Leadership and Staff

The Religious Action Center, led by Director Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, includes staff members organizing Jewish communities in California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington, D.C.

The Religious Action Center, led by Director Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, includes staff members organizing Jewish communities in California, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and, and Washington, D.C.

Senior Leadership

Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner

Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and
Senior Vice President, Union for Reform Judaism

Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner (he/him) serves as the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and has led the Religious Action Center since 2015. Rabbi Pesner also serves as Senior Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism, a position to which he was appointed in 2011. Named one of the most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek magazine, he is an inspirational leader and tireless advocate for social justice.

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Rabbi Jonah Pesner

Rabbi David Saperstein

Director Emeritus and Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy
During his 40 years as Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Rabbi Saperstein (he/him) represented the Reform Jewish Movement to Congress and the Administration.

Barbara Weinstein

Associate Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Barbara Weinstein (she/her) is the Religious Action Center's Associate Director, where she helps guide the RAC’s broad range of social justice work.

Heidi Segal

Chair, Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism​
Heidi Segal (she/her) began her term as Chair of the Commission on Social Action in January 2024. She has been a member of the Commission since 2018 and served as a Vice Chair for four years before being elected Chair at the end of 2023.

Joy Friedman

Director of Organizing
Joy Friedman (she/her) is the director of organizing at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

Rabbi Michael Namath

Assistant Vice President, National Campaigns and Program
Rabbi Michael Namath (he/him) received his rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR). In this role he oversees national campaigns as as well as in person and virtual trainings to provide leadership development opportunities for youth and adults.

Yolanda Savage-Narva

Vice President, Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI)
For more than 20 years, Yolanda Savage-Narva (she/her) collaborated with Tribal governments to strengthen public health systems, promoted pedestrian safety and advocacy and coining the phrase, “Walking is a civil right,” and advancing health equity in states and territories.

Staff

Sammy Angelina (she/her)
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant


Rachel Beck (she/her)
RAC-PA State Organizer


Sarah Blaine (she/her)
RAC-NJ Lead Organizer


Havi Carrillo - Klein (she/her)
Field Organizer (OH)  


Rabbi Lindsey Danziger (she/her)
Senior State Organizer


Michele Eiger (she/her)
RAC-Florida State Organizer


Reginald Fleming (he/him)
Building & Custodial Services Manager


Ellen Garfinkle (she/her)
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant


Logan Zinman Gerber (she/her)
Director of Youth Organizing


Cara Gold (she/her)
Director, Strategic Programs & Operations


 

Noé Granados (he/him)
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant


Jaimie Green (she/her)
Director, Integrated Program Implementation & Business Management


Aliza Greenberg (she/her)
Integration Operations Manager & Partner


Jacob Greenblatt (he/him)
Assistant Legislative Director


Rachel Hall (she/her)
Communities Of Belonging Integration Assistant Director & Partner


Allie Kashan (she/they)
Program and Operations Associate


Jonetta Kelly (she/her)
Facility Manager & Executive Assistant


Gabi Kirsch (she/her)
Director, Grassroots Giving


Rachel Klein (she/her)
Assistant Director, L'Taken

 

Rachel Landis(she/her)
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant


Rabbi Toby Manewith (she/her)
Program Manager, URJ Antisemitism Partnership


Shoshana Maniscalco (she/they)
Organizer, Teen Justice Fellowship


Jacob Kraus Preminger (he/him)
Campaign Manager


Aaron Sofian (he/him)
RAC-IL Lead Organizer


Sandra TooGood (she/her)
Receptionist


CJ Wechsler (they/them)
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant


Kara Weiner (she/her)
Director, L'Taken


Lee Winkelman (he/him)
Assistant Director of Organizing