Yad Chessed— hand of loving kindness.

Founded with the values of chessed (kindness) and tzedakah (charity), Yad Chessed has been a pillar of support in the Jewish community for over 35 years. We understand that life’s hurdles can affect anyone, and we are here to extend a helping hand to those experiencing financial hardship. Our small, yet impactful team works to ensure that Jews throughout New England who are struggling have somewhere to turn for emergency financial assistance, food support, and compassionate guidance.

Meet some of the Yad Chessed team

Executive Director

Nancy J. Kriegel

Nancy began as Executive Director in December of 2019. Previously, Nancy worked at Combined Jewish Philanthropies overseeing efforts to strengthen area Jewish Day Schools. Nancy was also one of the founders and co-president of Gateways: Access to Jewish Education. Before dedicating her career to Jewish communal service, Nancy was a practicing attorney with degrees from Boston College Law School and the University of Pennsylvania.

Associate Executive Director, Social Worker

Deborah Freed

Deborah joined Yad Chessed as a case manager in 2009 as Yad Chessed’s first professional staff member. Deborah has worked as a hospice social worker, sexual assault crisis counselor, prison release counselor, and professional studio artist. She worked at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in the Center for Violence Prevention and Recovery and the Center for Cognitive Neurology. She received her BA at Wesleyan University and her MSW from Simmons School of Social Work.

Director of Operations

Lisa Gregerman

Lisa joined the staff in October of 2024 and has extensive experience in nonprofit administration having worked at Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, The Fordhall Forum, and most recently as the Executive Director of Temple B’nai Brith in Somerville, MA. Lisa is pleased that her background in supporting the needs of those living with poverty and her work serving the Jewish community can be blended to support the mission of Yad Chessed. Lisa has a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University.

Social Work Team

Sue, Emily, Deborah, and Katya

Sound, compassionate guidance is the cornerstone of what helps our clients succeed. Sue, Emily, Deborah and Katya (pictured left to right), work with those struggling financially to create individual actions plans and to ensure they are accessing and maximizing benefits, resources and budget counseling. Our social workers also provide ongoing and personalized assistance. Katya is bilingual and also assists our Russian-speaking clients.

Founder

Robert Housman

In 1989, Robert established Yad Chessed so he could help his neighbors struggling in Boston’s Jewish community. In the early years, he ran it by himself, with help from his wife Sue, as he worked full-time as a computer programmer. Robert noted, “People in the Jewish community didn’t realize that there were Jews who didn’t have enough food, who had trouble paying their rent. There was a need that wasn’t being met, so I started Yad Chessed.”

President, Board of Directors

Lori Silver

Lori is the General Counsel of Partners In Health, a global health nonprofit that provides healthcare for the poor with operations in ten countries. She previously served as Director of the Anti-Poverty Initiative at Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP), as General Counsel of Decisions Resources Group, and as a lawyer for the Office of the General Counsel at Harvard University. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Stanford University.

Icon Testimonies

2025 Board Officers

Lori Silver (President)

Kathy Cohen (Executive Vice President)

Janet Goldenberg (Executive Vice President)

Jacob Teich (Treasurer)

Sandy Remz (Clerk)

Robert Housman (Founder Emeritus)

Icon Testimonies

2025 Board of Directors

Shira Fischer, Daniel Friedman, Paul Furer, Rebecca Kotkin, Elyse Leventhal, Cheryl Nissenbaum Sanders, Susan Shanske, Ellie Shrage, Linda Skolnik, Jill Smith, Susan Steinhardt, Shani Winton.

Our Financials

Form 990

Form 990 is an informational document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS every year. This form covers Yad Chessed's fiscal year 2023 (Sept 2022 – Aug 2023).

Independent Auditor's Report

Our independent Auditor's Report is issued by an external auditor and evaluates the quality and accuracy of our financial statements. This report covers Yad Chessed's fiscal year 2023 (Sept 2022 – Aug 2023).

Impact Report

Yad Chessed publishes an Impact Report that summarizes what we've accomplished each year with the support of our donors and partners.

Form 990

Form 990 is an informational document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS every year. This form covers Yad Chessed's fiscal year 2022 (Sept 2021 – Aug 2022).

Independent Auditor’s Report

Our independent Auditor's Report is issued by an external auditor and evaluates the quality and accuracy of our financial statements. This report covers Yad Chessed's fiscal year 2022 (Sept 2021 – Aug 2022).

Annual Report

Yad Chessed publishes an Annual Report that summarizes what we've accomplished each year with the support of our donors and partners.

Form 990

Form 990 is an informational document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS every year. This form covers Yad Chessed's fiscal year 2021 (Sept 2020 – Aug 2021).

Independent Auditor's Report

Our independent Auditor's Report is issued by an external auditor and evaluates the quality and accuracy of our financial statements. This report covers Yad Chessed's fiscal year 2021 (Sept 2020 – Aug 2021).

Annual Report

Yad Chessed publishes an Annual Report that summarizes what we've accomplished each year with the support of our donors and partners.

Form 990

Form 990 is an informational document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS every year. This form covers Yad Chessed's fiscal year 2020 (Sept 2019 – Aug 2020).

Independent Auditor's Report

Our independent Auditor's Report is issued by an external auditor and evaluates the quality and accuracy of our financial statements. This report covers Yad Chessed's fiscal year 2020 (Sept 2019 – Aug 2020).

Annual Report

Yad Chessed publishes an Annual Report that summarizes what we've accomplished each year with the support of our donors and partners.

Yad Chessed News

Hear directly from those we help

Check out our video to hear from those whose lives we touch. It’s not easy asking for help, but that’s why Yad Chessed is here. To ease financial burdens and provide meaningful connections so those who are struggling know their Jewish community cares.

Watch our video

Featured in Jewish Journal

We were the cover story for the Jewish Journal! “We view ourselves as the extension of the Jewish communal family for people who really have no one to turn to,” Kriegel said. “We often say, ‘If not us who…’"

Read the article

Our Impact Report

See how we’re “Fulfilling Timeless Jewish values with Compassion and Innovation,” and read about our financials and the lives we touch thanks to the generosity of our community.

View our Impact Report

Support for Israelis in Time of Crisis

Yad Chessed social workers are available to address the unique needs of Israelis in financial distress who seek refuge in our Greater Boston Jewish community. Our team is here to swiftly provide emergency financial assistance and supermarket gift cards to Israeli families in need as well as help them connect to additional available resources. If you or someone you know needs help, email intake@yadchessed.com or call (781) 487-2693.

Get help

Frequently Asked Questions

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