JBI, the nonprofit organization that supports access to Jewish life for individuals who are blind, have visual impairments or print disabilities, welcomes three new members, Jay Fialkoff (senior counsel, Moses & Singer LLP), Scott Kessler (partner, Akerman LLP) and Dr. Florence Milch (retired Director of Retina, Metropolitan Hospital), to the JBI board of directors this month.
“These new board members bring a comprehensive set of impressive professional talents and experience to our organization,” said JBI executive director Livia Thompson. “They are passionate advocates for vision and print accessibility and have deep connections to the Jewish community—whether it’s Mr. Kessler’s work against antisemitism, Dr. Milch’s ophthalmological expertise and experiences as the child of Holocaust survivors, or Mr. Fialkoff’s philanthropic work supporting eye diseases research as someone with retinitis pigmentosa himself. The value they bring to our work as we implement a strategic plan focused on bringing new technologies and community outreach to our patrons is immense.”
New board member Fialkoff shared, “Now, more than ever, I am glad to be part of an organization with such a long history and tradition of helping people. I’m committed to honoring and continuing this legacy as JBI moves forward with expanding its new programming, technological updates, and other exciting plans for the future.”
Kessler continued, “I’ve worked with JBI on a pro-bono basis for the past year and couldn’t be more proud to now be a part of the organization in a more official capacity. I’m looking forward to working side by side with Jay Fialkoff and Florence Milch, as well as the other board members, as the organization expands its work and outreach.”
Milch added, “As someone who has spent my career focused on diseases of the eye, I’m very aware of how important JBI’s work is to members of the Jewish community. Their patrons range from young to old, and from those who were born blind to those who lost sight later in their lives. JBI’s rich library of materials, programs, and offerings act as a lifeline to many who might otherwise feel isolated from Jewish life. It’s my privilege to contribute to its vital mission.”
Jay Fialkoff is senior counsel at the law firm of Moses & Singer and has practiced civil litigation with a specialty in complex New York City property issues for 47 years. An active philanthropist, he has served on a number of nonprofit boards, including Birch Family Services, which supports people with autism and their families, as well as the Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School, which supports music education and inclusion for people with vision loss. Fialkoff’s commitment to JBI’s mission is a personal one—he and his brother have retinitis pigmentosa—and their philanthropic efforts have also been concentrated on medical research, including research and cures for retinal diseases. He is committed to supporting work that helps people who are blind or low vision, including the exploration of new assistive technologies. He holds a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Scott Kessler is a partner of Steve Polivy at Akerman where he is a litigator specializing in commercial disputes, real estate, and intellectual property matters. He began his work with JBI as a volunteer, offering his pro-bono legal services. In addition to previously serving as founder of a nonprofit connecting young people and baseball, he currently co-chairs Akerman’s Jewish Network and is active in efforts to fight antisemitism and promote Jewish culture, including forming and leading the Westfield, N.J., Run For Their Lives group to call for the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza. He holds a J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law, where he graduated cum laude, and a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University.
Dr. Florence Milch is a retired ophthalmologist who specialized in vitreoretinal surgery at Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, New York Eye and Ear Hospital and Metropolitan Hospital (where she was Director of Retina). Milch is the current President of Women of Emanuel-El and a member of the board of trustees of Temple Emanu-El, a longtime supporter of American Friends of the Israel Defense Force, and a former board member of the New York chapter of the American Diabetes Association. As a child of Holocaust survivors, she deeply values her connection to Jewish heritage and history. Milch graduated magna cum laude from Barnard College and obtained her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Fialkoff, Kessler and Milch join current JBI Board of Trustees, Mark J. Altschuler, Frances Brandt, Andrea Brown, Rabbi Gabrielle Cohn, Ellen David, Steven Fadem, Barbara B. Friedman, Susan Gold, Steve Gomer, William K. Gross, Dr. Ellie Henkind Katz, Hortense Hurwitz*, Thomas G. Kahn, Myron Kaplan, Esq., Caren Keller, Nancy I. Klein, Allan N. Lowy, Esq., Steven P. Polivy, Esq., Rabbi Mordechai Rackover, Jill Rothstein, Barbara G. Saidel, Susan L. Schlechter, Steven J. Sklar and Rabbanit Aliza Sperling as of late August 2024.
Media Inquiries: Jessica Barist Cohen at Chatham Strategies, Jessicac@chatham-strategies.com
