This award honors a member who has made a particularly significant contribution to the growth of Sisterhood and to the development of Women’s League and/or Torah Fund. Click here to learn more about Women’s League for Conservative Judaism and the Torah fund.
Read the D’var Torah given at Sisterhood Shabbat by this year’s Woman of Achievement, Cheryl Haiken.
Cheryl Haiken is the daughter of Edward z”l and Sheila Nassberg, esteemed members of the Melville Jewish Center. She is the proud mother of Adam Haiken, Rebecca and Brandon Ehrlich, and Sarah and Daniel Dray, who recently wed, and grandmother to Liam and Ari Ehrlich. Cheryl is happily married to her husband Jeffrey, who is an avid minyan goer for the past 20 years. She has been a second-generation member since 1996 and currently her daughter is a third-generation member. Additionally, her sister Susan Wische is a member and in charge of the weekly e-notices.
Cheryl has served on the board of the Melville Jewish Center in various roles, including Early Childhood Liaison, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Trustee, and Immediate Past Co-President. Cheryl organized and has managed a monthly sensory-based program for young children in the community and their families called Mazel Tots. Each month there is a revolving Jewish theme at the center and the agenda provides social learning and education in a hands-on environment. Recently, she has been involved with trying to raise money to support Shabbat dinners for the IDF soldiers who are in the Gaza.
Professionally, Cheryl is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who works as a medical supervisor in Applied Behavior Analysis services (ABA) for children on the Autism Spectrum and an academic supervisor to special educators who work with preschool children. She also specializes in marriage and family therapy, particularly focusing on families with children who have special needs. She conducts monthly workshops on various topics concerning children with special needs for special educators as well as speaking engagements throughout the year for professional organizations on Long Island and the metropolitan area. Cheryl has also held positions of leadership within the broader community, serving as president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving for New York State and representing her Legislative district on the Suffolk County Women’s Advisory Commission. In 2014, she was honored as the Town of Huntington Woman of the Year for her advocacy work. Notably, Cheryl has developed two safety awareness programs—one addressing childhood behaviors to prevent brain injuries, which gained national recognition, and another targeting online predators. Cheryl has been positively impacted by her synagogue since childhood and considers it a foundational influence within not only her life but the lives of her entire family. By attending synagogue services, participating in groups, celebrating the holidays and socializing with her fellow congregants she considers herself proud and grateful to be a part of the Melville Jewish Center community.
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