May 29–30, 2024
Hosted at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York City
For the conference agenda, click here.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 29
Workshop 1A: The Reform Zionist Mission: Setting a Vision for the Future
1:40–2:55 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Rabbi Neal Borovitz
Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Avodat Shalom of River Edge, New Jersey
Rabbi Neal Borovitz is rabbi emeritus of Temple Avodat Shalom in River Edge, New Jersey, where he served from 1988 to 2013. An active leader in community affairs, he is a past chair of Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey and the North Jersey Board of Rabbis, as well as the founding chairman of the Jewish Learning Project of Bergen County.
Rabbi Borovitz is a frequent contributor to the Jewish Standard of New Jersey and The Times of Israel and teaches adult education sessions at Temple Avodat Shalom, The Berkshires Minyan, and Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, where he is a member.
Ever since completing his rabbinic thesis on The Zionist Cause in America, 1917–1929, Rabbi Borovitz has remained a student and teacher in the area of American Zionism, with special interest in Reform Judaism and Zionism.
Rabbi Lindsey Danziger
Reform Movement Lay LeaderAssistant Director of Organizing, Religious Action Center
Rabbi Lindsey Danziger is a senior state organizer at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. She guides synagogues and clergy across the country in their work to organize and mobilize for justice. She is also an adjunct professor at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where she teaches community organizing.
Rabbi Danziger was ordained there in 2017 and also received a master’s in Religious education. She is a member of the Nashville Jewish Federation Board of Directors and the Aspen Institute Collective on Racial Justice and Religion, a national advisory council of faith leaders creating anti-racist religious spaces.
Rabbi Danziger resides in Nashville with her husband, Rabbi Michael Danziger, and their three children, Ben, Aviva, and Noa. She loves serving on the faculty of URJ Jacobs Camp in Utica, Mississippi. In her spare time, Lindsey loves to read, hike, paddleboard, and practice hot yoga.
Dr. Marc Rivo
Reform Movement Lay Leader
In 2018, Marc and Karen Rivo, with their older daughter Jessica Rachel, became Israeli-American dual citizens, with their Aliyah residence in Zefat. At the time, Marc was the Southeast President of the American Friends of Bar Ilan University, and an active supporter of Bar Ilan’s new medical school in Zefat; Karen was past synagogue President and the founding Chair of the URJ’s Israel Leadership Network. Marc and Karen’s 2003 synagogue-led family trip to Israel with their two daughters awakened their Zionist souls. Marc’s parents laid key foundation-stones for his deep connection with Israel and the Jewish people: synagogue, youth group and hebrew classes; URJ’s Camp Swig summer camp and Solel’s Israeli Immersion experiences; and a NFTY summer in Israel. Today, the family has made some 30 trips to Israel. Marc was in Jerusalem on October 7th, returned with Karen in January to volunteer, and again in April to live in Sderot and help rebuild the devastated communities along the Gaza border. Marc will share from his experiences suggestions to strengthen bonds within the Reform Movement in North America and the diaspora with the land, people and state of Israel.
MODERATOR
Rabbi Leora Londy
Assistant Rabbi, Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester
Rabbi Leora Londy serves as assistant rabbi at Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester in Chappaqua, New York. Before coming to the United States, Rabbi Londy served as rabbi, community organizer and educator at the Daniel Centers for Progressive Judaism in Tel Aviv. She spent the past two decades living in Israel, where she was active in the Israeli Reform movement’s social activism efforts, including supporting the separation between religion and state.
Rabbi Londy was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem. She received a bachelor’s in international relations from Reichman University Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliyah, a master’s in Jewish studies from Ono Academic College, and a teaching certificate from Levinsky College of Education, and she has trained in bibliotherapy at HUC-JIR’s Blaustein Center for Pastoral Care.
Rabbi Londy currently serves on the Chappaqua Interfaith Committee. Her writings have been published in Kveller, The Times of Israel, and in several book collections. She lives in Westchester with her husband Omer and three young children.
Workshop 1B: Post-October 7 Strengthening of Students' Jewish Identity on Campus: Case Studies of Success and Challenge
1:40–2:55 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Rabbi Barry R. Baron
Associate University Chaplain + Campus Rabbi, Colgate University
Rabbi Barry R. Baron came to Colgate as associate university chaplain and campus rabbi in June 2019. Since July 2021, he has served as university chaplain along with his rabbinic duties. He regularly teaches “Rabbis Reinventing: The Making of Judaism as We Know It,” as part of Colgate’s Jewish Studies Program.
Previously, Rabbi Baron served as a chaplain in the United States Army, from which he retired in 2018, and, over a 14-year period, in synagogues in Houston; Youngstown, Ohio; and Vestal, New York. He is the co-author of “Religious Advising for Strategic Effect: US Army Chaplains as Change Agents,” published in Small Wars Journal.
A graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, Rabbi Baron holds a bachelor’s in history from Cornell University and a master’s, rabbinic ordination and honorary doctorate of divinity from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
Daniel Bennett
Executive Director, Hillel of Colorado
Daniel Bennett has been statewide director of Hillel of Colorado since 2016. He arrived in Colorado in 1979 after completing graduate studies at The Ohio State University and has lived in Colorado ever since — leading, convening and guiding Jewish communal organizations to achieve their highest goals. Daniel’s first 18 years as a Jewish communal professional in Denver were spent as an educational leader: first as director of Jewish studies at the Denver Jewish Day School (then called Herzl Day School), and then as director of education at Denver’s two largest synagogues, Temples Sinai and Emanuel, where he spearheaded the development of youth, family and adult education programs while publishing, lecturing, and leading students and families on their Jewish journeys.
In June 2009, Daniel completed a 12‐year position as president and CEO of the Colorado Agency for Jewish Education (CAJE). Over the decades, Daniel has led numerous trips to Israel for students and adults; is honored to have served the Oak Tree Foundation in Denver for nearly a decade as the foundation’s philanthropic advisor. In 2009 Daniel founded Sea Change Consulting Inc. to advise local and national nonprofits. It was in that capacity that Daniel convened Hillel of Colorado stakeholders in 2015 and wrote Hillel’s strategic and business plans. Soon after, Hillel engaged Daniel to lead its turnaround — now complete as Daniel begins his eighth year as the nonprofit’s statewide executive director.
Daniel and his wife Devorah are proud to have two 30‐something sons, two amazing daughters‐in‐law, and a three-year-old grandson who lives in Denver and has completely and totally captivated them!
MODERATOR
Cantor Irena Altschul
Cantor, Temple Israel of the City of New York
Cantor Altshul was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, but spent her formative years in Israel and came to New York City as a graduate student. There she was drawn into synagogue life through her love of Jewish music.
Since her cantorial investiture in 2003, Cantor Altshul has served on the clergy team of Temple Israel of the City of New York and as the first invested Cantor at Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation in Reston, Virginia, from 2007 to 2014. She holds a master’s in sacred music and was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music in New York. In addition to her cantorial studies, Cantor Altsul holds a master’s in music from Brooklyn College and a bachelor’s in music from Tel Aviv University.
A trained mezzo-soprano, her performance experiences have included appearances with the Russian Chamber Choir, the New York Brooklyn College Opera Theater, the Haifa Symphony Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, and the Tel Aviv Philharmonic Choir. Cantor Altshul was also twice invited to sing at the president’s residence in Jerusalem. In addition to her work toward enriching the worship life of the Jewish community, Cantor Altshul partners with other synagogue professionals to teach adults and youth, perform life cycle events, make pastoral visits and be available to all people.
