Ellen Garfinkle

Ellen Garfinkle

Ellen Garfinkle (she/her) grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina as a member of Temple Beth El. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Political Science and Global Studies and a minor in Middle Eastern Languages. While at UNC, Ellen served as the head song leader at her campus Hillel, participated in multiple Jewish Learning Fellowships, and spent a semester studying in Jerusalem on the Nachshon Project. She was also very involved with her all-female a cappella group, Cadence. Alongside these, Ellen spent two years working as a Civic Fellow with the voting rights organization You Can Vote, interned with the National Council of Jewish Women, and participated in campaign research.

Ellen is excited to call DC home and further her own learning in the political advocacy world. Her legislative portfolio includes immigration, refugees, separation of church and state, Israel, human trafficking, and international religious freedom.

Photo of the silhouette of 8 people walking in a straight line wearing backpacks

Creating Community on World Refugee Day

Ellen Garfinkle
June 20 marks World Refugee Day, which honors the experiences of refugees and celebrates their contributions to their communities and the world. The UN Refugee Agency reports that more than 114 million individuals were forcibly displaced by the end of 2023, with more than 35 million identified as refugees.

Teens from California Speak About Immigration Policy

Ellen Garfinkle
This year, as we mark the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Access for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, we hear from our L'Taken teens about the importance of passing the Dream Act in the Senate and the Dream and Promise Act in the House.

The Injustice of False Choices

Ellen Garfinkle
Congress is currently working to pass a funding bill that would address a wide range of global and domestic efforts. Including military aid for Israel, humanitarian aid for Palestinians, and $1 billion for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which will help enhance the safety of our congregations across the country.

Meet the 2023-2024 Eisendrath Legislative Assistants

Ellen Garfinkle, CJ Wechsler Sánchez, Noé Granados, Sammy Angelina, Rachel Landis
We are thrilled and honored to introduce ourselves as the 2023-2024 Eisendrath Legislative Assistants ! Our cohort brings a wealth of diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences to our roles. We are united by a shared dedication to advancing the URJ's vision of peace and wholeness, justice and equity, and belonging and joy.

Celebrating Sukkot: A Time to Welcome, Rejoice, and Advocate

Ellen Garfinkle
The Jewish holiday of Sukkot is one where we are called upon to rejoice; in fact, it is the only festival where we receive this direct commandment. The holiday is a time to dwell in temporary huts, or sukkot, with open walls and doors, as we invite our communities and loved ones inside to rejoice with us.

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