Lauren Appelbaum is vice president of communications at RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so people with disabilities can participate fully in the community. From entertainment professionals to presidential campaigns, journalists to philanthropists, she conducts trainings on the why and how to be more inclusive and accessible. Appelbaum is the author of “The Hollywood Disability Inclusion Toolkit” and the managing editor of The RespectAbility Report. She has also created an innovative Lab Program for entertainment professionals with disabilities working behind the camera, and supervises RespectAbility’s Fellowship Program. Outside of work, Appelbaum is the co-chair of Congregation Har Shalom's Disability Inclusion Committee and an active member of the synagogue's Sherman Early Childhood Center Parent Association. She also serves on the American Jewish Committee: ACCESS – DC Board in Washington, D.C. Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Appelbaum has a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University; she also has undergraduate degrees from Columbia University (political science) and the Jewish Theological Seminary (Midrash). She currently lives in Potomac, Maryland with her husband, daughter and dog.

Sarah D. Feinberg is a senior executive who has dedicated her career to the Jewish community where she works to strengthen internal systems to realize organizational mission. Sarah brings a deep passion for creating positive work environments and designing policies to support it. She builds and strengthens relationships within and across institutions; works closely with board members and staff; and managed facilities and teams. Sarah was most recently the senior director, planning and implementation at NCJW, Inc. and has also held positions at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, and Brandeis University. She holds an M.B.A. and Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Boston University and a B.A. from Barnard College. When she is not strategizing, building relationships, and crunching numbers, she enjoys flexing her creative muscle through photography, cooking, and gardening. Sarah lives in Silver Spring, Md. with her daughter.

Maharat Ruth Friedman is a member of the inaugural class of Yeshivat Maharat, which is the first institution to ordain Orthodox women as spiritual leaders and halakhic (legal) authorities. She and her husband Yoni moved to Washington, D.C. in July 2013 to begin her position as Maharat at Ohev Sholom - The National Synagogue®. Maharat Friedman’s responsibilities include overseeing the conversion program, supervising the operation of the community mikvah, directing adult education, providing pastoral counseling, teaching in the community, and more. She is a proud member of the Washington Boards of Rabbis, and sits on the Executive Committee of the board of the International Rabbinic Fellowship, of which she is also a member. Maharat Friedman is also a founding member of the Beltway VAAD. She and Yoni are the proud parents of their sons Ezra and Joe “Bear,” and their rambunctious shih tzu, Cocoa.

Rachel Gildiner is the executive director of GatherDC, an innovative community-based start-up that connects Jewish 20s and 30s to each other, to Jewish life across D.C., and to sustained adult Jewish identities, wherever they go next. With over 12 years of professional experience in the fields of emerging adult identity development and relationship-based engagement, Rachel believes in the power of personal connection to build Jewish community. Rachel is also committed to the equity and advancement of women in the Jewish workplace and beyond, and has launched a vibrant national Facebook community to address these issues. Rachel has a B.A. in sociology from Columbia University, an M.A. in higher education administration from The George Washington University, and a certificate in experiential Jewish education from Yeshiva University. Rachel lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and three children.

Marci Harris-Blumenthal currently serves as the director of global programs for AJC Project Interchange, where she manages the planning of 25 Israel seminars annually, bringing global influencers and decision-makers to Israel to learn about its reality and complexity. Prior to that, Marci completed a 17-year tenure at the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, where she served as the managing director of strategic planning & allocations, overseeing the relationships between the Federation and over 40 local and global partner agencies, convening organizations to identify emerging communal needs and priorities, and managing the Federation's annual grant-making process. Outside of her professional life, Marci is a facilitator for Resetting the Table, building constructive conversations around differences; serves on the board of Operation Understanding DC; and chairs the Refugee Resettlement Committee at Shaare Torah Congregation. Marci and her husband, Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, have two great kids – a son at University of Maryland and a daughter at Binghamton University, and are enjoying their status as empty nesters.

Darcy Hirsh is the director of government affairs in the Jewish Federations of North America’s Washington, D.C. office. She is also the Washington Representative for the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies. Darcy was most recently the director of Virginia and D.C. government and community relations at the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington. In this role, she advocated before local, state, and federal government officials on issues of importance to the Jewish community including support for social services, maintaining the separation of church and state, and combating anti-Semitism and other forms of bias. Darcy previously served as the associate director of the Anti-Defamation League Washington, D.C. Regional office and prior to that, as director of day school advocacy at UJA-Federation of New York. She holds a J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, an MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and a B.A. in religious studies from Barnard College. Darcy and her husband reside in Chevy Chase, D.C., with their son and daughter.

Samantha Kupferman has worked in strategic communications on behalf of nonprofits, professional services organizations and public sector entities for the past decade. She was one of the original team members of the Washington-based strategic communications firm, West End Strategy Team (WEST), when it opened its doors in 2013, and she launched its New York office in 2015. At WEST, Samantha leads business development and marketing. She also conceptualizes and manages public relations and issue-based campaigns for nonprofit, advocacy and foundation clients, including significant work with organizations advancing human rights in the United States and globally. In addition to previous roles at private sector communications firms including Marathon Strategies in New York and Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications in Washington, Samantha has served as deputy communications director for Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, and as a features and city desk reporter at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock, focusing on coverage of the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Samantha holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and a bachelor’s degree in international politics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, where she received a certificate in Latin American Studies and during which time she studied in Chile and Spain. A proud Hoya, since graduating, she has served as a volunteer alumni interviewer of undergraduate applicants. She has spent significant time supporting nonprofits engaged in adult literacy programs, including serving as president of the board and as an English as a second language tutor for Literacy Action of Central Arkansas, and on the executive board of the Literacy Council of Montgomery County, Maryland. Samantha, a Washington-area native, lives in Bethesda with her husband and son.

Robyn Judelsohn leads BBYO’s Immersives Department and BBYO’s International Convention. She has worked with her team to grow the size and number of BBYO’s immersive programs, strengthen the programs, Jewish content, staff and curriculum training. In addition, Robyn manages BBYO’s commitment to growing our inclusion and mental health initiatives. Recently Robyn was promoted to direct BBYO’s International Convention, which has grown to over 3,000 teens from around the world and 5,000 total participants. Robyn serves as part of the BBYO Management Team. Robyn worked at JFNA (Jewish Federations of North America) for 10 years as a senior director with responsibility for community planning, disaster response, and public affairs in the Washington, D.C. office. Prior to working in the Jewish community, Robyn worked in politics for 10 years traveling to 30 states to work with state political parties, candidates for President, U.S. Senate, and other local offices. Robyn loves to be outside and active and travel the world. She also serves on the board of Girls on the Run Montgomery County and Perlman Camp. Robyn lives in Maryland with her husband, David, and her two children, Logan and Lily.

Malki Karkowsky is the director of women’s philanthropy at The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. She has always been interested in the intersection of Judaism and women: Her time as a professional in the Jewish community has focused on building connections with, between, and among members of the Jewish community, with a special focus on women and girls. Malki is interested in asking and discussing big questions about the Jewish (and broader) community and taking a wide-ranging, systemic look at affecting change to respond to those questions. Her time at local, national, and international organizations has given her a unique perspective on the Jewish community and women’s role in it as members, professionals, and changemakers. Malki lives in Silver Spring, Md. with her lovely, supportive husband, Jamie, and three adorable children (Shai, 7; Areli 4; and Tali 14 months.)