Cantor Altshul is an active member of the American Conference of Cantors. She and her husband, Dr. Mitya (Dmitri) Chklovskii, Ph.D., and their children, Sammy and Mark Chklovskii, reside on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Workshop 1C: We Are a People: Pulling Back the Reins on Self-Defining Jewish Identity
1:40–2:55 p.m.
SPEAKER
Rabbi Leon Morris
President, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
A leading educator in the field of adult Jewish study, Rabbi Leon Morris is the president of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem.
He was the founding director of Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning (now the Streicker Center) at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan. For 15 years, he was the rabbi of Temple Adas Israel in Sag Harbor, New York — and he spent four as its first resident rabbi. Together with his wife, Dasee Berkowitz, Rabbi Morris transformed Temple Adas Israel into a year-round vibrant congregation and added more than one hundred new families, couples and individuals during his tenure.
Ordained in 1997 by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where he was a Wexner Graduate Fellow, Rabbi Morris writes frequently for Israeli and American Jewish publications and is a contributor to “Jewish Theology in Our Time: A New Generation Explores Foundations and Future of Jewish Belief” and “Platforms and Prayer Books: Theological and Liturgical Perspectives on Reform Judaism.” He was one of four editors of “Mishkan HaNefesh,” the new American Reform High Holy Days prayer book published in 2015.
He lives in Jerusalem with his wife and three children.
MODERATOR
Rabbi Rena Rifkin, RJE
Director of Youth Education, Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
Rabbi Rena Rifkin, RJE, is the director of youth education for Stephen Wise Free Synagogue. She received her master’s in Jewish education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Rhea Hirsch School of Education in 2008 and was ordained by HUC-JIR in 2010. During her time as a student, she was a Mandel Fellow for clergy-educators and worked in various communities throughout Los Angeles and New York City, including Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills and Temple Shaaray Tefila in New York.
Following ordination, she served North Shore Synagogue in Syosset, New York, as the director of lifelong learning, and most recently was coordinator of faculty and family engagement at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan.
Rabbi Rifkin grew up at and continues to have strong ties with the URJ Camp Eisner and she is member of the Association of Reform Jewish Educators’s board. She lives in Manhattan with her husband, Scott, and their three children, Eden, Simon and Micah.
Workshop 1D: Interfaith Engagement Post Oct. 7: Successes, Failures and Building Bridges for Tomorrow
1:40–2:55 p.m.
SPEAKER
Maya Blanchard
Chair of Shabbat and Holiday Programming, Cornell University Hillel
Maya is a rising junior at Cornell University studying biological sciences.
She grew up in Ithaca, New York, and has been active in Jewish life at the university since her freshman year and is now serving her second term on the Hillel student board.
As an Israeli-American, Maya feels personally connected to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its ongoing effects on campus life. In light of the tragedies taking place in the Middle East, Maya sought out interfaith partnerships in order to heal the growing gap between the Jewish and Muslim communities. She and her like-minded peers founded the Jewish Muslim Alliance in the hopes that, as leaders in their respective communities, they could their peers closer together in the face of adversity.
Maya’s other campus involvements include Cornell Chamber Orchestra, Cornell Running Club, and the Zeta Phi chapter of Alpha Chi Omega.
Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman
Senior Rabbi, Temple Israel of Minneapolis
Rabbi Marcia A. Zimmerman has been the senior rabbi of Temple Israel in Minneapolis since 2001. She was the first female rabbi at Temple Israel, a congregation of more than 2,000 households in the heart of Minneapolis, and was the first female rabbi to serve a congregation of this size in the United States.
Rabbi Zimmerman earned her bachelor’s in sociology from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Rabbi Zimmerman is vocal and active on policy issues affecting Minnesota and the nation, honoring the words above Temple Israel’s entrance: “Our house shall be a house of prayer for all peoples.” Rabbi Zimmerman is dedicated to ensuring that Temple Israel’s programming, educational opportunities, and worship are inclusive and celebrate people of color, diverse learning styles and special needs, all genders and gender expressions, the LGBTQ community, and interfaith families.
MODERATOR
Dr. Ari Gordon
Director of Muslim-Jewish Relations, AJC
Dr. Ari Gordon is director of Muslim-Jewish relations for the American Jewish Committee, where he fosters partnerships between Jews and Muslims, enabling them to work together on issues of common concern and fostering productive engagement on issues of difference. Gordon oversees the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council and his bridge-building work regularly takes him across the United States, the Middle East and Indonesia.
A graduate of Yeshiva University, where he earned his bachelor’s in 2005, and Harvard Divinity School, where he earned his master’s in 2010, Gordon completed a Ph.D. in Islamic studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where his research focused on collective identity and interreligious relations in Islam’s formative period.
Workshop 1E: Designing Immersive Israel Experiences: Before, During and After
Session I: Building a case for Israel travel now. What is your story and how will you tell it?
1:40–2:55 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Rachel Barnehama, RJE
Director of Youth and Family Education, MakomNY
Rachel Barnehama has been helping students and their families create unique paths to their own Jewish identities for the past 10 years. She currently serves as director of youth and family education for MakomNY, a progressive Religious school that offers creative pathways to fulfill the diverse and emerging desires of today’s Long Island Jewish community.
Rachel is dedicated to developing and implementing an engaging curriculum that fosters a deep connection to Jewish traditions and values in students of all ages. Rachel holds a master’s in religious education from Hebrew Union College School of Education and is a 2023 recipient of the Jewish Education Project’s Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneer Award.
Rabbi Howard Goldsmith
Rabbi, Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester
Rabbi Howard “Howie” Goldsmith has served as the leader of Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester in Rye, New York, since 2010.
Howie has led many family and adult-only trips to Israel. In each case, he focuses on a trip-long narrative arc to support the learning and help participants better understand the land, state, and people of Israel. He also creates tour books that help support site visits and provide a space for reflection.
Any trip to Israel is a good trip to Israel, but Howie focuses on the value-add that he can bring by partnering with a trusted Israeli guide. Specifically, he ensures that each site not only teaches something about Israel, but also helps travel participants answer the question: What does this site mean to me as a Jew from Westchester?
Nimrod Shafran
Chief Business Development Officer, J2 Adventures
Nimrod (Nim) Shafran serves as the Chief Business Development Officer at J2 Adventures, a leading luxury travel brand that crafts Jewish educational and experiential journeys to Israel and around the world. In his current role, Nim represents J2 to its North American audience, driving strategic growth initiatives and fostering impactful partnerships.
With over two decades of experience in the travel industry, Nim is a seasoned travel expert. As a licensed tour guide in Israel and holding a bachelor’s degree in hotel management and tourism, he has meticulously planned and guided trips to Israel and various Jewish destinations, offering enriching experiences to travelers worldwide.
Born to parents who immigrated from Romania and Iran, Nim embodies Israel’s rich cultural tapestry. Raised in a Zionist and non-religious household, his journey led him to marry Deborah, hailing from a Conservative family in upstate New York. Having spent significant time in Montreal and New York City, Nim seamlessly integrated into Jewish life in North America, enriching his understanding of Jewish heritage and traditions.
Additionally, Nim is a proud participant in M2: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education’s seventh senior educators cohort, furthering his commitment to immersive Jewish learning and engagement.
Workshop 1F: Israeli Music: Strengthening Jewish Peoplehood Through Culture
1:40–2:55 p.m.
SPEAKERS
David Bernstein
Deputy Director General, Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism
David Bernstein was born and grew up in San Francisco, California, where he was president of Congregation Sherith Israel’s youth group and taught at its Sunday school, was active in NFTY, and attended Camp Swig (now Camp Newman) as a camper, counselor and associate director.
