Lilli Shvartsmann

Lilli Shvartsmann (she/her), a Los Angeles native, has always found outlets to further her passion for Jewish education. A rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary expecting to graduate in 2024, Lilli works as a rabbinic intern at Hillel at Binghamton University, where she provides learning opportunities and pastoral care for students. In 2020, Lilli...
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Madi Spector

Madi (she/her) is a former local politics reporter from south Florida and a fierce advocate for multimedia storytelling as a tool for peace among young Jews and Arabs in the Middle East. She has been involved as a researcher and peace-builder of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict since her senior year of college. Following her graduation, she...
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Rachel Bearman

Rachel Bearman

Originally from Massachusetts, Rachel moved to the Chapel Hill, NC area in 1995. Having just completed a master’s degree in International Service and finding herself in North Carolina, she decided to pursue other passions as a professional and volunteer in non-profit leadership, specializing in strategic planning, community organizing, advocacy, and development.  After working in the nonprofit...
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Maetal Gerson headshot

Maetal Gerson

Maetal is a first year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. She is an Avodah Service Corps Chicago alum and is currently working as a Climate Organizing Fellow at Dayenu.
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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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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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