Rabbi Aaron Alexander, 2019-20
Rabbi Erica Asch, 2013
Jim Auerbach, 2001-04
Robert Barkin, 2014-23
Maude Bauschard, 2004
Rabbi Stephanie Bernstein, 2011-15
Rabbi Daniel Cotzin Burg, 2015-18
Jill Cohen, 2000
Emily DeVoto, 2000-02
Lee Diamond, 1999-2000
Jacob Feinspan, 2006-07
Anna Levine Fink, 2016-18
Elissa Froman, z”l, 2006-13
Rabbi Josh Ginsberg, 2004
Alisa Glassman, 2002
Dan Gordon, 2014
Simon Greer, 1999-2001
Roberta Hantgan, 2004-07
Rabbi Doug Heifetz, 2006-07
Carolivia Herron, 2004-05
Evin Isaacson, 2006-07

Rabbi Marc Israel, 2003-04
Stephen Jascourt, 2000-01
Robin Katcher, 1999-2001
Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, 2006-09
Rabbi Jessica Kirschner, 2014
Sharlene Kranz, 2008-10
Deena Feinstein Krulewitz, 2014-18
Claire Landers, 2018-23
Laureen Lazarovici, 2002-04
Ed Lazere, 2021-26
Revital Levi, 1999
Abigail Levine, 2011-15
Ilana Lipsett, 2006
Danielle Lutterman, 1999
David Mackoff, 2008-14
Sarah McKenzie, 1999
Rabbi Sarah Meytin, 2009
Joshua Mintz, 2014-2023
Minna Morse, 1999-2001
Shelley Moskowitz, 2001-13
Brianne Nadeau, 2011-14
Joelle Novey, 2003
Rabbi Jessica Oleon, 2010-13

Rachel Pentlarge, 2000
Lilah Pomerance, 2021-2023
Carrie Port, 2004-05
Ed Rehfeld, 2002-06
Harvey Reiter, 2013-17
Roberta Ritvo, 2010-17
Adina Rosenbaum, 2006-17
Michael Rubin, 2009-18
Rabbi Bob Saks, 2008-14
Lenny Sapozhnikov, 2004-6
Erin Scharff, 2007
Susanna Shapiro, 2004-06
Rabbi David Shneyer, 1999-2000
Marilyn Sneiderman, 2002-03
Sy Sokatch, 2006-09
Lauren Spokane, 2016-23
Eli Staub, 2004-07
Rabbi Shira Stutman, 2013-21
Rabbi Alana Suskin, 2004-06
Ericka Taylor, 2018-20
Jevera Temsky, 2007-10
Jon Wheeler, 2008-10
Eric Wiesner, 2000

Samantha Blau (she/her/hers) is the chair of the Baltimore Leadership Council. A resident of Baltimore’s Patterson Park neighborhood, she currently works at a cultural nonprofit as a program developer. She has volunteered with JUFJ since 2016, in that time giving testimony in Baltimore City Hall and Maryland State committee hearings, completing a Jeremiah Fellowship, and serving on the Maryland Core Team. When she’s not organizing, Samantha can be found pursuing the perfect scoop of ice cream.

Michele Levy, vice chair (she/her/hers) was captivated by possibility she felt at JUFJ’s first Baltimore community meeting and is grateful to have since found her organizing home. She is a member of Baltimore’s Leadership Council and former co-chair of the Rent Court campaign team. Michele works as an organizational consultant, serves as president of Hinenu: The Baltimore Justice Shtiebl, and is constantly dreaming of her next cycling adventure.

Jennifer (Jen) Cheslock (she/her/hers) holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from The George Washington University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from New York University. Jen worked as a youth organizer, program director, and religious educator in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and New York before moving back to her hometown of Baltimore in 2012. Jen brings more than 15 years of non-profit management experience supporting children, youth, and their families. Each of her professional roles has included strengthening relationships with stakeholders and developing policies, programs, and people. Jen was a Jeremiah Fellow in 2018-2019, served as Maryland District 41 captain in 2019-2020, and serves as the co-chair for the Baltimore Community Building and Education team. 

Jen loves a good cup of coffee, duckpin bowling, and doing her part to build a more just and resilient Baltimore for all its residents.