David made aliyah in 1979 and was a founding member of Kibbutz Yahel, the first Reform movement kibbutz in Israel, where he met his wife Nirit. From 1988 to 1992, David served as central shaliach to the North American Reform movement. Upon returning to Israel, David left began a 20-year career at the Jewish Agency for Israel, during which he served as director of the partnership and overseas relations department and was a founder and director of the Partnership 2000 project, which partnered 45 Israeli cities and regional councils with Jewish communities throughout the world.
David volunteered as an activist in the Israel Reform and Progressive movement, as chair of his congregation, Birkat Shalom at Kibbutz Gezer, and as chair of the national general assembly of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism. In 2014, David joined the senior professional team of the IMPJ as Deputy Director General. In the World Zionist Organization David has served in a number of volunteer positions on behalf of ARZENU, the federation of world Reform Zionist movements. In June 2021, David was appointed to the executive of the World Zionist Organization, and recently to the board of trustees of Karen HaYasod.
David has an undergraduate degree in history and economics from Pitzer College and an MBA from University of California Berkeley.
Josh Scharff
Student Rabbi + Development Associate, Beit Daniel
Rabbinical Student, HUC-JIR
Josh Scharff is a fourth-year rabbinical student in the Israeli rabbinical program at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem. A St. Louis, Missouri native, he made aliyah in 2015. In his professional life, Josh serves as student rabbi and development associate at Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv where he is responsible for overseas fundraising. In his role at the synagogue he also tutors dozens of bar and bat mitzvah students, leads services in a rabbinic and cantorial role, and is the liaison for the local youth group branch. Previously he worked as an instructor in Jewish history at the URJ Heller High and as an educator and unit coordinator for NFTY Summer.
Josh’s passions revolve around sharing his love and passion for Judaism, the Jewish people, music, and Israel — his adopted home. In his spare time, Josh loves to watch any baseball game (go Cardinals!), play the guitar, and engage with anyone on all things history. Josh holds a bachelor’s in history from Yale University and an master’s in Jewish History from The Hebrew University.
MODERATOR
Yael Hashavit
Israeli Consul for Cultural Affairs in North America
Yael Hashavit assumed the post of Israeli consul for cultural affairs in North America in January 2023. She is a senior diplomat who has served in variety of diplomatic posts, including as senior advisor to the director general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, consul heneral of Israel to South India, and CEO of Israel’s Haigud Society for Transfer of Technology (also known as the Israeli Society for International Cooperation).
Yael has long devoted herself to promoting Israeli culture both in Israel and around the world. She brings a wealth of experience as well as a personal passion for exposing local audiences to Israeli culture and its innovative beauty and uniqueness.
Prior to arriving in New York, Yael served as the commissioner of cultural affairs, community and sport for the city of Haifa. There, she established a system aimed at building and strengthening the city’s communities through local culture and art.
Workshop 1G: Amplify Your Jewish Voice Online: Harnessing the Power of Social Media (Risks and All)
1:40–2:55 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Lauren Forman
Vice President of Talent Relations and Influencer Strategy, OpenDor Media
Lauren Forman currently serves OpenDor Media as the vice president of talent relations and influencer strategy. A seasoned executive with some 15 years of experience at MTV Entertainment Group and Paramount, Lauren’s unwavering passion for talent discovery and management has helped her excel in reshaping the entertainment landscape by orchestrating dynamic collaborations, driving strategic talent initiatives, and propelling iconic shows.
In her current position at OpenDor Media, she spearheads Amplified, enlisting a community of content creators with a shared mission while helping them reach new heights and larger audiences through a program designed to help their needs. Lauren’s dedication to creativity, diversity and fostering innovation shines through.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Lauren is a devoted mother of two incredible boys. Her downtime is spent enjoying reality television, indulging her love for cooking and baking, and exploring new destinations.
Rabbi Joshua Franklin
Senior Rabbi, Jewish Center of the Hamptons
Josh Franklin is senior rabbi of the Jewish Center of the Hamptons. In his six years on East End, he has helped revitalize and grow the Jewish community through engaging programming, transformative classes, inspiring worship, and welcoming community outreach. Rabbi Franklin was named to the 2021 Schneps Media Powerlist, honoring the movers and shakers on the East End of Long Island. Dan’s Papers named Rabbi Franklin one of its “People of the Year: East Enders Who Made the World A Better Place in 2022.”
Before receiving his ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Franklin attended Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, receiving both a bachelor’s and master’s in history. He previously served as a rabbi at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Rabbi Franklin is a member of the inaguaral cohort of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue’s Amplify Israel rabbinic fellowship. He resides in East Hampton with his wife Stephanie and their two children, Lilah and Amelia.
MODERATOR
Rabbi Joshua Gischner
Rabbi Educator, Temple Shalom of Chevy Chase, Maryland
Josh Gischner is a creative and inclusive Jewish educator who grew up in Rockland County, New York. He is passionate about making the Jewish canon accessible to all ages and uses magic tricks, puppetry, theater, humor and other art forms in his work. Gischner is also a proud “Pioneer Staff Member” at URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy and founded Wrestling with Torah, a radically inclusive online Jewish learning community. He earned his master’s in Hebrew literature and religious education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2020 and 2021, respectively, and was ordained as a rabbi in 2021. In his spare time, Gischner loves to experiment in the kitchen, paint and hang out with his pet parrot Charlie.
You can find him on TikTok and Instagram at @RabbiJoshG.
Workshop 2A: Bridging Campus and Community: Building Strong and Lasting Partnerships Between Hillel and Congregations
3:15–4:30 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Rabbi Geri Newburge
Senior Rabbi, Main Line Reform Temple
Rabbi Geri Newburge is the senior rabbi at Main Line Reform Temple. During her tenure as a rabbi, she has focused her efforts on pastoral care, building connections with youth, interfaith relationships, social action and crafting meaningful worship experiences.
Rabbi Newburge is also honored to be included on the national rabbinic advisory board for StandWithUs and the Jewish National Fund-USA Rabbis For Israel Advisory Committee. She previously served as the associate rabbi at Temple Emanuel in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and she has spent time in leadership roles with the Delaware Valley Area Reform Rabbis and the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Rabbi Newburge grew up in South Florida, graduated from the University of Miami (Go Canes!) with a bachelor’s in religious studies, and earned ner master’s in religion from the Claremont School of Theology. She was ordained as a rabbi from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Rabbi Newburge is married to Rabbi Eric Goldberg, rabbi educator at Congregation Shir Ami in Newtown, Pennsylvania, and they are the proud parents of their son Jay.
Rabbi Jeremy Winaker
Executive Director, Greater Philly Hillel Network
Rabbi Jeremy Winaker is the executive director of the Greater Philly Hillel Network, serving multiple campuses including Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, Villanova University, and West Chester University.
Prior to Philly Hillel, Rabbi Winaker served in a variety of Jewish communal roles: as Albert Einstein Academy’s head of school, as University of Delaware Hillel’s senior Jewish educator, as a pulpit rabbi, and more. An active member of the Gender Equity in Hiring Project Advocates Network and a Rabbis Without Borders Fellow, his primary interest is in bringing Jewish Wisdom and people together wherever they may be.
Ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 2002, Rabbi Winaker also holds a bachelor’s with honors in philosophy from Swarthmore College.
He has lived in Wilmington, Delaware, with his family since 2009.
Maia Zaborowski
Student Leader, Rutgers Hillel
Maia is a student leader at Rutgers Hillel on Rutgers University’s New Brunswick campus. They held the role of the Reform Community Chair for the 22–23 and 23–24 academic years, and they will continue to serve as a worship and song leader for the Reform community Shabbat services. They are also excited to be the Leadership Chair on the executive board for Rutgers Hillel’s inaugural Freshmen Fest this fall.
