RAC-CA seeks to build our collective power to create the California of our dreams. Our structure includes professional staff, a statewide leadership team, issue research groups, and congregational social justice teams.
Professional Staff
The RAC-CA professional staff includes California Organizing Director Lee Winkelman (Southern California) and Senior California Organizer Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller (Northern California). Legislative Assistant Jacob Greenblatt provides additional support from the RAC office in Washington DC.
Leadership Team
The RAC-CA leadership team is comprised of the clergy and lay leaders across the state who help make decisions about strategy and tactics of RAC-CA. Leadership team members are responsible for attending monthly calls, leading discussions and trainings during webinars and regional gatherings, and advocating for RAC-CA’s work in their home communities.
The current leadership team includes:
Rabbi Joshua Aaronson (Temple Judea, Los Angeles)
Rabbi Mona Alfi (Congregation B’Nai Israel, Sacramento)
Sarah Bassin (Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills)
Rabbi Kenneth Chasen (Leo Baeck Temple, Los Angeles)
Rabbi Heidi Cohen (Temple Beth Sholom of Orange County, Irvine)
Rabbi Lisa Delson (Peninsula Temple Sholom, San Bruno)
Liana Friedman (Congregation Shir-Ha-Ma'alot, Irvine)
Benjamin Ginsburg (Congregation Or Ami, Calabasas)
Eric Herzog (Leo Baeck Temple, Los Angeles)
Jane Herzog (Leo Baeck Temple, Los Angeles)
Ellen Israel (Temple Judea, Tarzana)
Rabbi Jonathan Kupetz (Temple Beth Israel, Pamona)
Rabbi Jay Levine (Temple Isaiah, Lafayette)
Rabbi Jason Rodich (Temple Emanuel, San Francisco)
Rabbi Elana Rosen-Brown (Congregation Rodef Sholom, San Rafael)
Heidi Segal (Temple Israel of Hollywood, Los Angeles)
Rabbi Suzanne Singer (Temple Beth El, Riverside)
Rabbi Rebekah Stern (Temple Beth El, Berkeley)
Rabbi Ronald Stern (Stephen S. Wise Temple, Los Angeles)
Jess Winfield (Congregation Kol Ami, Los Angeles)
Issue Research Teams
RAC-CA has six issue research teams covering climate change, criminal justice, immigration, health care, housing, and gun violence prevention. These teams collaborate with partner organizations to research bills and ballot measures, make recommendations for our legislative agenda, and help mobilize congregational social justice teams. Learn more about issue research teams here.
Congregational Social Justice Teams
Congregational social justice teams include one clergy member and a few lay leaders from each congregation. These teams take action together and help mobilize their own congregations around social justice issues.