Briana Ciccarino (she/her/hers) joined JUFJ as a volunteer leader for the Baltimore City Action Team in 2021. Briana is especially passionate about renter’s rights, racial justice, and housing policy. Briana is originally from New Jersey and moved to Baltimore to attend Loyola University Maryland in 2011. She moved to Florida in 2015 to complete 2 years of service with AmeriCorps and has been back in Baltimore since 2017. Since then, she has become a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, has lived in 4 different city neighborhoods, graduated with her Master’s Degree at UMB School of Social Work, and most importantly, adopted (read found on the street) her cat, Zora.

Toby Ditz (she/her/hers) has been an active participant in JUFJ since 2017. She is now our Baltimore Action Team’s liaison to the Campaign for Justice Safety and Jobs, our local coalition partner, which has been working for greater police accountability and racially just alternatives to policing in Baltimore since the Freddie Gray uprising. She has become deeply attached to all things Baltimore since moving here over forty years ago with her husband and life-partner, Mark Martin, just after receiving her PhD from Columbia University. Our daughter, Rebecca, is a born Baltimorean— and proud of it! Toby retired in 2018 from Johns Hopkins University, where she retains an active affiliation as an Academy Professor and Emeritus Professor of History. She has since become an avid birdwatcher and lover of the beautiful parks and nature preserves in the Baltimore area.

Rabbi Tyler Dratch (he/him/his) is a teacher, spiritual leader, and convener of sacred spaces. Rabbi Dratch has served as Student Rabbi at Temple Beth Zion in Brookline, Massachusetts, and Shaare Torah in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He is a graduate of Hebrew College, receiving a master’s in Jewish Education and a certificate in Spirituality and Social Justice. Rabbi Dratch spent the last decade working in many Jewish communities, helping connect Jews to rituals, tradition, and each other. He is passionate about the intersection between social justice and Jewish tradition, helping organize the Newton Sanctuary Collaborative and participating in the work of a number of Jewish Social Justice organizations. Rabbi Dratch believes that Judaism holds deep wisdom for all people throughout their lives and loves the ability of Judaism to help us connect deeper to the world around us.

He lives in Hampden with his wife Emily and daughter Sadie.

Ilana Ginsberg (she/her/hers) is co-chair of JUFJ’s Baltimore Action Team (BAT). Since 2016, Ilana has been active in Beth Am Synagogue’s neighborhood community grounding and social justice work. She currently serves as Advocacy Chair on Beth Am’s Social Action Committee and represents Beth Am on JUFJ’s Baltimore Synagogue Social Justice Roundtable. Ilana spends the rest of her time as a mom to one beautifully chaotic toddler, and as a power market analyst working toward an affordable, reliable, and clean grid.

Tracie Guy-Decker (she/her/hers) is a member of JUFJ’s Board of Directors and is the co-chair of the Baltimore Fundraising Team. Tracie has been engaged in JUFJ’s Baltimore work since the protests that emerged after Freddie Gray’s murder in 2015. Born and raised in Baltimore County, Tracie moved back to the city of her birth in 2013. She lives with her US Navy Chief (retired) spouse, their tween-aged daughter, two poorly behaved dogs, and a long-suffering cat.

Jody Harburger is retired from a 50 year career in Jewish Communal Service primarily as an Executive Director for several Jewish Federations, Israel Bonds, and the American Jewish Committee. He is a graduate of UCLA in Hebrew Literature and graduate of the Hebrew Union College Graduate School of Jewish Comminal Service. 48 years ago he married Sheila, his life partner, and has 5 grandchildren here in Baltimore. Their parents are involved with JUFJ as well. In addition to serving as Chair of the Baltimore JUFJ Fundraising Committee,  Jody serves on the boards of The Good People Fund and Chizuk Amuno Congregation where he chairs the Stuhlman Adult Education program and is a member of the Social Justice Advocacy Committee. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Marketing Committee of Na’aleh, The Associated’s new Hub for Leadership Learning and sits on the Advisory Council of The Darrell Friedman Institute. Jody recently completed a term on the Board of Hillel at Goucher College, and actively supports JPride Baltimore. ACLU, Southern Poverty Law and Jewish Volunteer Center.

