Patricia R. Attia, PhD., LCSW is the Co-President of the Our Place Board along with Benjy Berger. She has set up addiction and psychiatric programs across the country. She has published and lectured around the US on topics of trauma, addiction and dual diagnosis. She received her master’s degree at Yeshiva University and her doctorate at NYU. She was one of the early trainers at Our Place and later became the clinical consultant. Currently she maintains a private practice in Manhattan and continues to be available to the Our Place staff.

Benjy Berger, President of Berger & Berger Real Estate Group in New York, became seriously involved at Our Place NY in 2009. Since then, he has joined the Our Place Board, eventually coming to serve as Co-President. For six consecutive years, Mr. Berger has served as Chairman of the Our Place “Evening of Luxury & Entertainment Real Estate Event.”

His passion and dedication to our cause have allowed Our Place to expand and to continue down the path to save our youth in the Jewish Community.

Rafi Hassan began working in Boys Our Place when its doors opened in 1998. Mr. Hassan’s multi-faceted role included creating relationships with the members, referring them to schools and therapists, and helping them navigate their day-to-day problems. He also coordinated various recreational trips, as well as,the nightly dinner program. Rafi ran the nightly program for 14 years until 2011. Today, Rafi serves as an Executive Board Member, overseeing the organization’s finances and volunteers several nights weekly at Boys Our Place.

Rafi is also an active member of Flatbush Hatzolah since 2001 and his specialty is helping people with mental illness.When not busy helping those in need, Rafi works as the Sales Manager at Tri-State Surgical. He lives in Flatbush with his family.

Eli Verschleiser has served as the President of Our Place for over a decade. Currently he serves as the Chairman of the board.

Mr. Verschleiser has been an integral part of the OurPlace since inception. His life is dedicated to assisting troubled youth in their return to mainstream society.

Mr. Verschleiser is involved in numerous international and community organizations and serves on the board of trustees at the American Jewish Congress (AJC) , and as a co-founder of Magenu.org.

Mr. Verschleiser is an author and frequent commentator on political and social services matters.

Follow Eli on Twitter @E_Verschleiser

Shim Perlman, LMSW, is a licensed social worker who joined the Boys Our Place clinical team during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on providing one-on-one counseling during this difficult time.

In addition to his work at Our Place, Shim maintains a private practice, specializing in working with the elderly population. A native of Far Rockaway, NY, Shim received his degree from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work in 2010. He is the youngest of eight siblings, in a family full of social workers and licensed therapists!

Shim’s primary therapeutic technique is derived from Primal Therapy, as he seeks to assist each client with identifying the core issue that is holding them back from realizing their own potential and greatness. Shim is particularly passionate about his work at Our Place, as he helps young people begin to unlock their potential and build brighter futures.

Benjamin Marmorstein, LMCH, began working as a therapist at Boys Our Place in 2019. He graduated from Wurzweiler with a Masters degree in Social Work and received an LMSW in New York State. Benjamin specializes in working with youth and adolescents with a focus on healing past traumas.

In addition to his work at Our Place, he works as a therapist at the Jewish Board of Family and Children Services, two Brooklyn Yeshivas, and at a clinic. In his free time, Benjamin enjoys camping out in the woods enjoying the clean air.

Micah Landau, LMSW, began working in Our Place as a social work intern in 2017. In 2018, he graduated with a Masters degree in Social Work and in 2019 he received his license from New York state. In 2019 Micah was promoted to join Our Place’s clinical team, where he now works as a beloved social worker at the Boys Our Place drop-in center.

In addition to his LMSW degree from Silberman School of Social Work, Micah is trained in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy used to help people struggling with trauma. Micah grew up in Kensington, Brooklyn and enjoys giving back to his community of origin. In addition to his work at Our Place, Micah serves as a therapist for 1225, a drop-in program in Boro Park that helps at-risk Chassidish youth. In Micah’s free time he enjoys practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, classical violin, piano, and rock climbing.

Yehuda Klinkowitz, LMSW, has been working with struggling teens for over two decades. A graduate of Touro College’s School of Social Work with an LMSW degree, Yehuda served for over a decade as the program director for the acclaimed TOVA mentoring Program in Long Island, NY before joining the Our Place family. In his 14-year tenure at TOVA, Yehuda’s leadership and vision helped grow all aspects of the organization. Concurrent to his work at TOVA, Yehuda has also worked as a social worker for both the Lawrence School District and the New York City Department of Education.

Since beginning his role as Volunteer & Alumni Coordinator at Our Place in 2016 add email address yehuda@ourplaceny.org, Yehuda has created the vibrant Our Place Social Work Internship program, while providing mentorship, guidance and ongoing professional development for all Our Place interns, volunteers and mentors. Yehuda also plays a vital role in keeping Our Place alumni connected by coordinating seasonal alumni events.