This past year, Maia co-helmed a major overhaul to the Hillel Student Board structure, helping Rutgers Hillel adapt to changing needs and decentralize leadership, empowering more students than ever before to take control of Hillel activities and events.
Maia is a rising senior at Rutgers, working towards a bachelor’s in Jewish studies with minors in religion and theater arts. They will be pursuing an honors thesis next year, focusing on early Israelite religion. They grew up attending URJ Camp Harlam and are so happy to be returning for her fourth year on staff this summer as the Gesher (CIT program) assistant supervisor. They also grew up as a member of Temple Emanu-El in Westfield, New Jersey.
In their free time, Maia loves to improve their guitar skills, read and play D&D!
Abbey London
Innovation Springboard Fellow, Rutgers Hillel
Abbey London is the current Innovation Springboard fellow at Rutgers Hillel on the New Rutgers University. Their main role is supporting, engaging and connecting with students on campus. In addition to supporting students on campus, they bring a new perspective to Hillel, using design thinking and creative problem-solving to help Hillel reach its full potential. They also advise student leaders, interns, clubs, and Jewish learning fellowships. A club that Abbey is the most passionate about is Rutgers Jewish Allies and Queers.
Abbey recently graduated from Ithaca College, where they studied communication, management and design with a concentration in design. They also double minored in sports studies and photography. At Ithaca College, Abbey was involved in the school’s paper, “The Ithacan,” and worked in many roles at the Ithaca College Hillel and the Ithaca College Athletics Department. Abbey has spent most of their summers at URJ Camp Harlam, going from a camper to a counselor to a member of the Leadership Team. Abbey also grew up belonging to the Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael and attending events at the MetroWest Jewish Federation.
Abbey is also a photographer who loves to document sports, live events, and the world around them. They also love to rock climb!
Workshop 2B: Enriching Our Communities: The Strategic Importance of Engaging Israelis
3:15–4:30 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Liana Meirom Asif
Director of Shlichut Program, Jewish Agency for Israel
Liana Meirom Asif is the Jewish Agency director of the shlichut (emissaries) program to UJA-Federation of New York. Liana is IGY’s (the Israeli queer youth organization) former chief operating officer, head of fundraising and leader of IGY’S shared society and liberal Jewish programs.
Liana grew up in Jerusalem’s Musrara neighborhood, a place that shaped her future and embodies her Mizrachi-Ashkenazi heritage. Liana holds a bachelor’s in education from Beit Berl College and she has a long history of working with teens — teaching health, bringing teens together in peace programs, and developing cultural exchanges between Israeli youth and teens from other countries.
Liana has been involved in the Hashomer Hatzair youth movement in various capacities since 2006. She served as a combat soldier in the Karakal unit of the Israel Defense Forces.
Rabbi David Gelfand
Rabbi, Temple Israel of the City of New York
Rabbi David Gelfand of Temple Israel of the City of New York is passionate about teaching Jewish values. An outspoken voice for social justice, interfaith relations and inclusion, he has been recognized by the World Union for Progressive Judaism with an “International Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Pursuit of Justice,” and is an honorary WUPJ board member. He serves on the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s board of governors.
Previously rabbi of the Jewish Center of the Hamptons, he began his career at Temple Beth-El in Great Neck, New York. He also served Har Sinai in New Jersey and Fairmount Temple in Ohio. He served as national officer at the Interfaith Alliance in Washington, D.C., promoting dialogue and civility for over a decade. He has been active in a number of Zionist and Israeli organizations and institutions, including AIPAC.
He and his wife Kathy, who share four children, reside in New York City and East Hampton.
Rabbi Yael Splansky
Baskin-Garson Senior Rabbinic Chair, Holy Blossom Temple of Toronto
Yael Splansky is the senior rabbi of Holy Blossom Temple, which was founded in 1856 as the first synagogue of Toronto. Rabbi Splansky is a fourth-generation Reform rabbi, immediate past president of the Toronto Board of Rabbis, and a senior rabbinic fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute. In celebration of her 25 years of leadership, she was awarded Holy Blossom’s Baskin-Garson Senior Rabbinic Chair.
Rabbi Splansky was recently recognized by the Canadian Parliament with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for her commitment to refugee relief, support and advocacy for the unhoused, and building bridges among faith communities.
MODERATOR
Lior Sagi
North America Regional Director, World Zionist Organization Department of Irgoon and Israelis Abroad
Lior Sagi is the North American regional director for the World Zionist Organization’s Department of Irgoon and Israelis Abroad.
Lior has over a decade of experience as an educator and filmmaker, most recently as Canada regional director at the World Zionist Organization and Canadian Zionist Federation’s Department of Diaspora Affairs and as the director of the multimedia department at the Kibbutzim College of Education in Tel Aviv.
He transplanted to Toronto from Tel Aviv, although he spent most of his formative years in Kibbutz Ein Gedi. Lior holds a bachelor’s in film and television from Tel Aviv University and a master’s in education from the Kibbutzim College of Education.
Workshop 2C: Singing and Programming with the Post-October 7 Soundtrack
3:15–4:30 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Cantor Rabbi Luis Cattan
Cantor, Sutton Place Synagogue
Cantor Rabbi Luis Cattan, currently based at The Sutton Place Synagogue in New York City, holds a rabbinical ordination and a master’s in Jewish studies from the Academy for Jewish Religion. He is the immediate past president of the Cantors Assembly.
Cattan’s musical style, influenced by his Sephardic and Ashkenazic heritage, is shaped by his upbringing in Uruguay, where Ladino and Yiddish cultures were integral. Starting his musical journey at 11 in the synagogue choir, he later earned a bachelor’s in social communication sciences from the Catholic University of Montevideo. Following studies in Israel, he received Ḥazzanut training in Uruguay and Argentina, eventually becoming Head Ḥazzan at NCI, a prominent Conservative Synagogue in Uruguay.
In 2003, he moved to the United States, serving in Miami Beach and North Miami Beach, introducing innovative concerts and releasing the album “On the Wings of Prayer.” His distinctive blend of traditional and contemporary Sephardic and Ashkenazic melodies is featured in CDs by the Cantors Assembly and USCJ. You can listen to his music here.
Cantor Daniel Singer
Cantor, Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
Cantor Daniel A. Singer serves Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in Manhattan, where he has built a reputation as one of America’s most renowned Reform cantors. In addition to performing with the world’s leading cantors and popular Jewish artists, he developed a revolutionary new vision of worship and programming that helped to revitalize the historic Stephen Wise Free Synagogue.
Cantor Singer previously served the pulpits of Temple Shaaray Tefila in Manhattan, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights Synagogue, Temple Adas Israel of Sag Harbor, and Temple Beth El of Bloomfield Hills Michigan.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in music and mass communications from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, a master’s in vocal performance from the University of Michigan, a master’s in performing arts administration from NYU Steinhardt, and a master’s in sacred music and his cantorial ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music.
Originally from Superior, Wisconsin, Cantor Singer grew up immersed in the folk music scene and is as comfortable singing grand opera as he is singing Broadway, Yiddish theater, pop, jazz, folk, and a variety of styles of children’s music. An accomplished recording artist, multi-faceted guitarist, pianist and composer of new music for the synagogue and stage, he is also a voice actor with national credits for radio, television, and animated feature films. He performs internationally and produces parodies and viral videos with the award-winning Jewish pop acapella group, Six13. He publishes articles regularly to his blog on Times of Israel and has been featured in PBS documentaries including “Sabbath” by Martin Doblmeier and “The Jewish Americans” by David Grubin.