Andy Miller (he/him/his) has been an active member of JUFJ since 2016. He is a past president of Chizuk Amuno Congregation and is chair of Chizuk Amuno’s Social Justice Advocacy Committee, and he currently chairs JUFJ’s Social Justice in the Synagogues Roundtable and serves as a member of the Leadership Council. He grew up in northern New Jersey, completed his bachelor’s degree in Geological Sciences at Brown University and his PhD in Geography and Environmental Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He has been a faculty member at UMBC since 1983 and is a professor in the Dept. of Geography & Environmental Systems with research and teaching interests in water and watersheds. He is a member of the Baltimore County Commission on Environmental Quality and is a past chair of the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee. He lives in Baltimore County with his wife Sandra Dzija and they are the proud parents of Ben Miller and Ezra Miller and grandparents of Sophie and Lily, all of whom live just an hour away in Washington, DC.

Gabriel Stuart-Sikowitz (he/him/his) Originally from Gaithersburg, Gabriel grew up at Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase. After graduating Thomas Wootton High School, he then attended, and graduated from, Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. After graduating with a degree in history in 2013, he interned for two different Congressmen, interned at the Center for Responsive Politics, and worked on several campaigns culminating on Councilmember Shannon Sneed’s successful election in 2016. He then served as her Chief of Staff through her time in City Council, and is now the Legislative Director for Councilmember Odette Ramos. In his spare time Gabriel likes watching the Orioles and Capitals as well as reading about history, Steinbeck, and Roth.

Rebecca Barson (she/her/hers) is a self-employed health policy and advocacy strategist, focused on reproductive and sexual health. She first became involved with JUFJ after attending a house party during the summer of 2016 and quickly joined JUFJ’s advocacy efforts for paid family leave, affordable housing, and an equitable DC budget. Rebecca has served on and chaired several JUFJ core teams and working groups and has been a part of the DC Leadership Council since it began in the summer of 2017. She is a resident of Woodley Park in Ward 3, a founding member of the New Synagogue Project, and loves reading, yoga, and being an aunt.

Ariel Drehobl (she/her/hers) was one of the founding co-chairs of the Housing Security Working Group. She first became involved in JUFJ in 2018 when she joined the DC Campaign Fund Core Team, where she supported JUFJ’s DC electoral work and community meetings with Councilmembers. Ariel has lived in DC since 2014, and lives in Ward 4 with her husband and infant daughter. For her day job she works for a federal agency supporting national energy affordability. She enjoys attending theater and storytelling shows, reading memoirs, and hosting Shabbat dinners.

Michelle Engelmann (she/her/hers) is the co-chair of the Under Three Working Group. She first became involved with JUFJ as part of her grants work at Tikkun Olam Women’s Foundation (TOWF). She started advocating for early childhood education through her work with the Reproductive Health and Rights Working Group at Temple Sinai. In 2020 she joined the Tax and Budget (TAB) Working Group and served as the Under 3 liaison. She enjoys going to the theater and art museums, playing the cello, traveling and especially being a grandmother.

Michaela Friedman (she/her/hers) grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and in 2016 she moved into DC after completing her masters in social work. In 2020 Michaela first got involved with the  JUFJ economic justice and housing security working groups. Michaela’s experience in social work and her Jewish values inform her passion for social justice and JUFJ community organizing. She worked on the JUFJ budget justice working group that supported the successful 2021 campaign to raise revenue on dc’s highest income earners in order to fund vital dc social programs. In 2023 she joined the JUFJ DC leadership council. As an organizer Michaela seeks to elevate the voices of dc residents and organizers who are most directly impacted by local policies and activism. In her free time she volunteers with her local mutual aid group, attends Jewish young professional programs, goes to concerts and enjoys being an aunt!

Evan Kenyon (he/him) grew up just outside of Indianapolis and moved to DC in 2023 after graduating from Duke. He quickly sought out a Jewish community after moving here and found JUFJ and its Housing Security Working Group, of which he is now a co-chair. Outside of JUFJ and his job as a software engineer, he enjoys cycling, video games, spending time with friends and family, and hanging out with his cats!

