Dave Matkowsky
Director, Jewish Community Development
Dave Matkowsky has dedicated his career to strengthening and empowering the Jewish community. He joined 92nd Street Y in 2007 as director of Jewish Community Development to oversee and expand 92Y's initiatives for diverse segments of New York's Jewish population. In this capacity, he heads the Resource Center for Jewish Diversity and other 92Y programs aimed at reaching across ethnic and cultural boundaries within the Jewish community.
Prior to joining 92Y, Dave was a planning executive with the Commission on the Jewish People of UJA-Federation of New York, where he was responsible for programs that strengthen connections between diverse segments of the Jewish community in Israel and in New York.
While at Young Judaea Israel Programs, he helped develop a program to bring together Jewish-American and Israeli young adults from different religious backgrounds for meaningful study, volunteer and leadership-building experiences.
A musical composer and performer, Dave was a founding member of Beat'achon, one of the first professional Jewish a cappella singing groups. In response to terrorism against Israelis during the second Intifada, Dave combined his musical and community organizing talents for Voices for Israel, a solidarity project that raised money for Israeli victims of terrorism.
Dave holds an MA in politics from New York University, and a BA in philosophy from Yeshiva University.
Estee Eliger
Program Manager, Resource Center for Jewish Diversity
Estee Eliger serves as the Program Manager for the Resource Center for Jewish Diversity and other related projects aimed at broadening 92Y's outreach to diverse segments of the Jewish community. Prior to joining 92Y, Estee served as a project manager for Project Healthy Grandparents, a community service initiative aimed at strengthening grandparent-headed households in Atlanta's lower-income neighborhoods.
Estee holds an MBA in Marketing and Management from Georgia State University and a BA in Marketing and Human Resources from The College of Management Academic Studies in Rishon Letzion, Israel.
Estee has had the unique experience of living in four different countries, giving her substantial first-hand knowledge and understanding of diverse cultures. She is fluent in Hebrew, Russian and Georgian and has been successful using her multicultural experience and insight to create connections between people from diverse backgrounds and to educate others about Jewish diversity.
In her free time, Estee takes dance classes, studies languages and enjoys the outdoors.