Michelle Malet holds a master of social work degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts degree in Jewish Communal Service from Gratz College. Throughout 18 years in the philanthropy industry, she has raised more than $40 million. She brings extensive experience working with Jewish organizations and has a deep-seated passion for philanthropy and Jewish communal building. Michelle serves as the director of development of the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, where she is leading the campaign to raise $34 million and a $10 million endowment to build the new Jewish Museum of the Nation’s Capital. The Museum will inspire visitors to connect, reflect and act: Connect across families and diverse communities; reflect on the relevance of the past to today; and act on behalf of their communities and values. Prior to this role, she spent four years in Melbourne, Australia, where she led the Jewish Holocaust Museum’s $10 million Capital Campaign and served as director of the Holocaust Centre’s $10 million foundation. She has also worked on national and international campaigns for The George Washington University and University of Melbourne.

Ariele Mortkowitz is passionate about the ways women interact with their faith and their community and has dedicated herself to the pursuit of nourishing, women's Jewish spiritual and communal experiences. Ariele created the Agam Center at Ohev Sholom in 2016 as an expansion of what a mikvah can be to a community, developing a dedicated Jewish communal home for women's spirituality, wellness, education, and connection. Further committed to creating more unique spaces for women in Judaism, Ariele launched SVIVAH, where she gets to "collect" inspirational teachers, healers, counselors, and guides devoted to improving the lives of women and then share them with the audience of Jewish women* that has been waiting for them. Ariele has a nonprofit background in strategic planning and organizational growth, spanning the Jewish lifetime with the 92nd St Y, the Association for Jewish Aging Services, and BBYO. She is certified in Spiritual Entrepreneurship through Columbia Business School with Clal’s Glean program and is also a trained JOFA/YCT/Maharat premarital teacher. Originally a “Jersey Girl,” Ariele moved to D.C. with her husband in 2004, where they live with three little people who ask the best questions. Ariele plays a mean game of Uno and loves to cook too much, ensuring that there is always room for one more at her table.

(*SVIVAH defines “Jewish women” as anyone wishing to be included in a circle of Jewish women.)

Leah Siskin Moz, MSW, is the director of the Center for Engagement, Inclusion and Wellness at Hillel International. As one of three Centers that makes up the Hillel U professional development program, Leah manages a team committed to designing and providing high-quality learning experiences focused on preparing staff to engage college students in a meaningful and authentic way. A core part of the team’s work is to provide training on relationship-based engagement strategies as staff work to achieve Hillel’s vision of engaging every Jewish student. Leah oversees the design and implementation of Hillel's wellness initiative, which promotes practices among students and professionals to help maintain their social, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. She also supports campuses in their efforts to become more inclusive of all students, focusing specifically on students with disabilities, by providing relevant resources and educational opportunities. Previously, she was the assistant director of the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse in Rockville, Md. Leah is an expert in group facilitation and scaling positive youth development initiatives. She earned an Executive Certificate in facilitation from Georgetown University, a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ithaca College.

Shelley Rood Wernick is the director of the Center for Advancing Holocaust Survivor Care at The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). Launched in 2015 with a federal grant from the Administration for Community Living at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this program supports Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed services to Holocaust survivors through subgrants to local service providers, a resource center, and outreach to members of the aging services network. Previously, Shelley advocated on behalf of JFNA and the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, conveying policy priorities to Congress and the White House and training communities to advocate for the populations they serve. On behalf of Federations, Shelley led the Congressional initiative to install the Jewish Chaplains Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. Before joining the nonprofit sector, Shelley was a foreign policy advisor on Capitol Hill. Shelley earned an M.B.A. from Georgetown University and a B.A. from the University of Florida. She is a board member of Hillel at the University of Florida.

Sarah Abramson, PhD, is the Senior Vice President for Strategy and Impact at Combined Jewish Philanthropies. Sarah began her career in London as a Senior Policy Researcher for the Jewish Policy Institute and at the Board of Deputies of British Jews, where she liaised directly with members of parliament to represent the voices of British Jews to the UK Government. After moving home to Boston, Sarah became the first professional Executive Director of Yad Chessed, a Jewish cash assistance agency. In 2015, Sarah joined CJP as the Associate Vice President of Caring and Social Justice and was promoted to a Vice President in 2017. Sarah graduated from Wesleyan University with highest honors and a degree in religious studies. She holds a dual master’s in Gender and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and completed her PhD in Sociology in 2010 with a dissertation on the concept of authenticity in Jewish youth movements and informal educational spaces. Sarah’s award winning research on domestic violence and economic disadvantage have been published widely. She has consulted with many Jewish organizations, most notably serving as the chief consultant for the construction of London’s first large independent living facility solely for Holocaust survivors. Sarah lives in Sudbury with her two children and husband.

Karen Alpert is the Vice President for IT Strategy and Measurement for BBYO, where she provides technology innovation, proactive problem solving, consensus building, outcomes measurement and delivers critical projects that promote future growth capabilities and support data informed decision making. Karen began her career in fundraising with Hillel, launching a prospect management program, and then moved into an IT role where she served as project manager. Karen went on to become the Associate Director of IT for Business Analysis, working to translate business needs into technology solutions, and eventually moved into the areas of strategy and measurement, where she helped launch the Measuring Excellence program to create a measurement framework for assessing organizational excellence. She holds a B.A. in religious studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a certificate in nonprofit technology from NTEN. She and her husband Avi and two children live in Silver Spring, MD. In her spare time, Karen is an avid traveler, having visited over 100 countries on six continents.

Lisa Apfelberg is the Director of Shamayim: Jewish Animal Advocacy. She has spent her career in the nonprofit sector, mostly working for the Jewish community. A lifelong defender of animals, the environment, and disenfranchised groups, she became vegetarian at age six and is thrilled to have the current opportunity to lead an organization that lies at the intersection between the Jewish world and the vegan world. During her career, she has been the Executive Director to multiple small nonprofits and served as the "Concierge" to Jewish Austin for almost a decade. She is an active volunteer in her community leading the efforts for Austin's Jewish Community to get involved in helping newly arrived refugees and has been asked to speak on this and multiple topics. Lisa has a masters degree in Clinical Social Work from Smith College and has served as a Faculty Field Advisor for the UT Austin School of Social Work. Lisa lives in Austin with her family and is currently spending her free time watching videos about the Tiny House Movement and perfecting her cooking skills.

Rebecca Bar is the Executive Director of Challah for Hunger, inspiring communities of leaders at the 85 college campuses and 10 community chapters nationwide to take action against hunger through tools and resources focused on strengthening Jewish identity to amplify a movement grounded in community, philanthropy and advocacy. Previously Rebecca was the Israel Strategic Coordinator for MyZuzah, helping to develop, iterate and refine partnership and distribution in Israel and throughout the world. Before consulting with MyZuzah, Rebecca was the VP of Community Partnerships for Honeymoon Israel where she supported and managed a team, solidified multiple national partnerships and stewarded relationships in several new communities. Following university, Rebecca lived in Israel for a year and studied at The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, before beginning her career in Jewish communal work at AJC. Rebecca, a trained facilitator and speaker, is part of the ROI network within Schusterman Family Philanthropies and was a founding resident of Moishe House Philadelphia. She is an active individual who enjoys working out (at home), and is also an independent health and wellness coach. Rebecca lives in Philadelphia with her husband, and their two young sons.