Cantor Singer lives in Manhattan with his beautiful wife Lauren and his two adorable little boys, Aiden and Ariel. When he is not working, he enjoys reading, writing, RV road trips, camping, and relaxing with his family.
Cantor Shimon Smith
Director of Music and Youth and Family, Romemu
Shimon Smith is the cantor and director of music and youth and family at Romemu of Manhattan.
Having grown up in Israel, Shimon served as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces for five years where he received the presidential award for outstanding soldier. After his service, he became a Jewish Agency shaliach in the U.S. for two years and, upon his return to Israel, he studied music at the Rimon School for Music and Jazz. Shimon holds a bachelor’s in history and Jewish studies, and became a full member of the Cantors Assembly in 2024.
In Israel, Shimon was a leader in the pluralistic Jewish world, leading music in rallies and protests for a more egalitarian Jewish society together with the IMPJ, Women of the Wall, and other Jewish pluralistic organizations. He was the cantorial soloist and head of the b’nai mitzvah program at Beit Daniel Tel Aviv for 13 years before moving with his family to the United States, where he spent a year as an artist in residence at Temple Emanuel in Westfield, New Jersey, before moving to New York City.
Shimon is a celebrated Jewish rock radio artist. His original songs are featured in many transcontinental music publications and can be found on Spotify and other streaming services. Shimon also dubs voices for characters in the Israeli versions of cartoon movies and TV shows and has been the Israeli voice of characters such as Scar, Thanos and Hefty Smurf. He is also one of the Israeli voices of Waze.
Shimon lives on the Upper West Side in Manhattan with his wife Rebecca, daughter Lily, and dog Lucy.
MODERATORS
Cantor Emily Wigod Pincus
Cantor, The Reform Temple of Forest Hills
Creating community through music is the foundation of Cantor Emily Wigod Pincus’ cantorial work. She leads The Reform Temple of Forest Hills congregation in Shabbat and Festival worship, oversees the B’nai Mitzvah program, teaches trope to religious school students and adults, conducts the temple’s choir, leads Temple Tots services, officiates at life cycle events and performs traditional pastoral work. She recently participated in an 18-month Clergy Leadership Program with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality consisting of meditation, text study, and prayer.
A native New Yorker and former opera singer, Cantor Pincus studied at Manhattan School of Music and La Escuela Superior de Canto in Madrid. She has garnered numerous awards and prizes in the performance of both cantorial and contemporary Jewish music. She was invested as a cantor in 2008 by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
Cantor Pincus and her husband, Drew, have three children, Alexie, Bennet, and Nathaniel. In her free time, Cantor Pincus enjoys foreign language movies, music, art, theater, and reading.
Rabbi Josh Strom
Rabbi Joshua Strom is a second-generation rabbi, ordained, like his father Elliot, by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2008. He most recently served Congregation B’nai Yisrael in Armonk for nine years, following seven years as the assistant and associate rabbi at Temple Shaaray Tefila on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
Rabbi Strom’s rabbinate is centered around relationships, innovation, and connecting people of all walks of life to our wonderful Jewish tradition. He is honored to be a participant in this year’s Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism Conference, and would like to dedicate his participation in this sacred gathering in memory of his teacher, mentor, and friend Rabbi David Ellenson z’l.
Rabi Strom lives in White Plains, New York, with his wife Tali and three sons Jonah, Gabriel and Caleb.
Workshop 2D: Bridging Your Progressive Values and Voice with Zionism
3:15–4:30 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Ninoshka Friedman
NASA Structural Analyst Engineer and Jewish Educator
Ninoshka Friedman is a Jewish educator in the greater New Orleans area. Their work focusses on connecting young adults with Zionism through community building events and teaching children about space science.
Ninoshka also works at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility where they focus on structural analysis for the Artemis rocket. When not doing rocketry, they serve on synagogue committees and events for Congregation Gates of Prayer and Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation in Louisiana.
Ninoshka is a young Zionist who brings different perspectives as they belong to minoritized communities. Ninoshka attended the University of Illinois and currently attends Johns Hopkins University, where they are working towards a master’s in Aerospace Engineering. Their hope is to combine the values of Judaism, science and Zionism into an inclusive practice of ritual and social justice.
Rabbi Sam Kaye
Associate Rabbi, Holy Blossom Temple of Toronto
Rabbi Samuel Kaye is the associate rabbi of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, where he oversees Israel engagement, advocacy, and tikkun olam.
Born and raised in Denver, Rabbi Kaye was ordained from the Cincinnati campus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2018 and served at The Temple in Atlanta, Georgia from 2018 to 2022. He is an alumnus of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and Allegheny College, where he received a bachelor’s in history and religious studies. Rabbi Kaye has studied at the iCenter, where he received a master’s concentration in Israel education. He has undergone spiritual counsellor training through the Elaine Breslow Institute with Beit T’shuvah, a Jewish in-patient recovery facility. He is a “Future Changemaker” fellow with Pardes North America and is currently on the board of ARZA Canada.
Currently, Rabbi Kaye is teaching a two year “Beit Midrash” inspired by the Shalom Hartman Institute. During the most recent sabbatical year, 5782, Rabbi Kaye created and led the “21st Century Shmitah” initiative which purchased and forgave over $13.5 million dollars worth of defaulted medical debt for residents of Georgia.
He is married to Rabbi Taylor Baruchel.
Rabbi Kelly Levy
Associate Rabbi, Congregation Beth Israel of Austin, Texas
Rabbi Kelly Levy serves as the associate rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in Austin, Texas. She previously served as the assistant and associate rabbi of Temple B’rith Kodesh in Rochester, New York. She was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2014 and received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas Tech University in 2007.
Rabbi Levy served on the Women’s Rabbinic Network board as the communications vice president and president and is currently serving a second term as immediate past president. She participates in the Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas Clergy Advisory Council, serves as an Austin city leader for the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network, and sits on the admissions committee for the Central Conference of American Rabbis. She is proud to be a National Council for Jewish Women “Rabbi for Repro.”
Rabbi Levy is an alumna of the Balfour Brickner Rabbinic Fellowship through the Religious Action Center and is a member of Stephen Wise Free Synagpogue’s first cohort of Amplify Israel rabbinic fellows.
She lives in Austin with her husband, two daughters, and their dog.
MODERATOR
Rabbi David Gerber
Senior Rabbi, Congregation Gates of Prayer
Rabbi David Gerber is an innovative and dedicated Jewish leader who has been serving as the senior rabbi of Congregation Gates of Prayer since 2018. An active member of the New Orleans Clergy Council and the Interfaith Council, he is also a regular contributor and collaborator with the National World War II Museum, a member of the rabbinic councils of Zioness and StandWithUs, and a member of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue’s inaugural cohort of Amplify Israel rabbinic fellows.
Rabbi Gerber is known for his passion for innovative programming and engagement, exemplified by the success of Gatesfest, Metairie’s premier music and arts festival, and the congregation’s $1 million investment to ensure that students can afford Jewish summer camp. He is also passionate about teaching topics such as mussar, Talmud, and the supernatural, and frequently speaks at local high schools and colleges about combating antisemitism.
Rabbi Gerber is married to his better half, Lauren, who serves as the head of the Parent’s Association at the Jewish Community Day School where their children, Paige and Tessa, attend. Together, they live in Metairie with their two dogs and three cats.