Shira Markoff (she/her) is a past co-chair of the DC Campaign Fund core team. She first became active with JUFJ in 2018 and joined the DC Leadership Council in July 2019. Shira has lived in DC for more than six years and works for Prosperity Now. She enjoys reading, travel, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

Mo Pasternak (he/him) grew up in New Jersey, but is proud to call DC his forever home. He came here to study at George Washington University (Raise High!) and fell in love with DC and Margarita, his wife. He works for a private foundation and previously served as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Dupont Circle. An active member of DC Minyan, he loves audiobooks, high-arc softball, and justice.

Ben Sharp (he/him) grew up in Teaneck, NJ, home to Temple Emeth, where he developed a Jewish identity rooted in Tikkun Olam. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, Ben moved to DC. He’s worked for three congressional candidates and most recently served as the United Food and Commercial Workers Union’s Colorado state lead for the 2022 elections. He’s currently a legislative associate for a federal advocacy firm. Ben’s proud to call DC home and enjoys exploring its eclectic culinary offerings, playing volleyball, and taking his dog, Benson, on long walks.

Lisa Firnberg (she/her/hers): Lisa first got involved with JUFJ in 2015 when the Baltimore chapter was first getting started. She was involved with the efforts to secure renter protections and right to counsel in rent court, hosted district meetings with state legislators, and helped organize the Social Justice Seder events. After moving with her family to Rockville in 2022, she started connecting with JUFJ’s Montgomery County staff and leaders and has gotten involved with rent stabilization, protecting immigrant communities, and advocating for restorative justice in Montgomery County Public Schools. Lisa works for the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), which organizes for transformative change in how the philanthropic sector supports frontline progressive movement groups.

David Friedman (he/him/his): David has been a volunteer with JUFJ since 2021, becoming a member of the Maryland Leadership Council in 2024 and the Montgomery County Leadership Council in December 2025. He is now co-chair of the Maryland Housing Justice Working Group and the Montgomery County Housing Team and has been active in the MD D-14 team. He served as co-chair of JUFJ’s former Maryland Economic Justice Working Group in 2024-25 and continues to be an active participant as a JUFJ leader in the Fair Share Maryland coalition. At his synagogue, David co-chairs the Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and is an active member of its Social Justice Group. David retired from Federal government in early 2020, working in various economics and management positions at the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for more than 41 years culminating in serving as Associate Commissioner for Prices & Living Conditions. He lives with his wife in Colesville/Cloverly in Montgomery County. For fun, in addition to spending time with family, he enjoys hiking including occasionally volunteering as a leader with Montgomery Explorers, trying to walk on average about 25 miles weekly, going to the theater, reading about current affairs, and volunteering as an usher at Strathmore Music Center, Olney Theater Center, and Studio Theater.

Rafi Glazer (he/him/his): Rafi has been a volunteer with JUFJ since 2016 and joined the Leadership Council in 2022. He has been involved in the Community Building and Education Team, and has been the District Captain for JUFJ’s trips to Annapolis. Outside of JUFJ, Rafi is the Director of Operations at ShalomLearning, an organization that provides Hebrew school materials and training to synagogues across the country and world. Rafi started his professional career running civic engagement and service learning programs for Jewish high school students, and has been involved with social justice organizations ever since. Rafi and his wife Lauren live in Aspen Hill and are registered foster parents.

Melissa Goemann, Co-Chair (she/her/hers): Melissa has been part of the Leadership Council since the spring of 2019 and was co-chair of the Racial Equity and Policing Team prior to becoming co-chair of the Leadership Council in 2023. She is the Senior Policy Counsel for the National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN), a membership-led organization that works to demand change in youth justice systems both locally and nationally. Melissa was appointed to the Montgomery County Commission on Juvenile Justice in 2021 and currently serves as Vice Chairperson. She is a longtime member of Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation. Melissa and her husband and daughter live in Silver Spring and enjoy visiting their grandchildren in Atlanta as often as they can.

Mara Greengrass (she/her/hers): Mara began volunteering with JUFJ after seeing people wearing the shirts at an immigrant rights rally in DC. She’s a lifelong Marylander (except for a brief and boring stint in Los Angeles), having lived in Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Anne Arundel counties. After 20-some years as an employee and then consultant to the American Psychological Association, she still insists she doesn’t even play a psychologist on TV. In fact, Mara trained as an archaeologist, specializing in historic archaeology and how we present the past to the public.