Amy Bebchick has spent her career building communities that drive change in individuals and in our world. She is currently serving as the director of philanthropy for the Union for Reform Judaism where she works across the organization to create a culture of philanthropy overseeing development operations, development communications, congregational membership, and special projects. She has previously served as the director of the Hillels at The George Washington University, Miami of Ohio, and North County, San Diego as well as Waters of Eden, a community mikvah, and has held program and development positions at Diane Gingold and Associates, the Counseling Center for Women, and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Throughout her career, Amy has been blessed to work for and with amazing women who have challenged, encouraged, and supported her growth as a professional at every step of the way. Amy has both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University and lives in Hartsdale, New York with her husband, two children, and rescue dog, Tucker.

Dahlia Bernstein is a spiritual leader breaking boundaries and helping others do the same. From successfully serving as her congregation's first female rabbi to becoming one of NY's sought-after life coaches, Dahlia is on a mission to help people reach beyond their limits while also creating more productive and healthy communities. Dahlia’s deep commitment to Jewish education and Yiddishkeit led her to pursue a serious course of Judaic studies in the Joint Program between the Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University, earning two bachelor’s degrees in Talmud/Rabbinics and Anthropology. Dahlia completed rabbinic ordination at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she also pursued a master’s degree in Jewish education. Since 2013, Dahlia has served as the head rabbi of Congregation Beth Ohr, in Bellmore NY, where she lives with her partner in life, Martin, and their adorable dog, Vashti. After training with the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching, Dahlia simultaneously served her congregation and created her own coaching business to strengthen other Jewish professionals to lead more satisfying and productive careers. Dahlia aims to magnetize creativity, abundance, and wisdom in the world, one person at a time.

Miriam Berkowitz Blue serves as the Assistant Director of Hillel Council of New England, which supports Jewish life on campuses in the Greater Boston area. In this role, she also serves Hillel Director at Simmons University, where she is in her ninth year. Miriam is a self-proclaimed “professional Jew,” having previously worked at various Jewish educational non-profits in Florida and Massachusetts before joining Hillel Council in 2012. She received her B.A. from Wellesley College in Political Science and a Master's of Jewish Education (MJEd) as a Legacy Heritage Fellow at Hebrew College. She is active in her local Jewish community, where she is a Vice President at the Epstein Hillel School, is a new board member of Mayyim Hayyim, and is also a member of the North Area Community Council for Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP), Boston’s Jewish Federation. Miriam lives in Lynnfield, Massachusetts with her spouse, Phillip, and two children, Talia and Shalev.

Miriam Brander is the Chief Operating Officer of Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford. She is also the state coordinator for the Program for Holocaust Survivors for the state of Connecticut. Prior to her role at JFS, she served as the Director of Community Impact and Evaluation at the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford where she reimagined the allocations process to focus community agencies on a culture of outcome measurement. Miriam received her Masters in Public Administration from Wagner at New York University, a certificate in Jewish Philanthropy from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and is an alum of the FEREP Graduate Program of JFNA. She is active in many communal institutions serving on the executive board of the Bess Israel Mikveh, the Young Israel fundraising committee and leads the Young Israel Bat Mitzvah program. She lives in West Hartford with her husband and two daughters.

For over 7 years, Naomi J. Brunnlehrman, has served as the National Director of Education and Advocacy at Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America. She is especially proud of the successes her team has achieved including the creation of The Branch podcast which highlights Arabs and Jews in Israel and their efforts to create a shared society, launching the Coalition for Women’s Health Equity bringing together 32 national organizations advocating for federal legislation to support greater equity in women’s health, and the re-opening of their DC government relations office and many legislative successes. In 1996, she co-founded The Jewish Deaf Resource Center, which is a founding partner of a national online American Sign Language Havurah called the ASL Shabbat Coalition. She has her MA from the Jewish Theological Seminary and she specializes in the interpretation of Jewish Liturgy from Hebrew to American Sign Language without relying on an English translation. She and her husband are the proud parents of two teenage sons.

Leah Buchbinder is the Assistant Director of Community Program Development at the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. In this role she provides grant writing, program development, and planning support for a variety of human service programs and security related initiatives. She staffs the JUF Leadership Council for Aging and Trauma, which was launched with support from the Center on Aging and Trauma (formerly Center for Advancing Holocaust Survivor Care) at the Jewish Federations of North America. In addition, she provides technical assistance to the community for select state and federal grant programs, including the Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Ms. Buchbinder also previously staffed the JUF Security Grant program and the JUF Breakthrough Fund. Prior to joining JUF in 2014, Ms. Buchbinder worked at Association House of Chicago, a social service organization, and AJC Chicago, a global Jewish Advocacy organization. Ms. Buchbinder earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Cum Laude, from the University of California, Irvine and a Master of Public Administration from DePaul University. Ms. Buchbinder believes passionately values-centered leadership, and in applying the words from her alma mater to her nonprofit work: “It is not enough to do good. It must be done well.”

Jenny was born in Los Angeles, California, but her family relocated to the Bay Area right at the beginning of the “Silicon Valley” era. Jenny travelled to east for her undergraduate degree and then returned to San Francisco in 2001 for her first job out of college with a relatively unknown management consulting “startup” - Bridgespan Group. Her experience at Bridgespan inspired her to join the front lines of nonprofit work and Jenny relocated to San Diego where she earned her M.S.W. For several years, Jenny worked as a therapist specializing in: domestic violence, youth in foster care, sexually abusive behavior, and crisis case management. Through her clinical work with Jewish Family Service, Jenny became a founding member, and is now the Director, of The Hive at Leichtag Commons, a center collaboration, connection and creativity. The Hive is a Jewish nonprofit coworking space incubated by the Leichtag Foundation to enhance collaboration, inspire creative Jewish arts and culture programs, and nurture professional growth within the staff of local nonprofits. The goal of this work is to create innovative new partnerships, leverage resources to increase program impact, and nurture and grow talent in the Jewish communal professional pipeline. The Hive was designed to be an environment where both members and guests can ideate, create and push the norms in the fields of Jewish engagement, social justice, agricultural and environment, and connections to Israel.

Rachel Chertkoff’s passion is political engagement. For over 20 years she has fostered leaders and connected them to politics and government in both Canada and the US. Rachel is the Deputy Executive Director of CJPAC (the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee) and was instrumental in its founding in 2005. Prior to returning to Canada, Rachel was the Leadership Development Director for the Valley Alliance/Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and held executive positions on the board of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats. Rachel has worked in volunteer and staff positions on election campaigns for all levels of government in both Canada and the US. In 2012, Rachel received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her service to the community. She is a member of the Banff Forum, an annual conference bringing together leaders across sectors and regions to support their contributions to improving Canada. In her spare time, Rachel volunteers for a dog rescue and spends time reading, cooking and hanging out with her dog Clark.

