BaMidbar Welcomes New Leaders to Our Board

At BaMidbar, we believe that strong leadership is essential to advancing our mission of supporting Jewish teens and young adults in their mental health and wellness journeys. As we continue to expand our reach and impact, we are thrilled to welcome three new members to our community of leaders: Dana Ponsky and Adam Teitelbaum, who join our Board of Directors, and Michael Blumberg, LCPC, who joins our Clinical Advisory Committee.

This is a critical moment for mental health support and education in the Jewish community, and we are honored to have these exceptional individuals bring their expertise, passion, and dedication to our work.

Meet Our New Board Members

Dana Ponsky

Dana Ponsky is an independent and school-based college counselor who began her career in education and advocacy about 25 years ago. After working in higher education creating orientation and first-year experience programs, Dana transitioned to work as a school-based college counselor in Jewish day schools. She has served as a high school director of college counseling in Miami, Washington, D.C., Brooklyn, and Northern New Jersey and has volunteered for nationally-recognized college access programs.

Today, Dana works closely with high school and college students and their families to guide them through the college application process while providing advice to ensure long-term academic and social-emotional success in college and beyond. Additionally, she is the creator of the popular video series, Kibbitz in 10 Minutes, where she interviews Jewish life leaders on campuses across the country who share important information about their programs to prospective students and families. Dana lives in Brooklyn, New York and when not running her business or being with friends and family, you can find her traveling in search of great food and experiences.

Adam Teitelbaum

Adam Teitelbaum is the proud husband of a Cincinnati native, and father of two boys. The product of a West Coast Conservative Jewish home, his connection to Klal Yisrael was solidified through his Bar Mitzvah in Israel, summers at Camp Ramah, engagement through USY, and the greatest career accident: becoming a Jewish non-profit professional. Adam works at the intersection of Jewish communal institutions and civic engagement organizing, managing, and leading teams on behalf of some of the most pressing issues facing the Jewish community. Adam has been positioned at the nexus of the institutional old-guard and rising generations. He’s been a champion of bridging the gap between intergenerational understandings of the most effective responses to questions around Jewish identity, support for Israel, and increasing philanthropic capacity. Most recently, Adam decided to embark on an entrepreneurial journey founding Level III Industries, LLC to uplift Torah wisdom in addressing challenges and opportunities facing broad social trends. Adam currently lives in Cincinnati, OH – a sentence he never imagined he’d say in his lifetime.

Introducing Our Newest Clinical Advisory Committee Member

Michael Blumberg, LCPC

Michael Blumberg is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor practicing in Glenview, IL. He is the graduate of the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, where he eared an MA in Professional Counseling. Michael is the Owner and Director of Glenview Counseling Group, an outpatient psychotherapy practice he founded in 2012 where he supervises 20 therapists. He also co-founded Group Practice Builders, a training business focused on helping clinicians build and scale psychotherapy group practices. Michael’s clinical interests include complex anxiety, OCD and OC Spectrum Disorders. He has presented nationally and internationally on these subjects over the past decade and currently facilitates trainings locally through his practice. His leadership roles include roles on the Scientific Advisory Board for Beyond OCD, the Clinical Oversight Committee for Hope for the Day, Founding Board Member of the Chicagoland Hoarding Taskforce and various roles within OCD Midwest, a subsidiary of the International OCD Foundation. Michael was born and raised in Israel and is active within the Chicago Jewish therapist community.

Why This Matters Now

Jewish teens and young adults are facing unprecedented mental health challenges, from increased anxiety and depression to social pressures and identity struggles. At BaMidbar, we are committed to meeting this need head-on with evidence-based programs, strong community partnerships, and a dedicated team of professionals and lay leaders. The addition of Dana, Adam, and Michael to our leadership team strengthens our ability to expand our impact and ensure that every young person in our community has access to the resources they need to flourish.

Please join us in welcoming Dana, Adam, and Michael to BaMidbar! We look forward to the contributions they will make in shaping the future of Jewish mental health support and education.

If you’d like to make to make a donation in honor of Dana, Adam, and Michael, please do so here.