Workshop 2E: Renaissance and Re-Awakening of Jewish Life Post October 7: Documenting, Evaluating and Growing this Trend
3:15–4:30 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Jody Bromberg
CEO, 18Doors
Jodi Bromberg is a national leader and advocate on the importance of building and cultivating Jewish communities of belonging, with a focus on interfaith families. Since 2013, she has led 18Doors, formerly InterfaithFamily, first as President before becoming CEO in 2015. Under her leadership, 18Doors expanded its work across the United States and into Canada, providing an entry point for millions of interfaith families to connect to each other and Jewish culture, wisdom and tradition by visiting 18Doors’ website, connecting through social media and participating in programs. Jodi has also directed the expansion of 18Doors’ commitment to support tens of thousands of leaders, professionals, educators and clergy in Jewish organizations on strengthening their understanding of, and work with, mixed-heritage families, including the creation of the first-ever fellowship for rabbis on interfaith inclusion.
Jodi has written for several publications, and spoken at conferences and Jewish organizations around the country about creating inclusive Jewish spaces for interfaith families. Most recently, Jodi authored a chapter in the book Warm and Welcoming: How the Jewish Community Can Become Truly Diverse in the 21st Century. She is an advisor of JPro’s WellAdvised program, and an active alumna of Leading Edge’s CEO Onboarding Program. Prior to 18Doors, Jodi was an attorney in Philadelphia, and is a proud graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Temple University Beasley School of Law. Jodi lives outside of Boston with her wife and three children, where she remains a diehard New York Yankees fan.
Rabbi Jeff Salkin
An Online Salon for Jewish Ideas
RNS Contributing Editor, Author + Writer
Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin is one of American Judaism’s most prolific and quoted rabbis. His blog, “Martini Judaism: for those who want to be shaken and stirred,” published by Religion News Service, won a 2022 Wilbur Award from the Religion Communicators Council for best religion blog of the year, as well as two previous awards. His essays have appeared in the Washington Post, Commentary, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, Tablet, Mosaic, Forward and JTA. He has discussed the American political scene on CNN and the BBC and has contributed articles to scholarly journals. His 10 books discuss such subjects as b’nai mitzvah, Israel, masculinity, and Jewish culture, and include three Torah commentaries.
He delivered the keynote on religion and spirituality at the world-famous Chautauqua Institution, where he also participated in inter-religious dialogues in international forums. His colleagues have described him as “courageous,” “always relevant,” and “one of American Judaism’s true public intellectuals.” His new book on the future of liberal Judaism will be published this autumn.
Rabbi Salkin is the co-director of Wisdom Without Walls: an online salon for Jewish ideas, and he recently served as the interim rabbi of Temple Israel in West Palm Beach, Florida. His hobbies include music, movies, bicycling, and consuming vast quantities of coffee.
MODERATOR
Rabbi Joanne Loiben
Rabbi, Temple Beth Sholom
Rabbi Loiben grew up in Chicago and attended St. Louis University, where she founded “SLU Jews.” After graduation she attended Pardes Institute in Jerusalem, where she received a master’s Jewish education and a certificate in advanced Jewish studies. Following this, she taught sixth grade for three years at the the Davis Academy, a Reform Jewish Day School in Atlanta. When she was ready to deepen her spiritual studies, Joanne began rabbinical school at HUC-JIR in Los Angeles. While there, she served at the University Synagogue, where she has organized youth activities, mentored teens in a leadership program and served as the Interim Education Director, along with other rabbinic duties. She was also Assistant Director of Jewish Education at the URJ Camp George in Canada, led a NFTY Tour in Israel and a Birthright Tour, participated in an AIPAC Leffell Fellowship program and received a Masters Concentration in Israel Education from the iCenter. In addition to congregational liefcycle events and simchas, Rabbi Loiben has expanded youth engagement and experiences in the synagogue and also works with The Tribe, and the Panin el Panim.
She loves being outside and enjoys outdoor activities such as swimming, hiking, running, stand-up paddle boarding and going to the beach, as well as listening to live music. She loves exploring all that Miami Beach and the surrounding areas have to offer!
Workshop 2F: Designing Immersive Israel Experiences: Before, During and After
Session II: Interactive workshop: Planning Your day in Israel
3:15–4:30 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Rachel Barnehama, RJE
Director of Youth and Family Education, MakomNY
Rachel Barnehama has been helping students and their families create unique paths to their own Jewish identities for the past 10 years. She currently serves as director of youth and family education for MakomNY, a progressive Religious school that offers creative pathways to fulfill the diverse and emerging desires of today’s Long Island Jewish community.
Rachel is dedicated to developing and implementing an engaging curriculum that fosters a deep connection to Jewish traditions and values in students of all ages. Rachel holds a master’s in religious education from Hebrew Union College School of Education and is a 2023 recipient of the Jewish Education Project’s Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneer Award.
Rabbi Howard Goldsmith
Rabbi, Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester
Rabbi Howard “Howie” Goldsmith has served as the leader of Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester in Rye, New York, since 2010.
Howie has led many family and adult-only trips to Israel. In each case, he focuses on a trip-long narrative arc to support the learning and help participants better understand the land, state, and people of Israel. He also creates tour books that help support site visits and provide a space for reflection.
Any trip to Israel is a good trip to Israel, but Howie focuses on the value-add that he can bring by partnering with a trusted Israeli guide. Specifically, he ensures that each site not only teaches something about Israel, but also helps travel participants answer the question: What does this site mean to me as a Jew from Westchester?
Nimrod Shafran
Chief Business Development Officer, J2 Adventures
Nimrod (Nim) Shafran serves as the Chief Business Development Officer at J2 Adventures, a leading luxury travel brand that crafts Jewish educational and experiential journeys to Israel and around the world. In his current role, Nim represents J2 to its North American audience, driving strategic growth initiatives and fostering impactful partnerships.
With over two decades of experience in the travel industry, Nim is a seasoned travel expert. As a licensed tour guide in Israel and holding a bachelor’s degree in hotel management and tourism, he has meticulously planned and guided trips to Israel and various Jewish destinations, offering enriching experiences to travelers worldwide.
Born to parents who immigrated from Romania and Iran, Nim embodies Israel’s rich cultural tapestry. Raised in a Zionist and non-religious household, his journey led him to marry Deborah, hailing from a Conservative family in upstate New York. Having spent significant time in Montreal and New York City, Nim seamlessly integrated into Jewish life in North America, enriching his understanding of Jewish heritage and traditions.
Additionally, Nim is a proud participant in M2: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education’s seventh senior educators cohort, furthering his commitment to immersive Jewish learning and engagement.
Workshop 2G: Tell Me About the Zionism You Don't Believe in: Getting Beyond Binaries
3:15–4:30 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Rabbi Allison Peiser
Temple Educator, Temple Emanu-El of Marblehead, Massachusetts
Rabbi Allison Peiser has served as temple educator at Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead, Massachusetts, since 2019. Previously, she was the education director at Temple Beth Shalom in Melrose, Massachusetts, and campus director at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. Rabbi Peiser started the path to the rabbinate as a junior in high school and EIE-NFTY semester in Israel participant. She experienced Judaism as a lived religion with a complicated history that could be observed in diverse ways.
Rabbi Peiser majored in Judaic and Near Eastern studies and sociology at Brandeis University. She spent a year at the University of Haifa, studied at Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, and attended the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. Rabbi Peiser’s goal is for every Jewish person to discover a meaningful Jewish identity and a sense of belonging to the Jewish people.
Rabbi Dan Reichenbach
Chaplain, NYU Langone Health
Rabbi Dan Reichenbach grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and was deeply engrossed in the Reform movement from his youngest years. He is a product of URJ Eisner and Kutz camps, NFTY GER, NFTY in Israel, and NFTY EIE (Heller High).