Abby Cutler is a senior-level director dedicated to the holistic development of good citizens. Abby is currently the Director of School-Aged Programs at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) and oversees all aspects of programming for families and children in grades K-12. In this position, Abby leads a team of educators in providing meaningful and engaging experiences, including school-support programs, teen theater-arts immersion, and summer day camp, which has just completed a successful inclusion pilot, making camp available to all children. Abby has over 15 years of experience working to create opportunities for youth development, through Big Brothers Big Sisters (Tulsa, OK), Congregation Rodeph Sholom (New York, NY) Columbia University (New York, NY) and the JCCSF. Abby holds an M.A. from Columbia University and a B.A. from Indiana University. She currently lives in the Los Angeles Area with her husband and two children.

Rachel Eisen believes in meaningful and inclusive Jewish community, feminist reclamation of tradition, and empowering people to engage with Judaism in their own authentic way. Originally from New York and Maryland, she is currently the Chief Operations and Advancement Officer at Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikveh and Education Center in Newton, MA. She holds dual master’s degrees from Brandeis University’s Hornstein Program in Jewish Professional Leadership and Near Eastern & Judaic Studies, and a BA from Vassar College. She has studied at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, Shalom Hartman Institute, and Hebrew College. Rachel co-founded Mentoring for Equity, a national initiative to connect women-identified Jewish communal professionals in mentoring relationships to help close the gender leadership gap and work toward gender equity in the Jewish non-profit sector. She sits on the New England Regional Council and the New Gen Leadership Committee at the New Israel Fund.

Margot Ettlinger is the Vice President of the Northeast Region for the Birthright Israel Foundation focusing on major gifts and has worked in Jewish philanthropy for over 25 years. Prior to joining Birthright Israel, she was the founding principal of Atlas Philanthropy, LLC, specializing in capital projects such as the renovation and expansion of the Educational Alliance in Lower Manhattan and the creation of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, Poland. She holds a BA from the University of Illinois, a Masters in Judaic Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a Masters in Social Service Administration from Columbia University. She lives in Great Neck, Long Island with her husband, Glenn. Her son, Yair Atlas is a junior at the University of Chicago, and her son Matan Atlas is a freshman at McGill University in Montreal. The apple of her eye, Meital Atlas, is a freshman at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School.

Becca Flyer was first inspired by global Jewish peoplehood on a trip to Uruguay, volunteering alongside the Jewish community. She later led a college JDC Entwine trip to Ukraine, where the group visited homebound elderly Jews and met local Jewish students. These experiences, together with her time living in Israel, Cape Town, and London taught her of the transformative nature of studying, living, and traveling abroad. She currently works as the Chief Operations Officer of KAHAL, connecting study abroad students to Jewish experiences and communities worldwide. With KAHAL, Becca has visited Jewish communities around the world, developing relationships with community leaders, building a network of more than 700 partners in 40 countries. She previously worked in nonprofit fundraising specializing in donor relationship management and planned giving. Like many Jewish women, Becca loves a good game of mahj or canasta. During COVID, trips to the park have become a sacred family ritual for Becca and her husband Josh (together with their daughter, Stevie, and dog, Frank).

Elana Frank has 20+ years of experience working with non-profits (Jewish Community Relations Council of NY, Kfar Hassidim Youth Villiage in Israel, and most notably the Jewish Fertility Foundation) in fundraising, marketing, community outreach, volunteer recruitment, board development, and program development. After experiencing the pain and loneliness of infertility and realizing how lucky she was to have had her experience begin in Israel, where it’s free, she had a desire to help others. With the realization that cost, education, and access were tremendous stumbling blocks for this “unspoken” issue in the Jewish community, she rallied people behind her and created the Jewish Fertility Foundation. She has received national attention through awards and public speaking engagements for the work that the Jewish Fertility Foundation has accomplished. Elana lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, 3 boys, and their fish “America.”

Dr. Susanna Garfein is Director of Leadership Engagement for The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, where she inspires current and future leaders on their volunteer leadership journeys. Susanna is passionate about building a Jewish community that celebrates people of all racial backgrounds, social and cultural identities. In addition to her role at The Associated, Susanna is a frequent lecturer of Bible in the greater Baltimore area. Susanna served as the Director of the graduate program in Jewish Studies at Towson University as well as Dean of Students at Baltimore Hebrew University, where she taught a variety of courses in Bible and Religious Studies. Susanna has served as a visiting professor at The Johns Hopkins University, UMBC, and McDaniel College. Susanna received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies with a concentration in Hebrew Bible and Northwest Semitic Philology from the Johns Hopkins University. Susanna enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Ross Goldstein, their son, Bram, and their pandemic puppy, Bella.

Wendy Goodman grew up in Austin and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas. Wendy then moved to New York City where she achieved her master’s degree and took positions in advertising with Saatchi & Saatchi, marketing and PR with GfK, journalism with NY Daily News, and videography and teaching at Brooklyn College. Wendy has been awarded for her video documentary work, served as co-chair of the Advertising Women of New York (AWNY) young executives board, participated in Young Jewish Professionals (YJP), hosted and produced programs on commercial and indie radio, and volunteered with Holocaust survivors. With over 15 years experience in media and marketing, Wendy currently holds two positions at Shalom Austin as Senior Director of Marketing & Communications and Editor-in-Chief / Publisher of The Jewish Outlook newspaper and Shalom Austin annual magazines.

Deborah Goldberg is a creative marketing and communications professional who most recently served as the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). There she launched the successful ReformJudaism.org website and brands, built out enterprise level email marketing, websites, social media, and public relations systems, and also served as communications and marketing leads for URJ’s bi-annual convention. Debi was previously Director of Communications for Taglit-Birthright Israel. Through early 2001, she worked in a variety of positions in Democratic politics, including the Democratic National Committee on the Florida recount; Election Night 2000; and as National Coordinated Campaign Finance Director during the general election. In addition, she worked for the Gore 2000 campaign, and in President Clinton’s second term as an Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Liaison. Debi holds an honorary doctorate in nonprofit Jewish management from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC), an MPA from the University of Southern California, and an MA in Jewish nonprofit management from HUC. She received her BA in psychology and business administration from UCLA. Debi currently lives in New York City with her husband, two sons, and an adorable Maltese.

Alyssa Gorenberg spends her days at Moishe House leading the Moishe House Without Walls (MHWOW) team and hosts. She is driven by her Moishe House coworkers and the MHWOW hosts she gets to watch grow closer to their Judaism every day. Alyssa started at Moishe House in 2018 as an MHWOW Coordinator, and since then has been promoted to Program Manager and Associate Director. Prior to Moishe House, Alyssa worked at the Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit in their NEXTGen Detroit division programming for young adults. She executed a plethora of new programs, including large scale fundraisers and interfaith couples initiatives, and was named a Detroit Jewish News 36 Under 36. She holds a degree in mathematical sciences from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. Alyssa is a graduate of the Glass Leadership Institute through the Anti-Defamation League, a religious & Hebrew school teacher at Temple Beth Israel in Skokie, IL, and a board member of Delta Phi Epsilon’s National Development Corporation.

