Hannah (she/her) comes to T’ruah having worked as an organizer and advocate in the field of Jewish social justice. Before T’ruah, Hannah served American Jewish World Service as Senior Program Officer for Jewish Advocacy and Engagement, where she worked with rabbis and cantors who are passionate about human rights. Hannah also worked at the Jewish…
Aliza Schwartz (she/her) is a rabbinical student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, expecting to graduate in 2024. Before rabbinical school, Aliza was based in Boston and given the enormous gift of growing up as a leader, organizer, and trainer there. Aliza’s spiritual and political home in Boston is Kavod, a multi-ethnic, multi-racial community led by…
Julie Fishbach (she/her) is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, expecting to graduate in 2026. She grew up in the Bay Area, where she was active in Temple Isaiah’s youth groups, and worked as a counselor and Program Director at Camp Tawonga. She studied Sociocultural Anthropology and Theater at…
Neil Hirsch (he/him) is a Jewish educator from Toronto and a member of the Hebrew College Rabbinical School class of 2024. Neil has been privileged to be involved with several other amazing organizations across the denominational spectrum, including the Drisha institute, and as a fellow at Yeshivat Hadar, Yeshivat Romemu, Mechon Pardes, and Adamah. Helping…
Nicole Fix (she/her) is a rabbinical student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and is expected to graduate in 2023. Nicole is deeply committed to the expansion of Jewish and social engagement through the arts. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Monday Night, Nimrod International Journal for Prose and Poetry, Post Road Magazine, Go!…
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sara LeMesh (she/her) is a cantorial student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (‘26). Sara earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Rice University and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Bard College-Conservatory of Music. After graduate school, Sara relocated to San…
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…
David Elitzer (he/him) is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion expecting to graduate in 2026. After graduating with a BA in Archaeology from Brown University, David was awarded a Marshall Scholarship to study wartime cultural heritage destruction. During this time, he received an MSc in International Public Policy from University College…
Rachel is a community organizer, coach, social justice advocate, and anti-racist educator. She has done this work through roles at City Year, Match Education, the Community Builders, and Citizens of The World Elementary School, and currently serves as the Director of Community Investments at the Safety Respect Equity Network. Additionally, Rachel served as the National…