Dan graduated from Clark University in 2012 with a degree in Jewish history and then made aliyah and served proudly in the IDF as an infantryman in the Nahal Brigade. He saw combat in the summer of 2014 during Operation Protective Edge.
Dan received his master’s in religious education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in 2020, his master’s in Hebrew literature in 2022 and was ordained as a rabbi on May 5, 2024. Over the course of his education Dan had the opportunity to work at a number of reform congregations, including Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and most recently at Hevreh of Southern Berkshires. For the last year Dan has been engaged in three units of clinical pastoral education at NYU Langone Health, where he acted as a chaplain, providing spiritual care for people during their hospitalization.
Dan lives in New York City with his dog Chewbacca.
MODERATOR
Rabbi Dr. Jan Katzew
Director of Service Learning and Senior Educator, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Rabbi Jan Katzew, Ph.D., serves as an associate professor of Jewish thought and education, director of service learning, and senior educator of the EMA program at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. Jan was ordained in 1983 and after serving as a rabbi/educator at The Community Synagogue in Port Washington, New York, when he was a Jerusalem fellow, he earned a doctorate from the Hebrew University.
For 15 years Jan led a team that comprised the department of lifelong Jewish learning and the Reform movement’s Commission on Lifelong Learning at the Union for Reform Judaism. In that capacity, he was responsible for designing, developing and supporting educational resources for early childhood centers, congregational schools, day schools and adult learning communities throughout the world. Jan’s educational vision and work were deemed worthy of grants from the Jim Joseph Foundation and the Covenant Foundation. Since the iCenter for Israel Education’s inception in 2008, Jan has been a consultant there, mentoring students from multiple graduate schools and seminaries. Jan is the author of popular and scholarly articles in multiple fields that include Israel education, interfaith dialogue, mussar, medieval Hebrew poetry, moral Development, and educational philosophy and practice.
Workshop 2H: Generational and Ideological Differences on Israel in the Reform Movement: Engaging in Dialogue and Finding a Path Forward
3:15–4:30 p.m.
SPEAKER
Jodi Rudoren
Editor in Chief, The Forward
Jodi Rudoren is editor-in-chief of the Forward, the nation’s leading Jewish news organization, which reaches 1.5 million people each month across platforms. She writes a weekly column, “Looking Forward,” that won the Religion News Association’s top awards for Excellence in Religion Reporting in 2024 and for Commentary in 2022, when she was also a finalist for the Deadline Club’s opinion writing award.
Before coming to the Forward in 2019, Jodi spent 21 years at The New York Times, including a stint as Jerusalem bureau chief, where she covered two wars in Gaza. She also pioneered the masthead role of associate managing editor for audience strategy, and won an Emmy Award as executive producer of the multimedia series One in 8 Million.
She went to Yale, lives in Montclair, has 16-year-old twins, serves on the board of The Fuller Project, a nonprofit newsroom devoted to reporting that catalyzes change for women, and has an essay about the importance of asking great questions in the new anthology “Jewish Priorities.”
Thursday, May 30
Workshop 3A: Trauma in Our Communities: Using Song, Meditation and Spirituality to Identify and Address the Impact of October 7
1:30–2:45 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Cantor Julia Cadrain
Senior Cantor, Temple Israel of Westport, Connecticut
A soulful leader whose work is rooted in inclusivity and authentic relationships, Cantor Cadrain is dedicated to helping people find peace amidst the challenges of modern life. She discovers inspiration in connecting people through the power of music, ritual and spiritual practice. Cantor Cadrain received a bachelor’s of music in classical voice at New England Conservatory and was ordained as a cantor by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religions’s Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. She served as a member of the clergy team at Manhattan’s Central Synagogue from 2012 to 2021 and was thrilled to join the Temple Israel of Westport community as senior cantor in 2021.
Cantor Cadrain is a certified vinyasa yoga instructor and a graduate of the clergy leadership training program of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. An internationally recognized spiritual leader, she has served as cantor for the United Nations’ International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the South African Union for Progressive Judaism’s Passover Seder, as well as collaborating with musicians across the globe. She and her wife Elana live in Tarrytown, New York, with their two children.
Rabbi David A. Ingber
Senior Director, 92NY
Founding Rabbi, Romemu
Rabbi David A. Ingber is the senior director for Jewish life and senior director of the Bronfman Center at the 92nd Street Y, and the founding rabbi of Romemu — the largest Renewal synagogue in the United States — which he founded in New York in 2006, following his ordination by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, the founder of the Jewish Renewal movement.
Raised Modern Orthodox in New York, Rabbi Ingber studied at Ramaz, Yeshiva University, Beit Midrash L’Torah, Yeshivat Chaim Berlin, and Yeshivat Chovovei Torah Rabbinical School.
Rabbi Ingber was named by Newsweek as one of the top 50 most influential rabbis in the United States as well as by The Forward as one of the 50 most newsworthy and notable Jews in America. A major 21st Century Jewish thinker and educator, his rich perspective, open heart and mind, and full-bodied approach to Jewish learning has brought him to speak worldwide. He serves on the faculty for the Wexner Heritage Program, and the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America and Israel, and was an AJWS Global Justice Fellow. Rabbi Ingber has lectured extensively on the topics of spirituality, theology, Jewish mysticism, prayer, and meditation. He lives in Manhattan with his wife Ariel and their three children.
Workshop 3B: More than Flags and Felafel: Israel Education for 2024 and Beyond....
1:30–2:45 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Lauren Chizner, RJE
Director of Education, Port Jewish Center + Temple Beth El of Huntington
Lauren Chizner has been a Jewish educator for 27 years, serving congregations and organizations across Long Island. She currently serves as the Religious School director at both Port Jewish Center in Port Washington and Temple Beth El of Huntington. She served as the director of education at Temple Beth El of Great Neck and as an educational consultant for The Jewish Education Project.
Lauren has spent 17 summers as the director of Jewish life at URJ Crane Lake Camp, bringing Judaism to life for campers and staff. Lauren also serves as the director of Project Understanding, a grassroots nonprofit organization on Long Island founded by Roger Tilles and the late Fr. Tom Hartman. Project Understanding provides a vehicle for Catholic and Jewish high school students to gain a greater knowledge of their own and each other’s religion through educational experiences and 10 days in Israel.
Originally from Houston, Lauren earned her joint master’s in Jewish education and Jewish Communal Service from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. She met her husband, Rabbi Todd Chizner, during their first year of study at HUC-JIR in Jerusalem. They have three incredible children, Jacob, Jed and Rachel.
Dr. Lesley Litman, RJE
Director of the Executive MA Program in Jewish Education, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Lesley Litman, Ed.D., RJE, is the director of the executive MA program in Jewish education and coordinator of faculty instructional support at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She also consults The iCenter in the area of curriculum design and professional development in Israel education with a particular emphasis on infusing Israel in Jewish day schools.
Lesley has served in leadership positions in a wide variety of Jewish educational settings including at congregations, day schools, youth movements and the Union for Reform Judaism. She lived in Israel for 10 years and was a founder of the Reform movement’s first kibbutz, Kibbutz Yahel. Lesley holds an Ed.D. from the Jewish Theological Seminary, a master’s in Jewish Studies with a Hebrew concentration from Hebrew College, Boston, and a bachelor’s in economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She was a Mandel Jerusalem Fellow from 1994 to 1996.
Workshop 3C: Laying the Foundation for Positive Jewish Identity in the College Years: Hillel Leaders Present on Selecting Your School, Social Media, and HS Jewish/Israel Education
1:30–2:45 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Rabbi Dave Siegel
Executive Director, Hofstra University Hillel
Dave is the executive director of Hofstra University Hillel and serves as a university chaplain. He also works with communities at Adelphi University, Molloy University, and LIU Post.