Danielle Herrmann (she/her/hers): Danielle joined JUFJ in 2022 giving tenant testimony and transitioned into Montgomery County Housing team co-chair in 2023. After 16+ years in higher education management, she became a clinical social worker in 2007. As a Behavioral Health Director under the ACA, she integrated psychotherapy into primary care for underserved communities and, as a voting member of the Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition, advised the Health Department on improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities. She has a tele-health psychotherapy practice specializing in severe stress, anxiety, and living with uncertainty. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she loves being part of the Takoma Park “Little Berkeley” community near her family. For fun she enjoys films, reading, creative writing, walking and talking, and creating textile arts.

Deedee Jacobsohn (she/her/hers): Deedee became active in JUFJ in 2020 and joined the leadership council in 2022. She is co-chair of the MoCo Housing Team and the statewide Housing Justice Working Group. Deedee has a PhD in American Studies and spent most of her professional life developing content and writing text for museum exhibits, NPS visitor centers, and nature centers. She is an active member (and past president) of B’nai Israel Congregation. She and her husband Jeremy live in North Bethesda.

Anita Lampel (she/her/hers): Anita has been part of the Leadership Council since its founding in November of 2018 and is the co-chair of the Community Building and Education team and the JUFJ Campaign Fund’s Montgomery County team. She is a founding member of JUFJ’s Maryland Core Team. She is a psychologist whose practice has included managing a major child-adolescent mental health program and providing court-ordered evaluations in criminal and civil cases. At her synagogue she co-chairs the Social Action committee.

Anna Tubiash Levy, Co-Chair (she/her/hers): Anna has been part of the Montgomery County Leadership Council since fall 2019. She has been the co-chair of the statewide Labor and Housing Justice team since 2021 and is a member of the MoCo Housing Team. Anna is retired from a career at the National Cancer Institute, which included work in strategic science planning, and on cancers in women and minorities. She is active in her synagogue, Tikvat Israel in Rockville. Anna enjoys time with her children, grandchildren, friends, and likes to cook, read, and spend time outdoors hiking and cycling.

Vinny Prell (she/he): first became involved in JUFJ through attending the Labor Seder on behalf of Congregation Bet Mishpachah! More recently she has been chair of the Racial Equity and Policing Team for several years and deeply invested in police free schools in Montgomery Country. For the last decade he has been a teacher at Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital. When not organizing or teaching Vinny enjoys fiber arts, playing ukulele, cooking (shows), growing vegetables, and studying Chamoru (his family’s language).

Jeffrey Rubin (he/him/his): Jeff became active with JUFJ in 2014. He has been a member of the Leadership Council and JUFJ’s Maryland Core Team since their founding. He is a former co-chair of the Maryland statewide Labor and Housing Justice team, and he has been part of the MoCo Housing Team since its inception. When not working on JUFJ activities, Jeff serves as Scientific Advisor for a cancer drug development company (Paradigm Shift Therapeutics) and enjoys exercise (jogging, swimming, hiking), photography, reading and time with his family. In recent years, he has published two collections of photographs and matching poetry, Visions in Photos and Poems (vol. I and II).

Jo Shifrin (she/her/hers): Jo lives in Bethesda, MD in District 16. She has been part of the Leadership Council since Fall, 2019. She is a member of a number of JUFJ teams (Economic Platform, Equal Justice Platform, Community Building and Education, Racial Equity and Policing, and Heschel). She is also very involved in getting the Time to Care Act (paid family and medical leave) passed. She has given testimony in Annapolis during the 2019 and 2020 sessions of the General Assembly. Before moving to Bethesda, she worked for 25+ years as an administrator in medical schools and teaching hospitals. Now retired, she enjoys time with her grandchildren, cooking for friends, participating in two book clubs, and taking exercise classes.

Carol Stern (she/her/hers): Carol has been part of the Leadership Council since its founding in November of 2018. Carol is also on the Maryland Core Team and is very committed to writing testimony, being a testimony mentor and testifying in Annapolis. Over the years she has built solid relationships with District 16 state legislators. She was co-chair of the Marriage Equality effort at Adat Shalom that brought together 100 members to canvass, phone bank, and advocate in Annapolis for the passage of the law. After the successful fight for marriage equality, Carol married her longtime partner, Miriam Eisenstein. When not working with JUFJ, being a Bubbi to her grandkids, reading lots of novels and cooking gourmet meals are her favorite activities.