Beth Grafman is East Coast Director of the American Friends of Israel Sport Center for the Disabled which harnesses the power of sport to empower children and adults with physical disabilities. Beth’s passion for building community that includes everyone’s gifts is evidenced by her recent roles as Development and Engagement Director at the JCC Mid-Westchester and as a Program Officer for PJ Library from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Investing in her home community, Beth is on the Executive Committee of Temple Israel Center of White Plains, Westchester Regional Board of Hadassah and Advisory Committee of the Scarsdale Adult School. Born and raised in Chicago, Beth is a proud alumna of the University of Illinois, Hebrew University One Year Program and Ida Crown Jewish Academy. When she’s not in a Zoom meeting, Beth enjoys outdoor sports during all four seasons of the year along with her husband Allan and their four children.

Monica Herman is the Chief Marketing Officer for The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, where she leads marketing, brand, and communications strategy for the central convener of one of the largest Jewish communities in North America. Monica brings more than 15 years of experience to her work and feels privileged to be able to couple her passion for communications with her love of Jewish community. In addition to guiding a talented marketing team, Monica sits on Federation’s Leadership Team, where she plays a key role in the determination, shaping, and implementation of cross-functional initiatives and organizational direction. She believes strongly that representation matters and is passionate about making Federation and Jewish communal life accessible, welcoming, and inclusive. An alumna of Ithaca College, Monica began her career at the international public relations firm FleishmanHillard. Prior to joining Federation, she served as Assistant Director of Communications for Hillel International. Monica lives in Rockville, MD with her husband, Scott, and their children, Coby and Lila.

Amanda Katz is the Executive Director of The Greater Washington Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA), working to end power-based violence, empowering victims, and ensuring safe communities. She has a Masters Degree in Nonprofit Management and Certificate in Jewish Communal Service from Gratz College. Amanda has held various positions in Jewish Agencies around the Greater Washington area, including Congregation B'nai Tzedek, the American Jewish Committee Washington Chapter, DCJCC and the DC Historical Society.

Genene Kaye currently serves as the National Planned Giving Director for AMIT Children, a nonprofit educational organization that provides a Jewish values-based education to over 41,000 children in Israel. She has over 25 years of experience working as a non-profit professional in the Jewish communal world. Prior to joining AMIT, Genene worked at American Friends of Nishmat, Yeshiva University, UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey and the Moriah School of Englewood. Genene received her Masters in Public Administration with a specialization in Jewish communal services from Fairleigh Dickinson University and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women. She is active in several communal institutions and currently serves on the Board of Directors at Ma’aynot High School. She lives in Teaneck, New Jersey with her family and is proud that her daughter served in the Israeli army.

Shira Kraft is the Chief Communications and Development officer at the Jewish Women's Archive, a pioneering national organization that documents Jewish women’s stories, elevates their voices, and inspires them to be agents of change. Prior to joining JWA, Shira was the Director of Nishmah: The St. Louis Jewish Women’s Project, inspiring women and girls to live richer, more purposeful lives. She received her BA in Art History and Visual Arts from Barnard College where gender equity and women’s empowerment were foundational to her studies. Shira brings a decade of experience in art consulting and administration to her work in the Jewish non-profit sector. She lives outside of Boston with her husband and two young boys.

Jennifer Lehan is a Sr. Manager, VP, of Strategic Sourcing at MUFG Union Bank. She specializes in working cross functionally with teams to identify optimization opportunities to drive process efficiencies and best value. In the recent past, Jennifer had an almost decade long career at Honeywell culminating in leading the strategy and compliance of contingent labor globally, company wide. Moving to Phoenix, AZ as an adult, Jennifer re-engaged in the Jewish Community when her and her husband had the opportunity to take a trip to Israel through Honeymoon Israel. The connections she made on their trip reinvigorated her community involvement including being an active volunteer with Jewish Family and Children's Services, creating a close knit "mom group" after participating in Jewish Baby University via the Bureau of Jewish Education, and being able to participate in the ongoing education and leadership programs sponsored by the Women's Leadership Institute. Most importantly, Jennifer is the proud mom of two very busy boys, Jack (2), Charlie (1).

Sonia Marie Leikam (she/her) is a versatile professional that brings a deep understanding of non-profit operations, systems, programs and fundraising to the table. She currently works at the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, where she directs the Oregon Jewish Community Youth Foundation, facilitates philanthropic opportunities for young Jewish professionals, and manages both the scholarship and grant programs. Prior to joining OJCF, she was the Executive Director of the Oregon Holocaust Resource Center and worked as as secondary teacher. She brings deep experience as an educator, advocate for social justice and community organizer to her work. A graduate of Lewis & Clark College (BA) and Portland State University (M.Ed), she holds a Certificate in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Georgetown University. She and her husband also own Leikam Brewing, a Kosher craft brewery. In that capacity, she serves on the board of the Oregon Brewers Guild and in the Pink Boots Society, an organization empowering women in the beer industry. As the grandchild of a partisan in the French resistance, and a first generation American, she spent her youth traveling between the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern France. Bilingual and multicultural she lives with her husband Theo, 3 children and 4 cats in beautiful Portland, Oregon.

Hilary Levine serves as Associate Director of the Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey Region of American Jewish Committee (AJC). There she directs the planning and implementation of AJC Philadelphia’s advocacy, diplomatic, interreligious/intergroup, and programming initiatives for the region. Following AJC’s “pivot” to the virtual space in 2020, Hilary took on a role with AJC’s Global Communications team working on digital communications and expanding social media content. Hilary is a graduate of the FBI Philadelphia Citizens Academy, has been a Fellow of the Hertog Foundation in Washington, D.C., and has served as a Young Friends Board Member of the National Museum of American Jewish History. Prior to joining AJC, Hilary organized Israel advocacy programs and educational opportunities and managed the Israel and World Affairs portfolio for the Community Relations Committee (CRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ. Hilary graduated from Elmira College, where she studied international relations and history, and undertook graduate studies in international affairs at The City College of the City University of New York. Hilary hails from North Caldwell, NJ and now lives with her husband in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Sara Levitt was born in Youngstown, Ohio and spent her formative years in Orlando, Florida. Sara graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies, Hebrew and Sociology. After spending a few years in the field, working as a Youth Director and Educator, Sara earned her master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Denver. Sara participated in the JCCA Graduate Scholars program and later in the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute for Jewish educators. Sara’s love for Jewish community grew of out of her experiences in Jewish day school, summer camp, youth group, Hillel and Israel. These important experiences shaped her Jewish identity and propelled her in to career inspiring young people to love, find meaning in and connect to Jewish community. Guided by Jewish and social work values, Sara believes strongly in the power of building relationships as key in creating a safe, accessible, meaningful educational environment for all children. As the Director of Jewish Life and Learning, she bring these values together to ensure each child and family walks into Congregation B’nai Emunah feeling welcomed and proud to be a part of the Jewish Community. Sara met her husband Matt Levitt at Hillel at Indiana University where they shared a love for Jewish community building and Israel. Sara, Matt and their son, Lior live in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Nessa Liben is Chief Advancement Officer of The Jewish Education Project where she is a member of the senior executive team and directs the development and marketing departments. With fifteen years of Jewish communal experience, Nessa is passionate about strengthening vulnerable populations and building Jewish identity in young people. Previously, Nessa worked at UJA-Federation of New York for ten years, including as part of UJA's Senior Financial Resource Development team. Nessa served as UJA's Director of Community Outreach and Engagement where she led a team of fundraisers, community-wide speaker events, and partnerships with local institutions. Prior to UJA, Nessa worked at The Jewish Teen Funders Network and The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. She has an MPA in nonprofit management and an MA in Judaic studies from New York University, and a BA in psychology from Barnard College. Nessa is also an alumna of both the Wexner Graduate Fellowship/Davidson Scholarship and the FEREP Graduate Fellowship. She hails from Teaneck, NJ where she is a board member and chesed committee chair of her synagogue, Shaare Teffilah. Nessa and her husband Noah have three delightful children, Ayelet, Shaya, and Tamir.

