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- To email a staff member, simply click on their name
- For general information, please call (212) 284-6950
- For more detailed bios on any JESNA staff member please contact the Chief Marketing Officer at 212-284-6703.
Office of the Executive
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President
(212) 284-6631
Don has been President of JESNA since June, 2005. In his time at JESNA, Don has helped the agency improve Jewish education in North America by pursuing both transformational change and change rooted in communities and institutions. A key avenue to that improvement has been figuring out what works in Jewish education and actively disseminating and helping apply it in geographic and topical communities throughout North America.
Before taking on his present responsibilities at JESNA, Don was a member of the JESNA Board for six years, participating in a number of JESNA committees and task forces. Don has also served as a congregational president, a founder and president of Kol Ami, the Community Hebrew School of Columbus, and Vice Chair of the Columbus Jewish Federation for a decade, in charge of allocations and strategic planning. Other lay leadership positions Don has undertaken include being a member of the Board of Directors of the Ohio State University Hillel Foundation, and of the Executive Committee of the Melton Center for Jewish Studies at Ohio State University. Don has also served in leadership roles in the Northeast Lakes Region of the U.A.H.C.
For many years, Don was a Political Science professor at Ohio State University. His research, writing and teaching focused on international relations, political psychology, and foreign policy decision making, with a specific emphasis on Israeli-Palestinian relations. Don has served in a number of leadership roles in professional organizations.
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Assistant to the President and Office Manager
(212) 284-6901
Kate Lutzner joined JESNA in August of 2008 as the Executive Assistant to the President. She is responsible for administering the President's calendar, coordinating meetings, and facilitating internal agency communication.
Kate graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from Kenyon College and holds a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. She worked for seven years as an Executive Assistant at Discovery Communications, the parent company for Discovery Channel. She has been published in an array of literary journals, magazines, and newspapers and is a former poetry editor.
Lippman Kanfer Institute
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Chief Ideas Officer
Director, Lippman Kanfer Institute
(212) 284-6888
Jonathan Woocher is JESNA's Chief Ideas Officer and directs its Lippman Kanfer Institute: An Action-Oriented Think Tank for Innovation in Jewish Learning and Engagement. Jon served as JESNA's chief professional officer for twenty years before assuming his new role this year. In addition to guiding the work of the Lippman Kanfer Institute, he is a member of the agency's senior management, working with his colleagues on JESNA's strategic direction, new project development, external relations, and financial resource development.
Prior to coming to JESNA in 1986, Jon was an Associate Professor in the Benjamin S. Hornstein Program in Jewish Communal Service at Brandeis University, where he taught courses in Jewish political studies and communal service and directed the program in Continuing Education for Jewish Leadership.
He received his BA from Yale University, summa cum laude, in Political Science and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Temple University in Religious Studies. He has also studied at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
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Academic Year Intern
The Berman Center for Research and Evaluation
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Director, Berman Center for Research and Evaluation
(212) 284-6516
Renae joined the Berman Center staff in 2008 and brings with her extensive training and expertise in research methodology. Prior to joining the Berman Center, Renae served as Vice President of Research at the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ, formerly the National Conference of Christians and Jews), where she was responsible for the organization's national research program that explored intergroup issues including inclusion, equity, diversity, bias, and bigotry. She has also worked for the American Jewish Committee, where she served in their national office's research department exploring issues of Jewish communal concern including Jewish identity, Jewish affiliation, attitudes of and toward Jews, and antisemitism. Renae holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from New York University.
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Associate Director
(818) 706-3804
As a Berman Center staff member since 2004, Shira brings extensive experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, particularly in the arena of early childhood education where her research has centered on social development, as well as the relationship between Jewish programs and families' Jewish behaviors and attitudes. Before joining the Berman Center, Shira served for several years as Project Coordinator and Research Analyst at UCLA for Early Head Start working in the area of early intervention. Shira holds a Ph.D. in Applied Human Development from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. Shira is based in Los Angeles, CA.
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Senior Project Manager
(216) 360-0332
Prior to joining the Berman Center staff in 2003, Lauren served as the Director of Research for eight years at the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, where she was responsible for the community's Jewish population study in 1996. Lauren brings extensive training and expertise in quantitative research methods to her work with the Berman Center. She has taught undergraduate courses in Sociology for many years and served as adjunct faculty at the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management. Lauren holds a B.A. in Social Science from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has completed her coursework for a doctorate in Sociology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Lauren is based in Cleveland, OH.