Growing up on Long Island, Rabbi Dave Siegel was an active member and officer of United Synagogue Youth. He received his bachelor’s in politics, philosophy, and law/history from Binghamton University and has received master’s degrees from both New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and the Jewish Theological Seminary’s William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education. Before attending JTS, Dave worked as the director of special projects at the 92nd Street Y.
During his time in rabbinical school, Dave focused on leadership and professional development in the Jewish community. He has also served in leadership positions at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, the Foundation for Jewish Camp, and United Synagogue Youth.
Rabbi Kenny Weiss
Executive Director, Houston Hillel
Rabbi Kenny Weiss is the executive director of Houston Hillel and is a faculty member at the University of Houston where he teaches a Jewish Studies course each semester. Prior to arriving at Houston Hillel in 2001, Kenny was a congregational rabbi in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., but that’s so long ago he wonders why he still includes it in his bio.
Kenny earned a degree in Communication from UC San Diego, a Secondary Social Studies Teaching Credential from CU Boulder, along with a Masters Degree in Hebrew Letters and Rabbinical Ordination from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in New York.
Kenny is married to Rabbi Amy Weiss, Founder and Executive Director of Undies for Everyone. Amy and Kenny enjoy spending time with their sons, Eli and Josh, both of whom attended college in Houston and participated with Houston Hillel. It seems that having your father as the Hillel director isn’t a deterrent to participation. Let’s not talk about both parents being rabbis.
MODERATOR
Rabbi Bennet F. Miller
Rabbi Emeritus, Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple
Rabbi Bennett F. Miller served as senior rabbi of Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and is the congregation’s first rabbi emeritus. He is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism’s board of trustees and of the faculty at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and is co-chair of the URJ’s newly established Israel Reform Zionism Committee. Rabbi Miller previously served as national chair of the Association of Reform Zionists of America, is a past president of the New Jersey Association of Reform Rabbis and of the New Jersey Coalition of Religious Leaders, and held numerous leadership positions at other organizations. A native of Rochester, N.Y., earned his master’s from and was ordained by HUC-JIR in Cincinnati.
The author of two books, “Reform Jewish Identity: Developing A Program Of Ministry To Guide The New Member Of A Reform Synagogue to Mature Jewish Living” and “Siduree: A Prayerbook For Young Children, The Songs Of Anshe Emeth For Shabbat,” and numerous creative worship services, Rabbi Miller has also been pulbished widely in the press. He and his wife Joan live in Monroe Township, New Jersey, and are the proud parents of two daughters and grandparents to their combined six children.
Workshop 3D: Cultivating Environments of Respectful Dialogue: Managing and Navigating Diverse Israel Narratives in Our Communities While Honoring Our Values
1:30–2:45 p.m.
SPEAKER
Rabbi Erica Asch
President, Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi, Temple Beth El of Augusta
Rabbi Erica Asch is the president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and has served as the rabbi of Temple Beth El in Augusta, Maine, since June 2013. She is also the senior program associate for the Center for Small Town Jewish Life.
Active in the Augusta community, she has most recently been working with the Capital Area New Mainers Project, a group of volunteers who welcome immigrants and refugees to the Capital Area. She and her congregation have also worked with local school boards to better serve the needs of their constituent religious minorities.
Rabbi Asch wants to encourage people to connect to community and Jewish tradition and to actively engage with Jewish texts and rituals. She sees herself not only as a teacher, but also as a lifelong student of Judaism.
She lives in Hallowell, Maine, with her husband Chris Myers Asch and their children Miriam, Robin and Aaron.
MODERATOR
Rabbi Dan Levin
Senior Rabbi, Temple Beth-El of Boca Raton
Rabbi Dan Levin serves as senior rabbi of Temple Beth El of Boca Raton, Florida. He seeks to synthesize the spiritual wisdom found in Jewish text and tradition with our contemporary lives while fostering opportunities for transformational learning, spiritual experience, moral growth, community service, and social justice, and creating connections to the people and the state of Israel.
Rabbi Levin has served Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion as a member of the Alumni Leadership Council, as an original member of the President’s Rabbinical Council, and as a partner in the Kalsman Institute for Judaism and Health. He serves on the Central Conference of American Rabbis’s Budget and Finance Committee and is a past president of the southeast region of the CCAR. He also served as a member of the Reform Movement’s Think Tank.
He was a featured writer for the Union for Reform Judaism’s “Ten Minutes of Torah,” and is a panelist with the American Religious Town Hall. Rabbi Levin is also an active alumnus of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship and a senior rabbinic fellow with the Shalom Hartman Institute. He studies with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.
Workshop 3E: Crafting an Israel Education and Engagement Mission Statement for all Branches of the Congregation
1:30–2:45 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Missy Bell, RJE
Director of Education, Congregation Sukkat Shalom
Missy Bell, RJE, is the director of education at Congregation Sukkat Shalom in Wilmette, Illinois. Previously, she has served as director of education at Congregation BJBE in Deerfield, Illinois, and director of youth learning and engagement at Temple Emanu-El of New York. Missy holds a master’s in Jewish education and a master’s in Jewish communal service from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and she earned her bachelor’s from Washington University in St. Louis.
Missy holds multiple national leadership roles, serving on the board of the Reform Pension Board and as vice president for finance at the Association of Reform Jewish Educators. She also serves on the faculty of Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute. Missy enjoys cooking, traveling and reading.
Rabbi Dr. Laura Novak Winer, RJE
Director of the Master of Educational Leadership Program, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Rabbi Laura Novak Winer, Ed.D., RJE, is director of the Master of Educational Leadership Program at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and a member of the School of Education faculty, based on the Skirball Campus in Los Angeles.
She earned her master’s in Jewish education and her rabbinical ordination from HUC-JIR. Laura’s doctoral research at the William Davidson Graduate School of Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America focused on how teachers’ connections to and understandings of Israel impact the decisions they make about what to teach and how to teach it.
As a senior fellow at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education at Brandeis University, Laura is developing a new paradigm for Israel education which invites us to think differently about the goals and outcomes of Israel education.
She lives in Fresno, California, with her husband Rabbi Rick Winer.
Workshop 3F: Reflecting on Recharging: What Have We Brought Forth?
1:30–2:45 P.M.
SPEAKER
Dr. Steven F. Windmueller
Emeritus Professor of Jewish Communal Studies
Dr. Steven Windmueller is professor emeritus of Jewish communal studies at the Zelikow School at the Jack H. Skirball Campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. Previously, Dr. Windmueller had served as the Zelikow School’s interim director. He was a staff member of the American Jewish Committee and he directed the Albany, New York, Jewish Federation and the Jewish Community Relations Committee of the Los Angeles Jewish Federation. During his tenure at HUC-JIR, Dr. Windmueller served for 10 years as the director of its School of Jewish Nonprofit Management and in 2005 was named dean of the LA campus.
The author of four books and numerous articles, Dr. Windmueller earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Pennsylvania. He recently served as the editor of a volume for USC’s Casden Institute and is now producing a volume analyzing 21st-century Jewish ideas. Dr. Windmueller serves as a fellow of the Jerusalem Institute of Public Affairs and as a board member of the Pat Brown Institute at Cal State, Los Angeles. For the past six years, he has been on the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture faculty.
Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism is sponsored by Amplify Israel: A Stephen Wise Free Synagogue initiative. Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is a 501(c)(3) religious organization (Tax ID #13-1628215) and any donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowable by law.