Flo Low is a creative producer, arts manager and strategist. As Associate Director, Arts Programs at the Israel Institute, Flo is responsible for the Visiting Artists Program, which has brought over 100 Israeli artists to top North American universities over the last decade. She was formerly Associate General Manager of the Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse. As an independent producer, she conceived and produced “Four Minutes from the Frontlines,” an animated documentary amplifying the stories of first responders during the COVID-19 crisis, and a reading tour of COME MY BELOVED, a new play by Em Weinstein about the shared history and future of black and Jewish communities in the United States. A graduate of the MFA program in Theater Management at the Yale School of Drama, Flo served as the school’s Associate Managing Director. She also served as Company Manager of Yale Repertory Theatre and was appointed Managing Director of the Yale Summer Cabaret. In Israel, Flo worked in the Director General’s office of the Education Department of the Jewish Agency; managed strategic projects in the Former Soviet Union Department of the Joint Distribution Committee, and serves as a First Lieutenant (res.) in the Israel Defense Forces. She completed her service after graduating from both Barnard College and the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Aleeza Lubin loves learning and all the opportunities it brings. Originally a high school math and history teacher at a Jewish day school in Toronto, and a former unit head at Camp Ramah in Canada, Aleeza will always credit those times for igniting her passion for leadership development within the Jewish community. Aleeza has been an educator, a programmer, a consultant, and a lay leader, identifying opportunities for growth and supporting the leadership development of thousands along the way. Forever a student, Aleeza holds bachelor’s degrees in history and secondary education, a master’s degree in American studies, and certificates in leadership management. She currently serves as a Senior Director at UpStart, overseeing its work with the Jewish community's boldest institutional leaders as they seek to reimagine the way Jews come together and how they find meaning. Aleeza loves helping people come together, whether it’s gathering her Fantasy Football league for a (now virtual) Sunday afternoon of wings and games, or scheduling cross-country coffee dates to keep up with her colleagues. She also loves filling people’s stomachs and when possible shows up with some form of home-baked dessert.

As Repair the World’s Senior Director of Strategy and an executive team member, Kate O'Bannon (she/her) oversees strategic growth and planning, governance, and development for the organization, working with Repair’s CEO, team, Board, and key stakeholders. She enjoys fusing her passions for tikkun olam, Judaism, and relationship building with other passionate leaders on the Repair team. Prior to joining Repair the World, Kate worked at the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, where she supported the Foundation’s efforts to connect and support global networks of young Jewish adults. She started her career by completing a year of service as a JDC Global Service Corps Fellow in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Kate holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia in Religious Studies and a minor in Leadership. Outside of work, she serves on the boards of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and Hillel at the University of Virginia. Kate is a recipient of the JPRO Network Young Professional Award. She lives in Cambridge, MA with her husband, Clark, is an avid traveler, and can usually be found sipping on green tea and staying active through trying out the latest fitness trends, cooking, and volunteering.

Tara Ohayon has been a part of the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Dallas since she was three years old. She grew up at J camps, going on to work every summer while pursuing a degree in Special Education. She taught in the public schools before returning "home" to the J full time over twenty years ago. Tara is currently the Director of Early Childhood and Camps, Supervisor of Youth/Teen Programming and member of the J Agency Management Team. She is involved nationally with the Sheva Center through JCC Association having served as a facilitator of a virtual learning community, on the Professional Conference Planning Committee, Family Engagement Working Group and having her school community identified as one of six Sheva Lab Communities across North America and Canada. Tara has been recognized as a visionary director, gifted parent educator, worker with children and master trainer of staff. She has facilitated change and growth in her staff and believes in a coaching style of leadership. Tara is committed to infusing the Jewish lens into her daily work and to inspire all she comes in contact with to take the next step on their Jewish journey. Tara believes that the foundation of her work begins with relationships and knows that each of us can make a difference in the lives of others. Tara lives in Dallas with her husband Joey and her four children who inspire her and keep her on her toes every single day.

Hindy Poupko is the Deputy Chief Planning Officer at UJA-Federation of New York where she plays a pivotal role in setting the course for UJA Federation’s work in New York and around the world. Before coming to UJA, Hindy was the Managing Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York where she led the agency's efforts to build broad-based support for Israel in New York.

Wendy Rhein is World Food Program USA’s Chief of Staff, leading the strategic plan and its implementation, overseeing organizational culture, a multi-year growth plan, and managing the President’s office. She also serves as board liaison and Corporate Secretary and primary liaison for global programs at the United Nations World Food Programme. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, Wendy has spent much of her career in development with large and small organizations leading on large development and communications campaigns, organizational development, strategic planning, foundation giving, major gifts, special events and corporate support. Most recently, Wendy was the Managing Director for UNICEF USA in Washington DC; previously she served as Chief Strategy & Engagement Officer for the Points of Light Foundation. She created the first private fundraising programs at the Legal Services Corporation and led development, marketing and communications for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. She also served as Chief of Staff for UNICEF USA. For the last several years Wendy has consulted with Repair the World to create a philanthropy culture with staff across the country. An avid volunteer, Wendy chairs the board of directors for Challah for Hunger; serves on the boards of the Freedom Network USA and the Alliance to End Hunger; and chairs the Youth Committee and Racial Equity Action Group at Temple Emanuel in Kensington, MD.

Rachel Roth has worked full time in the Jewish Nonprofit world since February 2002. She serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the American Conference of Cantors and has been with the organization since July 2007. Since joining the ACC, Ms. Roth has overseen the restructuring of their convention operations, affiliate musician organization, acquisition of Transcontinental Music Publications, and the launch of J-License.com. Prior to joining the ACC, Ms. Roth served as Executive Director of Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El of Plantation, Florida. She has been a member of the National Association for Temple Administration since 2002. Prior to her nonprofit career, Ms. Roth worked in the for-profit world as a regional construction and facilities manager for a staffing company and the Hewitt Associates defined benefit contributions communication team. Upon returning to Chicago in 2007, she reconnected to her roots in the Chicago-area Jewish Community. She and her husband, Jonathan Roth, are active members of Temple Chai in Long Grove, Illinois. A graduate of Indiana University, Ms. Roth is an active member of the Journalism School's alumni association. In 2014, Ms. Roth completed the Spertus Institute’s Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies program. A certified open water scuba diver, she lives in Suburban Chicago with her husband and their Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Chance, where she also serves as a resident trustee on her police department pension board.