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Research Associate
(514) 481-2355
Prior to joining the Berman Center in 2005, Miri was the coordinator of a psychology research lab at McGill University; a staff interviewer for the March of the Living; and an informal educator for summer camps, Israel experiences, and Shabbat morning programming for young children. Miri brings considerable experience with online survey methodology and data analysis to her work in the Berman Center. She holds both a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and a B.A. Honors degree in Psychology from McGill University and is a member of the Order of Psychologists of Quebec. Miri is based in Montreal, Canada.
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Administrative Coordinator, Berman Center & LCC
(212) 584-7342
Learnings and Consultation Center
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Vice President, Programs and Organizational Learning
Director, Learnings and Consultation Center
(212) 284-6899
Leora is the chief professional leader of the Learnings and Consultation Center. She leads the Center's expert team in codifying learnings about what works under what conditions in Jewish education, and disseminating and applying these "lessons learned" in ways that the field can use through a variety of strategies including consultations, workshops and presentations, publications, the web, demonstration projects, and professional networks.
As Vice President for Programs and Organizational Learning, Leora works closely with other members of JESNA's Senior Management Team and board members to ensure effective strategic and tactical management of the agency.
Leora began her career at JESNA in 1986. Prior to this, she was a research assistant at the American Jewish Committee and served as faculty at the College of St. Elizabeth, the Jewish Theological Seminary, and the University of Pennsylvania.
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Education Consultant
(212) 284-6893
Steve's duties as an Education Consultant include project management, consultative support services and initiative coordination with central agencies, federations, foundations, other national and local organizations and national movements for day schools, and complementary and communal schools. Steve also serves as the Director of the Alliance for Continuing Rabbinic Education (ACRE –www.allianceforcre.org). In addition, he serves as JESNA’s liaison to the Association of Directors of Central Agencies (ADCA)
Steve holds a B.S. from the University of Toronto and a Specialist B.A. in Jewish Studies from the University of Toronto, as well as an M.A. in Jewish History and Jewish Education from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
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Education Consultant
(201) 357-4260
Devorah is an Education Consultant in JESNA’s Learnings and Consultation Center. She serves as the Director of NAACCHHS (the North American Association of Community and Congregational Hebrew High Schools),the Central Agencies Professional Development Network, and of the Publication and Dissemination Project. Devorah's expertise is in the areas of strategic planning, and network development and facilitation.
Prior to joining JESNA’s staff in 2000, Devorah worked for 10 years in the Baltimore, Detroit, Toronto and New York Jewish Federations, primarily in the areas of community planning and Jewish continuity. She earned a Master’s in Judaic Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University.
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Knowledge Development Manager
(212) 284-6877
Jenny came to the Learnings & Consultation Center at JESNA in 2009. She is responsible for the overall management, development, and improvement of JESNA's online resources, including the Sosland Online Resource Center and allied sites such as the Professional Development Center (www.jesnapdc.org ) and the Alliance for Continuing Rabbinic Education (www.allianceforcre.org). She works closely with program staff from JESNA's LCC, Lippman-Kanfer Institute, Berman Center for Research and Evaluation, and technical consultants to enhance JESNA's dissemination of learnings through the web. Before joining JESNA, Jenny earned her Master's in Media Studies from The New School University, while working as an educator in her synagogue's Children's Learning Program in Brooklyn. She earned her B.A. in Women's Studies from Smith College, where she served on the Hillel Board, directed the Kosher Co-op, and received the Gemillut Chassidim Award for her years of service to the Jewish community.
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Project Manager
(212) 584-7341
Dena Stein, M.A. has just joined the Learnings and Consultations Center at JESNA in 2010 as a Project Manager. She is responsible for the overall management of: the Grinspoon Steinhardt Teacher of Excellence Awards, the Lainer Israel Interns Program, the Graduate Seminar, developing new programs in the arena of Jewish educator recruitment, retention and recognition, and helping to increase donor relations. Before joining the JESNA team, Dena received a Master of Arts in Religious Education and a Master of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Dena brings to JESNA eight years of experience working with learners of all ages in a wide range of settings in Connecticut, Russia, Israel, Ohio, and New York.