Casey Wade (she/her/hers): Casey has been active with JUFJ since 2021 and has been a dedicated member of the Community Building and Education Team since 2022. She has served as a District Captain for District 14 since 2023, helping to connect JUFJers with their local legislators. Casey moved to Maryland in 2020 to begin her work with the federal government, bringing with her a deep commitment to equity, public service, and inclusive education. She currently lives in Silver Spring with her husband Will and cat Aslan. Outside of her professional and organizing work, she is a yoga teacher and an active participant in social justice movements both locally and across the Appalachian region. Casey brings to her work a rich background in education, training, and community organizing, and she is passionate about building collective power through relationship-building and lifelong learning.

Lisa Barkan (she/her/hers): Lisa has been a volunteer with JUFJ for five years, and became a member of the Maryland Core Team in 2024. Lisa is the co-chair of the Maryland Fair Share Working Group and has worked on the Time to Care, Juvenile Justice, and the Renters Rights campaigns. Lisa is a retired attorney. For the last 16 years of her career, she was employed by the Maryland Office of the Attorney General and assigned to the Department of Health. As part of her duties, Lisa drafted and reviewed legislation and regulations for the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration. She litigated civil actions brought against the Department of Health, its units, and its employees. She also prosecuted administrative actions on behalf of the Department of Health. Prior to working for the OAG, she was in private practice specializing in business and securities litigation. Lisa graduated from the New York University School of Law with a J.D. in 1990. She received her B.A. (in Psychology) from Brandeis University in 1985. Lisa enjoys taking French classes and piano lessons. She lives in Towson with her husband, as well as her pet rabbits, guinea pig, and cockatiel. Her 23 year old daughter lives in Greenbelt.

Karen Caplan (she/her/hers): Karen has been active in JUFJ since 2019, joining the Montgomery County Leadership Council and the Maryland Core Team in 2023. She is the co-chair of the Maryland Justice System Reform and Immigrant Rights platform team and a member of the Montgomery County Racial Equity and Policing team. Karen is a professor and university Dean who researches and teaches the history of Latin America. She has been active in the Silver Spring Justice Coalition since its inception, serving on its policy committee and helping maintain its social media presence. Karen lives with her husband and family in Silver Spring.

David Friedman (he/him/his): David has been a volunteer with JUFJ since 2021, becoming a member of the Maryland Leadership Council in 2024 and the Montgomery County Leadership Council in December 2025. He is now co-chair of the Maryland Housing Justice Working Group and the Montgomery County Housing Team and has been active in the MD D-14 team. He served as co-chair of JUFJ’s former Maryland Economic Justice Working Group in 2024-25 and continues to be an active participant as a JUFJ leader in the Fair Share Maryland coalition. At his synagogue, David co-chairs the Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and is an active member of its Social Justice Group. David retired from the Federal government in early 2020, working in various economics and management positions at the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for more than 41 years culminating in serving as Associate Commissioner for Prices & Living Conditions. He lives with his wife in Colesville/Cloverly in Montgomery County. For fun, in addition to spending time with family, he enjoys hiking including occasionally volunteering as a leader with Montgomery Explorers, trying to walk on average about 25 miles weekly, going to the theater, reading about current affairs, and volunteering as an usher at Strathmore Music Center, Olney Theater Center, and Studio Theater.

Deedee Jacobsohn (she/her/hers): Deedee became active in JUFJ in 2020 and joined the leadership council in 2022. She is co-chair of the MoCo Housing Team and the statewide Housing Justice Working Group. Deedee has a PhD in American Studies and spent most of her professional life developing content and writing text for museum exhibits, NPS visitor centers, and nature centers. She is an active member (and past president) of B’nai Israel Congregation. She and her husband Jeremy live in North Bethesda.