Jane-Rachel Schonbrun is the Director of Institutional Advancement for Ramah Berkshires. Prior to joining Ramah in 2016, Jane-Rachel spent two decades working in various Jewish educational and community-building settings, most recently as the Director of Foundation Relations for Avodah. Originally from Baltimore, Jane-Rachel earned her BA at University of Maryland, and graduate degrees in Jewish Studies and Social Work from JTS and Columbia University as a Wexner Graduate Fellow. Jane-Rachel and her family live in Deal, NJ.

Rabbi Deborah Bock Schuldenfrei is Head of School at Valley Beth Shalom Harold M. Schulweis Day School, a K-6 elementary in Encino, California. She was raised in the midwest and is a graduate of Jewish Day School. She attended Washington University in St. Louis where she graduated with honors and then spent a year in Jerusalem at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the most delicious year of her life. Schuldenfrei received a joint M.A. in Jewish Education and Jewish Communal Service from HUC-JIR. She was ordained rabbi at HUC-JIR in Los Angeles and served as the Education Director in the inaugural year of IKAR. Her rabbinic thesis taught teens about sex and Jewish values. Following ordination, she served as Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Shir Ha’Ma-alot in Irvine. Later, she led the Day School teacher leadership preparation and credentialing program (DeLeT) at HUC Los Angeles as Education Director. Participation in the Institute for Jewish Spirituality Cohort was the most transformative practice of her professional and personal life. Schuldenfrei is featured in Morgan Freeman's National Geographic special "The Story of God" in the web content, "A rabbi, priest and imam". Often, she leads high holiday services at the Sanctuary at Pico Union Project with Craig Taubman. She is a Zionist, loves California beaches, reading and movies, her three young feminist sons, and her rabbi husband.

Rebecca Joey Schwab grew up in private Jewish education from K-8 at Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago. Every summer, she attended Camp Young Judaea Midwest. This leads most of her friends to tell her she is the “most Jewish person they know”. Rebecca developed a deep connection with the Hebrew language and learned to speak fluently before studying abroad at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. After attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on Jewish Studies, Hebrew Language & Semitic Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies, Rebecca decided to pursue a career in the Jewish world. As a Jewish social media consultant, Rebecca is optimizing Millennial and Gen Z connectivity in a changing environment. Rebecca specializes in identifying new markets of disengaged populations and applying engagement strategies throughout social media platforms. She put this knowledge to use when she decided to create a new organization in Chicago to reach the internet generation where they are at - online. After moving back to Chicago from Wisconsin, Rebecca found it more challenging to find community than she expected. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of ChiTribe, Rebecca is optimizing Millennial and Gen Z connectivity in a changing environment throughout Chicago. ChiTribe is a product of best in class practices for Jewish engagement, online and off. As an expert in Jewish non for profit engagement and digital marketing, Rebecca also works as the Marketing Director of the Orot: Center for New Jewish Learning. Rebecca also works as a Hebrew teacher and tutor for Bnei Mitzvah at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago.

Alexis Schwartz is the JCRC’s Director, Israel Action Center. Prior to joining the JCRC, Alexis worked for international and domestic trade associations in the Greater Washington area with a professional focus on marketing and event planning. As a communications professional, Alexis has worked on marketing and communications campaigns for a variety of audiences, bringing together divergent interests and backgrounds. Alexis is a graduate of The George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs with a BA in Political Communication. Alexis grew up in Jackson, Mississippi and has lived in the Washington, DC area for the last 20 years. Alexis and her husband Aaron live in Silver Spring with their two children.

Sarah Rubin Shapiro joined the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington in early 2019 as a Senior Philanthropic Officer. She previously served as the Executive Director of Ohev Sholom - The National Synagogue in Washington, DC. A Phi Beta Kappa honors graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Sarah’s career is focused on strengthening the Jewish community – across all ages and stages. She ran a network for young professionals at the DCJCC, online social networking for teens at BBYO International, and was the founding Youth and Camp Director at a rapidly growing Open Orthodox synagogue in the District. An avid theater lover, Sarah co-directs youth plays and musicals. Sarah is married to Ben Shapiro (not that one) and mother of Ella and Charlie. Sarah grew up in Austin, TX; Augusta, GA; Canton, OH; New Haven, CT; and Rockville, MD, but plans to stay put in the Nation’s Capital.

Mollie Sharfman is the Communications Liaison and Deputy CPO at Educating for Impact, a transformative initiative designed to support Jewish communities in Europe. Mollie also serves as the Head of the board for Morasha, the address for Jewish young professionals in Germany. Mollie has worked on Jewish educational programming initiatives worldwide. Previously, at GatherDC in Washington, D.C., she fostered local Jewish communal life for young adults. Prior to this, Mollie was a Program Coordinator at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, and spent summers on the leadership team of The Am Echad-Lauder Yeshurun summer camps, empowering Jewish youth from all across Germany. Mollie serves as the founding Director of Programming for the Muslim-Jewish Interfaith Coalition and was the American Joint Distribution Committee’s 2015 Ralph I. Goldman Fellowship finalist in Global Jewish Leadership. Mollie studied English Literature and Jewish Studies at Stern College, Yeshiva University, and received a Master’s degree in Experiential Jewish Education from the Davidson School of Jewish Education of the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Alyssa Silva, Houston Hillel's Assistant Executive Director, is a graduate from the University of Arizona, where she received her bachelor's degree in Religious Studies with a. minor in Judaic Studies. Prior to moving to Houston, Alyssa lived in DC, where she was the Programming and Operations Associate at Maryland Hillel. After two years in that role, she moved to Jerusalem and received a certificate in Jewish Experiential Education from The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. She is also currently pursuing her masters degree in Jewish nonprofit Management at the Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management. Alyssa's love of Jewish community building has grown over the years through her work with various Jewish nonprofit organizations including leadership and mentorship roles within Moishe House International.

Rabbi Rachel Silverman has served as a rabbi in both Temple Israel of Sharon, MA (where she is now) and Congregation Kehillath Israel in Brookline, MA (2011-2016). She was ordained from the Rabbinical School at JTS, earned a Masters from the Davidson School of Jewish Education, and did her undergraduate work at Brandeis University. Rabbi Silverman also earned a Certificate in Organizational Management from Boston University’s Institute of Nonprofit Management and Leadership. While in rabbinical school, she created the “Real Men Marry Rabbis” t-shirt which caused an enthusiastic stir when it debuted and can be seen in the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. Rabbi Silverman runs Blue Lou Studios where she sells her pottery. She lives in Sharon with her husband, three kids, and their yellow lab.

Jessica Siskind proudly serves as the Vice President for North America at Onward Israel (having been involved with the organization since its inaugural season). She was born and raised in New Jersey. Throughout her youth, she attended and worked at Ramah movement summer camps and was involved in United Synagogue Youth (USY). During her time on campus at Boston University (BU), she had the opportunity to study abroad in two incredible cities, London, England and Haifa, Israel. After graduating from BU with a B.A. in International Relations in 2008, she started work at the Jewish National Fund (JNF). Jessica served in multiple roles at JNF including in the Israel Advocacy and Education department and later in the Greater New York region as an events manager. In 2013, she completed her Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a focus in Nonprofit Administration from Baruch College of the City of New York. She has continued her involvement in the Jewish community by participating on programs in both a professional and personal capacity such as Germany Close Up, Birthright Israel Fellows and JDC Entwine. Her experiences influenced and shaped her interest in giving young people the opportunity to have immersive abroad experiences, with a particular emphasis on building Jewish identity and connection to Israel.

