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We get what you’re going through because we’ve been there too.

Founder & Director

Malkie Klaristenfeld

“I grew up in a home where we lived with Hashem. That we wake up in the morning and Hashem gives us a plan, and we embrace it. I got married, very focused on fulfilling this next stage in life. This stage was very different, though, from what I’d imagined it to be—I didn’t dream I’d have a life of losses. But I knew I was a fighter, I was a strong person. That was my coping mechanism, telling myself I could do this. I could take it…”

As a teacher and growth-oriented thinker, Malkie found comfort in reading and learning about perinatal loss. After her tenth loss, though, she hit her breaking point. She'd gone to all the top doctors, had done all the research, gotten all the medication, done everything right … and it ended in a stillbirth. It was devastating, and for the first time she felt she couldn’t continue anymore. She knew then that going through it on her own wasn’t going to work anymore.

She shared this thought with a friend who said, “Malkie, you should do something with this!” galvanizing her into action. Malkie created a care packet for pregnancy loss, something women could carry with them and that would help them move forward as they walked out of the hospital with otherwise empty arms.

Through founding ATIME’s Pregnancy Loss Support Program in 1999, and in her current work as founder and director of Knafayim (since 2015), Malkie has created a comprehensive network of support services so that no couple should have to travel the journey of reproductive loss alone. In addition to the community and sisterhood she has created to support bereaved parents, she uses her wealth of experience and knowledge to guide medical professionals and community leaders in how to best support families facing reproductive loss, and has trained emotional doulas in New York, Israel, Australia, Toronto, London, Antwerp and Montreal. She brings all facets of her upbeat personality—mother, teacher, writer, musician—with her as she provides couples with sensitive and respectful companionship along their journey.

Like the soft, gentle whisper of a butterfly’s wings, Knafayim tells bereaved parents… if you are here, we are here too.

Executive Team

Administrative Team

Mrs. Mindy Felsenberg

Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Rivky Lefkowitz

Director Of Operations

Mrs. Rechy Lustigman

Editor

Mrs. Libby Miller

Program Coordinator

Mrs. Miriam Leah Reiss

Secretary

Mrs. Yitty Witriol

Director of Development

Regional Coordinators

Support Group Moderators

Ariella Babad, LCSW

Pregnancy after loss

Laurie Chameides, LCSW

Laurie Chameides, LCSW

Loss following IF

Chanie Delman, LCSW, PMH

Chanie Delman, LCSW, PMH

Heartbeats (Baby loss)

Yaffa Dyckman, LCSW

Yaffa Dyckman, LCSW

Teleconference series

Dvora Entin, LCSW, PMH-C

Dvora Entin, LCSW, PMH-C

Still a Mother
(Pregnancy loss)

Ruth Gabay, LCSW

Ruth Gabay, LCSW

Painful Choices (TFMR)

Audrey Grazi, LCSW

Audrey Grazi, LCSW

In-person Brooklyn support group (Pregnancy loss)

Chani Juravel, LCSW

Chani Juravel, LCSW

Pathways
(Post-hysterectomy)

Merav Kaisman, LPC

Merav Kaisman, LPC

In-person Lakewood support group (Pregnancy loss)

Libby Klein, LCSW

Libby Klein, LCSW

In-person Lakewood support group (Pregnancy loss)

Shaindy Lefkowitz, LCSW

Shaindy Lefkowitz, LCSW

In-person Monroe support group (Pregnancy Loss)

Sarah Miller, PhD

Sarah Miller, PhD

Teleconference series

Faigy Singer, MSN, RN, CNE, CCE

Faigy Singer, MSN, RN, CNE, CCE

Teleconference series

Irene Sprung, LCSW

Irene Sprung, LCSW

Continued Comfort
(Fetal anomaly)

Moshe Winograd, PhD

Moshe Winograd, PhD

Mens support

Frances T. McCarthy, MS, RNC, CPLC

Frances T. McCarthy, MS, RNC, CPLC

Teleconference series

Medical Advisory Team

Alan A. Adler, M.D., FACOG

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Peer Dar, MD OBGYN

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Monica V Dragoman, MD, MPH OBGYN

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Victor Grazi, MD OBGYN

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Adam R Jacobs, MD OBGYN

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Joshua Klein MD, FACOG

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Jonathan Lanzkowsky, MD OBGYN

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David B. Lubell, MD OBGYN

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Laura Macissac MD MPH OBGYN

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Rachel Masch, MD, MPH OBYGYN

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Fran McCarthy, MS, RNC

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Victor A. Rosenberg, MD, FACOG

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Zev Williams, M.D. PhD

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Alan A. Adler, M.D., FACOG

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Peer Dar, MD OBGYN

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Monica V Dragoman, MD, MPH OBGYN

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Victor Grazi, MD OBGYN

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Adam R Jacobs, MD OBGYN

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Joshua Klein MD, FACOG

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Jonathan Lanzkowsky, MD OBGYN

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David B. Lubell, MD OBGYN

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Laura Macissac MD MPH OBGYN

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Rachel Masch, MD, MPH OBYGYN

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Fran McCarthy, MS, RNC

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Victor A. Rosenberg, MD, FACOG

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Zev Williams, M.D. PhD

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“It is in our own experiences of brokenness that we find the strength and courage to help others who struggle with similar experiences.”

Knafayim Volunteer

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Be a lifeline of hope for couples facing the painful journey of perinatal loss. Join our community of compassion and care.

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