Jerry Kickenson (he/him/his): Jerry has been active in JUFJ since 2017 and is a founding member of the Maryland Core Team. He has also been on the Montgomery County Leadership Council since its founding in November of 2018, and is the Migrant Justice chair. He is also the cluster leader of the Montgomery County chapter of the Congregation Action Network, which is an organizing network of congregations in the DC/MD/VA region that provide support and solidarity to neighbors, friends, and family who fear being detained, deported or profiled. Jerry also helps organize the annual Sukkot in Spring project for his synagogue’s social action committee. When not working, Jerry enjoys listening to blues and classical music, hiking, kayaking, and walking with his dog Eko.

Anita Lampel (she/her/hers): Anita is a founding member of the Maryland Core Team, has been part of the Montgomery County Leadership Council since its founding in November of 2018, and is the co-chair of the Montgomery County Community Building and Education team and the JUFJ Campaign Fund’s Montgomery County team. She is a psychologist whose practice has included managing a major child-adolescent mental health program and providing court-ordered evaluations in criminal and civil cases. At her synagogue she co-chairs the Social Action committee.

Claire Landers (she/her/hers) has been an active member of JUFJ-Baltimore since its first community meeting in early 2015. She has been Co-Chair of JUFJ’s Police Accountability Campaign Team and Baltimore Leadership Council. After working in Washington, DC for AIPAC and the Women’s Legal Defense Fund, she earned her M.A. in Jewish History from Baltimore Hebrew University and an M.S.W. from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She helped establish CHANA, Baltimore’s domestic violence program for Jewish women, as its first Assistant Director and has been an active community volunteer as a board member for agencies of The Associated, including the JCC, CJE and DFI. Claire serves as a Legislative Aide for Baltimore County Councilwoman Vicki Almond. Originally from Boston, MA, Claire received a B.A. in Government from Harvard. With her husband, Steven Falk, and her daughter, Felice, Claire is an active congregant at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.

Anna Tubiash Levy (she/her/hers): Anna is a founding member of the Maryland Core Team and has been part of the Montgomery County Leadership Council since fall 2019. She co-chaired the statewide Labor and Housing Justice team for three years and is a member of the MoCo Housing Team. Anna is retired from a career at the National Cancer Institute, which included work in strategic science planning, and on cancers in women and minorities. She is active in her synagogue, Tikvat Israel in Rockville. Anna enjoys time with her children, grandchildren, friends, and likes to cook, read, and spend time outdoors hiking and cycling.

Anna Rubin (she/her/hers): Anna devotes her time to her two main loves – social justice work and music. She is a retired professor who taught Composition at UMBC until 2018.  She has been involved with JUFJ since 2018 and is a founding member of the Maryland Core Team.  She is also active in immigration issues in Howard County.

Jeffrey Rubin (he/him/his): Jeff became active with JUFJ in 2014. He has been a member of the Leadership Council and JUFJ’s Maryland Core Team since their founding. He is a former co-chair of the Maryland statewide Labor and Housing Justice team, and he has been part of the MoCo Housing Team since its inception. When not working on JUFJ activities, Jeff serves as Scientific Advisor for a cancer drug development company (Paradigm Shift Therapeutics) and enjoys exercise (jogging, swimming, hiking), photography, reading and time with his family. In recent years, he has published two collections of photographs and matching poetry, Visions in Photos and Poems (vol. I and II).

Evan Serpick (he/him/his): Evan is a founding member of the Maryland Core Team and a communications professional with backgrounds in journalism and social justice activism. He is currently Director of Communications for the Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University, and previously served as the editor-in-chief of Baltimore’s weekly City Paper, senior editor at Baltimore magazine, and associate editor at Rolling Stone. Evan has also been a lifelong community activist, serving in a wide range of roles, including as an Ambassador for Baltimore Ceasefire and Social Action Committee Chair for Beth Am Synagogue. He is on the board of the Behavioral Health Leadership Institute. He lives in Baltimore City with his wife Brenda, an English teacher at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, and his sons Jack and Benny.