Yehuda is an active community volunteer, coaching little league, providing swim instruction and regularly volunteering at his shul, Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY. He lives by the motto of the Piaseczno Rebbe, “The greatest thing in the whole wide world is to do someone else a favor.”

Shmaya Honickman is a certified recovery coach who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work. He joined the Our Place family in 2016, working under Sony Perlman as a Dorm Counselor at Arena Sober Living. After two years of working at the Sober Living Home, Shmaya’s role with Our Place shifted, as he was given new responsibilities within The Living Room division. At The Living Room, Shmaya’s unparalleled positivity and love of life play a pivotal role in creating the awesome energy and optimism that are pivotal components of the TLR experience.

Today, Shmaya serves as the Programming Coordinator at The Living Room, where he handles many of the day-to-day responsibilities including, scheduling programming, assisting with the intake process of new members and overseeing the daily operations. Shmaya and his wife reside in Teaneck, NJ. In his free time, Shmaya enjoys rock climbing and playing in a local band.

Miriam Gruen has been with Girls Our Place since its inception two decades ago. Initially beginning as a dedicated volunteer, Miriam now serves as the Clinical Coordinator of Girls Our Place. She plays a critical role in guiding other staff members, as well as, providing direct counseling to girls who attend.

Miriam graduated with a Master’s degree in Social Work from Touro College and is a licensed social worker. In addition to her work at Our Place, Miriam is a highly sought-after Kallah teacher and works as a social worker at My Extended Family, an organization that services children from single-family homes.

Dovid Glancz, LMHC, is a licensed therapist with a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Touro College. David joined Boys Our Place in 2009 as a volunteer, working towards becoming a licensed therapist. Upon obtaining his clinical licensing, his responsibilities expanded as he joined the Our Place Boys clinical team.

In addition to his work at Our Place, Dovid has extensive clinical experience working as a mental health counselor at local clinics, Yeshivos and community social service agencies. He has worked at the Interborough Developmental Clinic, The Consultation Center, Pesach Tikvah and Yeshivas Tiferes Shmuel where all of his clients receive his trademark warmth and dedication.

Gittel (Kagan) Follman, LMSW, is the Associate Director and Community Outreach Coordinator of The Living Room and also serves as the Director of Social Work Services for Brooklyn Defender Services. Gittel received her Masters from the University of Maryland and has spent almost two decades as a dedicated social worker, working in the trenches to help people of all backgrounds to have a second chance at life.

She is an unsung and often unrecognized superhero for those most in need in the Jewish community and beyond. She plays a vital role in helping young women in recovery, as well as, providing specific support for wives of addicts in the Jewish community. In addition to her two full-time professional commitments, Gittel is wife to Mo and mom to Nash and Leora.

Rabbi Yosef Fogel has served as the Learning Coordinator and on-site Rabbi at Boys Our Place for almost two decades. He is a pillar of the Our Place community, offering Torah-based guidance and personal mentorship to hundreds of struggling young teens. Rabbi Fogel has a Master’s in Talmudic Law from Nesivos Hatorah and a certificate in Advanced Mentoring from Dr. Shimon Russel, LCSW. Having received Smicha from Congregation Lev Bunim, Rabbi Fogel has mastered the art of fusing social guidance with Torah insights. Concurrent to his work at Our Place, Rabbi Fogel works as a principal at Yeshiva Torah Temimah in Brooklyn, where he resides with his family.

Shula Einhorn, LMSW has been involved with Girls Our Place since 2010. She is a graduate of Hunter College School of Social Work and has experience in the fields of counseling and vocational services. Shula assists with planning and implementing activities and events, while simultaneously, using her clinical expertise to guide and mentor struggling teens.

Shula uses her background in vocational rehabilitation services to assist Our Place girls with career planning, resume writing and interview skills. Additionally, Shula uses her social work training to respond to mental health challenges and refer individuals to clinical services.

Bracha has served as the Events Coordinator at Girls Our Place for over 10 years. Over the years she has taught adolescents in diverse settings, including special needs schools, a medical hospital, and an inpatient psychiatric hospital. These experiences have allowed her to mentor the girls with a unique sensitivity to their various needs, as well as provide academic support when necessary.

Bracha received her Masters degree in Special Education from Daemen College and has a background running Birthright trips, Yad B’Yad programming, and directing a vocational program for Yachad in Camp Morasha. As the Events Coordinator, she plans and implements creative activities, parties, and special events to keep Girls Our Place fun and engaging.