Michaela Brown

Michaela Brown (she/her/hers) is a proud native Virginian, spending the first 23 years of her life in Northern Virginia and Charlottesville. She developed a deep passion for Jewish community and feminism during high school through her involvement with B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG) and BBYO, serving as the International N’siah (President) of BBG for 2013-2014, traveling...
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Danny Drachsler

Danny (he/him) is committed to supporting organizations that strengthen the Jewish community and advance tikkun olam. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Virginia in 2005 and a Masters degree in Experiential Jewish Education from the Davidson School at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2014. He is proud to have been...
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Mass Incarceration

“Exalted and High, Mighty and Awesome, You bring low the proud and lift up the fallen; You free the imprisoned, redeem the humble, and help the poor.” -Blessing after the Shema, Morning service Mass incarceration is a racial justice issue. We cannot achieve real change unless we recognize and name that racism is at the...
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Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking

“This year we are slaves; next year, may we be free.” —Passover Haggadah “No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all other forms.” —Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 4 T’ruah is leading the charge in the Jewish community against modern-day slavery and human trafficking,...
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Yovel / Jubilee: Fifty Years Since 1967

ORDER YOUR YOVEL GUIDE HERE Plus New Rabbinic Teachings on Video [bs_icon name=”glyphicon glyphicon-play”] The year 2017/5777 marked 50 years since the Six-Day War, when Israel captured East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. This anniversary calls both for celebration of Jewish sovereignty over our holiest site, the Temple Mount, and a more somber commemoration of...
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Fighting Antisemitism

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” -Leviticus 19:18 T’ruah is committed to standing against antisemitism in all its manifestations. As antisemitic incidents increase at an alarming rate, rabbis and cantors are often on the front lines, facing antisemitic flyering, graffiti, and vandalism; harassment and threats; and in some cases, violence. Those who wear identifiably Jewish clothing...
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Democracy and Voting Rights

“A ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is first consulted.” -Babylonian Talmud Berachot 55a Since right-wing politicians in many states are working to undermine the basic process of voting and the people’s trust in our election institutions, the work we do is crucial to securing our rights to vote and participate in...
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Ariana Siegel

Ariana Siegel is a first year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. At JTS, Ariana enjoys leading prayer services, including a new experimental minyan she co-founded. Ariana graduated from Tufts University in 2012 with a BA in Peace and Justice Studies and English literature and spent a semester studying Arabic in Alexandria, Egypt. After...
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Alanna “Lonnie” Kleinman

Alanna “Lonnie” Kleinman is originally from Tucson, Arizona and attended undergrad at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR, where she majored in Religious Studies and Art History. After college, she spent a year studying in Jerusalem at the Pardes Institute of Jewish studies. She subsequently moved to Jackson, Mississippi and learned from and with...
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Amelia Lavranchuk

Amelia Lavranchuk is a cantorial student, working toward ordination and a Masters of Religious Education in 2020, at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. Amelia grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Brandeis University in 2012 with a degree in music and education. After graduating, she taught elementary school in New...
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