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LCC Academic Year Intern
Galit Dardashtian
Administrative Coordinator, Berman Center & LCC
(212) 584-7342
Institutional Advancement
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Vice President, Institutional Advancement (212) 284-6886 Before joining the JESNA staff, Ellen's career in Jewish communal service included positions as Executive Director of the New Jersey region of the American Jewish Congress, Campaign Director at the UJA Federation of Bergen County, Assistant Campaign Director at the United Jewish Federation of MetroWest, and in various roles at B'nai B'rith International.
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Chief Marketing Officer
(212) 284-6703
Rika Levin possesses extensive marketing and communication experience. She is in charge of all marketing and communications for JESNA. Most notably she has spearheaded product development, brand positioning, advertising, public relations, marketing partnerships, and web development programs for both for-profit companies and not-for-profit organizations. While at corporations like MetLife, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Citigroup, Rika led the entry and growth in Community Marketing which included: Ethnic and multi-cultural communities, women, gay/lesbian segments, and faith–based not-for profits. Most recently she was managing publisher of the Westchester Jewish Chronicle and prior to that communication and fundraising manager for the Westchester Jewish Conference.
With over 17 years of continuously discovering new marketing opportunities for organizations of all sizes, Rika is more passionate then ever in uncovering new sources of clients, outreach opportunities and product extensions which adds to JESNA’S overall mission in creating the best education experience for the next generation of Jews in North America.
Rika is a magna cum laude graduate of Brandeis University and received her MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University. She is a long-time member of UJA (NY), a board member of the Northern Westchester UJA, member of the American Jewish Committee and heads fundraising activities for her synagogue.
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Associate Campaign Director
(212) 284-6897
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Webmaster
(212) 584-7324
After graduating from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in Cinema and Comparative Literature in 2007, Violet journeyed across the country to complete her MA at New York University. Since moving to New York she has held a variety of multimedia production and marketing positions, most notably at Macmillan publishers. These diverse work environments (in addition to personal interest) have allowed her to gain hands-on technical knowledge that will serve JESNA's web presence well.
Finance
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Chief Financial Officer
(212) 284-6881
Ralia is a first generation Greek-American, native New Yorker and holds a B.A. in accounting from Queens College. She has sixteen years of experience in the area of nonprofit corporate accounting.
Ralia joined JESNA in September 2005 as the Assistant Director of Finance and was promoted to Director of Finance in July 2006 and Chief Financial Officer in July 2008. As such, she supervises all finance related matters and collaborates with other departments within the organization.
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Accounting Assistant
(212) 284-6876
Olga Avezbakiev joined JESNA as accounting assistant in November 2004. She works on all aspects of finances for JESNA and the Covenant Foundation, such as cash receipts, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and general ledger. In addition, Olga prepares miscellaneous financial documents and helps resolve various financial issues.
She received a B.S. in Business Management and Finance, and minored in Accounting and Russian. Prior to joining JESNA, Olga worked as a college assistant and a student aide in the Brooklyn College Health Programs Office.
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Accounting Assistant
(212) 284-6891
Milana Isakova joined JESNA as an Accounting Intern in December 2005 and became an Accounting Assistant in July 2006. She addresses all aspects of finances for JESNA and the Covenant Foundation, including cash receipts, accounts receivable, accounts payable and general ledger. In addition, Milana prepares miscellaneous financial documents and helps resolve various financial issues.
She received a B.S. in Business Management and Finance, as well as minor in Accounting from Brooklyn College. Prior to joining JESNA, Milana worked as an Accounting Assistant at a travel agency for two years during college. In Addition, she worked as a college assistant and a student aide in the Brooklyn College Registrar’s Office.
HR/Office Management
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Operations Department Assistant
(212) 284-6884
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Human Resources Associate
(212) 284-6558
Israel Office
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Director, Israel Office
011-972-52-6130716
David joined JESNA in 1983 and was the Acting Executive Vice President for two years. He has directed JESNA's Israel programs since they began in 1986. Currently, David supervises the Lainer Interns for Jewish Education program with tracks in Tel Aviv and Hebrew Universities. David is also a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at the School of Education at Bar Ilan University, specializing in Jewish education.
He received his BA in psychology from UCLA; his PhD in developmental psychology from Columbia University; and his rabbinic ordination from JTS. He also worked for two years in the Manhattan market research firm, Oxtoby-Smith.
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