Rabba Ramie Smith is a graduate of Yeshiva University with a BA in English communications with an emphasis in television writing and public relations, and a focus on Women's Studies. Rabba Ramie received ordination at Yeshivat Maharat and combined it with her experience in media, hosting and producing the upcoming Yeshivat Maharat podcast, hosting and producing "The Joy of Text," JOFA's podcast on Judaism and sexuality, and acting as the executive producer at Aleph Beta, a website that produces animated Torah videos. She worked with Manhattan College's Inside Outside program teaching criminal justice ethics at the Rose M. Singer Center at Rikers Island Jail. Her congregational experience includes cultivating a vibrant teen community at Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah in Potomac, Maryland, and serving as assistant Rabba and director of adult education and programming at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale in New York. She taught Talmud at Shalhevet High School in Los Angeles and currently serves as the co-founder and executive director of GETToutUk, a charitable organization that helps Agunot ("chained women") in the UK on their journeys towards a Gett (religious divorce).

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ariela Solomon is a financial resource development professional at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, with 15 years' experience in notable nonprofit organizations from New York City to Jerusalem. Tenacious, outgoing, highly organized and lovable, Ariela dreams of using her sensitivity and emotional intelligence to connect deeply and develop lasting, meaningful relationships with the people she interacts with personally and professionally. As an RD professional, Ariela strategizes and establishes a holistic and authentic approach to fundraising that includes donor identification and acquisition, retention, recognition, and development. Some of Ariela's accomplishments include planning and staffing the New York Knicks vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv benefit basketball game, attended by 20,000 people, at Madison Square Garden (while 9 months pregnant!) Ariela earned her masters degree in nonprofit management and leadership from the Hebrew University as a new immigrant to Israel and single mother of two. Today, she successfully manages a donor portfolio of over 90 active accounts, with a total annual giving of close to $10M, while simultaneously managing a household of seven well-behaved children (and three unruly chickens.) In addition to dedicating her life to Jewish communal service, Ariela is also a certified yoga instructor and holistic nutrition enthusiast. She likes to spend her mornings harvesting her homegrown vegetables to add to her green smoothies and juices.

Keshet Starr, Esq., is the CEO of the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot (ORA), the nonprofit organization addressing the agunah (Jewish divorce refusal) crisis on a case-by-case basis worldwide. At ORA, Keshet oversees advocacy and early intervention initiatives designed to assist individuals seeking a Jewish divorce, along with prevention initiatives to eliminate abuse from the Jewish divorce process. Keshet has written for outlets such as the Times of Israel, The Forward and Haaretz, and frequently presents on issues related to Jewish divorce, domestic abuse, and the intersection between civil and religious divorce processes. Keshet has also authored academic work focused on get refusal and domestic abuse, and is a Wexner Field Fellow. A graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Keshet lives in central New Jersey with her husband and three young children.

Rachel Stern holds Masters degrees from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Jewish Education and Jewish Non-Profit Management. Rachel has worked in the Jewish non-profit world for over twenty years serving Federations, Synagogues, Seminaries and beyond. Rachel most notably served as the first full time Director of Education for the Goldring Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life for over 13 years and recently became the Inaugural Director of the Rapoport Center and the Chief Learning and Engagement Officer for Shalom Austin. Rachel and her husband Scott are parents of 4 college students, Gabe, Lainey, Maddie and Charlie.

Tricia Stern LCSW, MPH runs her own consulting and counseling practice working with nonprofit organizations, government agencies and the private sector to implement best practices for children, youth, parents and families. She is the founder and former Director of the Family PEACE Trauma Treatment Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital, an innovative program in New York City for children, adolescents and parents. Tricia established and served as Director of the Child and Adolescent Services Department at Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, where she initiated many new treatment programs and expanded community partnerships. She continues to serve as a consultant to many local and national Jewish organizations and programs, including a new ‘Resiliency Roundtable’ initiative created by the Network of Jewish Human Services Agencies, Jewish Teen Education and Engagement Funder Collaborative and the Jewish Federations of North America, to bridge the gap between Jewish education and engagement work and address the mental health needs of the Jewish community. Tricia is also a trained Teacher in Mindful Self Compassion and is serving as one of the leaders in launching ‘Self Compassion in Psychotherapy, a new global learning program for therapists. Tricia received a dual master’s degree in Social Work and Public Health from Columbia University.

Shira Garber Strosberg has devoted her career to Jewish education. She is currently the director of enrollment and advancement at Schechter Boston, where she has held positions over the past decade in communications, marketing, admissions and development. Shira serves on Schechter's senior leadership team and is responsible for overseeing the admission and attrition prevention initiatives for the school's 430 students. She also oversees fundraising efforts for the Schechter's annual campaign of $1.4M and other major gifts. Prior to this, Shira held positions at the Austin Jewish Academy (Austin, TX) and the Bureau of Jewish Education of Rhode Island. Shira is also a founder and administrator of the Facebook group, Jewish Families of Greater Boston, now with over 5,200 members. She holds a B.A. from Boston University and an M.A./M.B.A. from the Hornstein Program for Jewish Professional Leadership and the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. Outside of work, Shira is a member of Besamim, a local women's Israeli dance troupe which performs annually at the Israel Folkdance Festival of Boston. Shira lives in Newton with her husband and their three children.

Alexandra Tureau specializes in facilitating effective and efficient spaces where people can freely bring big bold ideas into the real world. As Chief of Staff at Mt. Tam Innovations, she combines experience in the fields of strategy, operations, and development to support the daily running of the company and fosters an environment where the team can reach their highest potential. Previously as a consultant, she has guided organizations through strategic development planning, goal setting, and brand alignment. Alexandra brings a diversity of thought to everything she does through her experience working in both the public and private sector across a variety of fields such as international relations, business development, corporate social responsibility, and the fashion and tech industries. Alexandra holds a master’s degree in International Relations from American University with a concentration in gender and emphasis on social enterprise. She resides in Washington, DC where she plays an active role in her Jewish community.

Sara Winkelman, MSW, is the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington’s Director of Education, Programs and Services. Her career at JCRC started with launching the Student to Student initiative, a critical program empowering Jewish teens to combat antisemitism. Previously, she was the Director of Nishmah: The St. Louis Jewish Women’s Project, a department of the Jewish Community Center in St. Louis, Missouri, and has headed up projects and divisions of the Jewish Federations of Boston and St. Louis. She also served the Jewish community of India under the auspices of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. She lives with her husband Rabbi Hyim Shafner, in Washington, DC. They are proud parents of three young adult children, Benjamin, Yonah, and Hava Shafner.

Tiffany Yankovich is the Interim National Development Director for NCSY. Previously she was the Associate National Development Director. She came to NCSY as the New York Region's Development Director where she rebuilt philanthropic giving in the region. Before NCSY, Tiffany was Regional Director for the Jewish Federation of North America’s Network of Independent Communities where she worked with 55 small communities throughout the country to fundraise and sustain Jewish life. Tiffany holds a Master of Public Administration and Master of Hebrew and Judaic Studies from NYU, and a Bachelor of Science from Boston University. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, she lives in Plainview, NY with her husband and three (delicious) children.