club 4 years ago. Today, Rabbi Adelman co-directs Shlomie's Club, arranging events, helping with therapy referrals, and offering support for whatever needs our boys and their families might have.

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Mrs. Judy Landman lives in Baltimore with her husband and children. She’s a preschool morah who remembers what it was like to lose her father when she was a preschooler herself. Judy began the Links branch in Baltimore after hearing Rabbi Krohn speak about the organization. She and co-founder Mrs. Faigy Rabinowitz have done an enormous amount of outreach to and programming for girls in the community who have lost a parent. Mrs. Landman joins us at our Shabbatons and connects with Links girls year round.

Tzippy Neumann lost her mother when she was 14 years old. She lives in Manchester, UK, and has three adorable kids. She was introduced to Links by her niece in Lakewood and would like to help bring Links to England.

Sarah Ottensoser has lived in Baltimore all her life and is married with four children — two boys and two girls. She works as a speech therapist and executive function coach, helping kids and adults in the Jewish community learn organization, time management, planning, and other important skills. Her father died suddenly, just two days after her older brother’s bar mitzvah, when she was 11 years old. She recently joined Judy Landman in running the Baltimore-Washington Links branch and helps her brother Zevi Daniel run the boys’ division.

Mrs. Sarah Berman lost her father very suddenly when she was in twelfth grade. She is the go-to person for many girls who have suffered a traumatic loss and need someone who can relate to them and support them in their struggles. Although she is a busy wife and mother raising a growing family, Sarah maintains constant contact with “her” girls.

Toby Goldstein lost her father when she was 8 years old. Her mother remarried when she was 13 years old, which means they now have a pretty large family — don't ask how many! When life was taking her for a wild ride, she thought she would not survive. Thankfully, she can now say she not only survived but also learned a lot from it all.

She currently works in schools, giving workshops, coaching teachers, doing classroom observation and modeling. She loves every minute of it — even when she says she’s not managing!

Mrs. Shaindy Jacobson was the youngest of five siblings when she lost her mother at age seven. Her father remarried five years later. Shaindy lives in Crown Heights and is the director of the Rosh Chodesh Society, the women’s division of the Rohr Learning Institute. Mrs. Jacobson joins our Links Shabbaton, and has connected and kept up with many girls year-round. She’s a vital part of the grassroots effort to set up a Links branch in Crown Heights.

Esty Hafner lost her father at age 18. Although her father was not well for several years, his illness was such a well-kept secret the younger members of the family and the broader community were shocked.

Today, Esty is married and raising her family, and works in a school administration office.

Mrs. Miriam Liebermann is the person who encouraged Sarah Rivkah to follow her dream and publish a magazine for teenaged girls who lost a parent. Having lost her father to a sudden heart attack at her engagement party, she’s been a support to many girls through her column, which has appeared in Links Magazine since the very first issue. Her articles offer an honest and refreshing take on loss, as well as chizuk and optimism.

Mrs. Sarah Rivka Pilchick got roped into Links from the get-go by her childhood friend, Mrs. Sarah Rivkah Kohn. Having lost her mother at age 11, Sarah Rivka is very familiar with the struggles of middle school and junior high school girls who have lost a parent. Sarah Rivka and her husband have opened their home to many girls for Shabbosos, Yamim Tovim, and of course, thousands of phone hours. She’s also taken Links girls shopping, and has done just about anything she can to help fill the gaping void in their lives.