Jo Shifrin (she/her/hers): Jo lives in Bethesda, MD in District 16. She is a founding member of the Maryland Core Team and has been part of the Leadership Council since Fall, 2019. She is a member of a number of JUFJ teams (Economic Platform, Equal Justice Platform, Community Building and Education, Racial Equity and Policing, and Heschel). She is also very involved in getting the Time to Care Act (paid family and medical leave) passed. She has given testimony in Annapolis during the 2019 and 2020 sessions of the General Assembly. Before moving to Bethesda, she worked for 25+ years as an administrator in medical schools and teaching hospitals. Now retired, she enjoys time with her grandchildren, cooking for friends, participating in two book clubs, and taking exercise classes.

Joanna Silver (she/her/hers):  Joanna has been active in JUFJ since 2018 and is a founding member of the Maryland Core Team, a member of the Maryland Justice System Reform and Immigrant Rights team, and a member of the Montgomery County Racial Equity and Policy team. Outside of JUFJ, Joanna also focuses her advocacy on criminal legal system reform and immigrant justice. She founded the Montgomery County Deportation Defense Coalition and serves as co-chair of the Policy Committee for the Silver Spring Justice Coalition. Joanna is a career public defender, working first for the Montgomery County Office of the Public Defender and for the past 19 years at the Office of the Federal Defender for the District of Maryland. Joanna is a 2021 JUFJ Heschel Vision Award Honoree and the 2019 recipient of the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition Community Advocate Award. She lives with her husband Harry, and sons Eli and Solomon in Silver Spring.

Carol Stern (she/her/hers): Carol is a founding member of the Maryland Core Team and has been part of the Montgomery County Leadership Council since its founding in November of 2018. She is very committed to writing testimony, being a testimony mentor and testifying in Annapolis. Over the years she has built solid relationships with District 16 state legislators. She was co-chair of the Marriage Equality effort at Adat Shalom that brought together 100 members to canvass, phone bank, and advocate in Annapolis for the passage of the law. After the successful fight for marriage equality, Carol married her longtime partner, Miriam Eisenstein. When not working with JUFJ, being a Bubbi to her grandkids, reading lots of novels and cooking gourmet meals are her favorite activities.

Sue Tafler (she/her/hers): Sue lives in Odenton, MD (Anne Arundel Co.). She is a founding member of the JUFJ Core Team and had been co-captain for District 33 until redistricted to District 21. She and her husband Chuck Koplik moved to Maryland in early 2019 to live near their granddaughters. In Massachusetts, she was president of her Sisterhood and participated on many synagogue committees and teams, especially those focused on social justice advocacy, navigating the challenges of aging, and Israel action, and she was very active in the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, including the GBIO Health Care Team. In Maryland, she has been on the Sisterhood Board of Temple Isaiah as communications chair and has been on the Temple Board, she is a co-founder of TI’s Tzedek Isaiah Team (focused on political advocacy for social justice), and she heads the TI Reproductive Health and Rights group. Sue retired from a career in textbook editing and development, which followed careers teaching high school and college biology and working in research labs.

David Broder (he/him/his): David currently serves as the Executive Director of the SEIU Virginia State Council, which unites the hard-working union members of 32BJ SEIU and SEIU Virginia 512 to build worker power and win economic, racial, and immigrant justice for workers, our families, and our communities. Previously, Broder served as the President of SEIU Virginia 512 for nearly two decades, a union of essential, frontline home care providers and public service workers, who provide quality public services to families across Virginia. As the great-grandson of immigrants, and the grandson and son of union workers, Broder has dedicated his career to building an inclusive, just economy and democracy for all. Broder is deeply involved in his community, having served on the boards of the Virginia Community College System, the Northern Virginia Aging Network, the Fairfax Alliance for Human Services, the budget committee of the Fairfax NAACP, the Commonwealth Council on Aging, the Virginia Civic Engagement Table, New Virginia Majority, Progress Virginia, and more. He lives in Fairfax County with his wife and two daughters and is a member of Olam Tikvah.

Rabbi Amelia Wolf (she/her/hers): Rabbi Amelia Wolf is a native of Portland, Oregon and was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary where she studied Talmud and Rabbinic Literature. She is passionate about applying Torah to the needs of our contemporary Jewish communities and broader society and is dedicated to studying and teaching Torah through the lens of our varied lives today. Rabbi Amelia currently serves as the rabbi of Congregation Etz Hayim in Arlington, VA.

Rabbi Jeff Saxe: more coming soon.

Ricki Henschel : more coming soon.