LFT Program Facilitators

Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) is American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) education and advocacy program for teens, which empowers young Jews to speak up for Israel and the Jewish people. The LFT program is taught by AJC staff professionals who receive extensive educational and facilitation training. Below you will find a full roster of AJC's LFT facilitators and staff. For questions about the LFT program, please email [email protected].
 

Atlanta

Tamara Kaplin is a Senior Associate of Young Leadership for AJC Atlanta. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design with a minor in Media Creative Advertising from Indiana University. With a foundation in creativity and design thinking, Tamara brings a unique perspective to leadership development and community engagement. During her time at Indiana University, Tamara was an active member of the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority and the Indiana University Dance Marathon. She spent many summers as a camp counselor, where she discovered her passion for mentoring young people and cultivating future leaders. Drawing from her diverse experiences, Tamara is committed to building inclusive, impactful programming that inspires the next generation of changemakers.

Emily Yehezkel: Emily Yehezkel is the Director of Admissions at The Weber School in Atlanta and a passionate Jewish educator with extensive experience in teen leadership and Israel education. Previously, she served as Education and Engagement Director at Creating Connected Communities, where she led the organization’s teen Leadership Development Program. Emily earned a Master’s and Graduate Certificate in Israel Education from The George Washington University and has developed and facilitated educational programming for organizations including Camp Judaea, Adamah ATL, and Temple Sinai. She is also the founder of 3GATL, which empowers descendants of Holocaust survivors to honor their grandparents’ legacies through community and education. Emily is excited to serve as an AJC Leaders for Tomorrow Facilitator, helping teens build the knowledge, confidence, and skills to engage thoughtfully with issues impacting the Jewish community.
 

Chicago
 

Yogev Ben-Yitschak is a Consultant with CCS Fundraising, a firm that partners with nonprofits to drive transformational change and fundraising strategy. In this role, he assists mission-driven organizations in expanding their impact through strategic planning, fundraising, and community engagement. Before joining CCS, Yogev worked at the Jewish United Fund, where he developed leadership programs for college students that focused on Jewish identity, community building, and civic responsibility. He holds a degree in business from the University of Wisconsin. Originally from Avtalion, Israel, Yogev grew up in Milwaukee and now lives in Chicago. In his free time, he volunteers at a local food pantry, plays soccer, and bikes on the Lakefront Trail.

Beth Ida Stern is the Director of Advancement & Engagement for the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Chicago. Beth has been a professional in the Jewish nonprofit world for more than a decade, having worked previously for the Jewish National Fund, American Friends of the Hebrew University, and The Selfhelp Home. Prior to joining Jewish philanthropy, Beth was an executive in nonprofit cancer organizations, including City of Hope and LUNGevity Foundation. Beth spent her first decades in the workforce as a manager in the apparel and media industries in New York and Chicago. Beth holds her BA from the University of Michigan and her MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. She lives in Northbrook, Illinois, with her rescue cats, Chickpea and Pinto Bean.
 

Detroit
 

Amy Sapeika is the Community Director for AJC Detroit, bringing experience in Jewish communal leadership, law, communications, and politics to her advocacy on behalf of the Jewish community and Israel. She previously worked as a commercial litigation attorney and as Director of Communications at Hillel Day School. An active volunteer leader, Amy has served with Hadassah as part of the inaugural Evolve Leadership Fellows, contributed to its national Branding Committee, and served as Marketing Vice President for the Greater Detroit Region. She holds a J.D. from Wayne State University Law School, where she was President of the Jewish Law Student Organization, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan.

Renee Liberman is a dedicated Jewish educator and community leader in Metro Detroit with over 18 years of classroom experience. She currently teaches middle school Jewish Literature at Hillel Day School, where she explores important topics including Zionism, antisemitism, and Jewish identity. Renee is a fierce advocate for Israel, having recently participated in the March for Israel in Washington, D.C. Her leadership has been recognized with honors, including being named a 2022 Detroit Jewish News “36 Under 36” honoree and serving as a JDC Entwine Community Representative in 2020. She is passionate about empowering teens to have meaningful conversations and become strong voices for the Jewish people.
 

Kansas City
 

Rachel Kaseff Worth is the Director of Education and Programs at JCRB/AJC Kansas City. She earned her B.A. in Religious Studies with a minor in Judaic Studies from Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. Her senior thesis explored the intersection of religion and politics in America. Before starting with JCRB/AJC in March of 2024, Rachel was a preschool teacher at Rhyme and Reason Preschool of the Arts in Kansas City.

 

Alexa Summers is a professor of web development based in Overland Park, Kansas. She holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in computer science from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, as well as a graduate certificate in college teaching and career preparation. She also earned an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Digital Leadership from Fort Hays State University. Alexa has served for several years as a madricha (trip leader) for Taglit-Birthright Israel, guiding young adults as they explore their connection to Israel and Judaism. In addition to leading trips, she has contributed to various initiatives with Birthright and is a proud alumna of the Birthright Israel Fellowship. She participated in the Birthright Educators Forum Cohort in Israel following October 7th and has attended numerous professional development opportunities in Jewish education throughout the U.S. and Israel. Her work blends a passion for teaching, Jewish identity, and meaningful cross-cultural connections.
 

Long Island
 

Ira Glasser is the AJC Director of K-12 Education Strategy, New York. Ira comes to AJC after an extensive career in Jewish educational leadership, most recently serving as the CEO of Hillel at Binghamton. Previously, he was the Director of Jewish Life and Learning at the Rodeph Sholom School in New York City, where he also taught middle school history and Jewish Studies. He has published and presented at national conferences on Israel and Jewish education. Ira has planned and led over 25 transformative Israel experiences throughout his career, including the capstone 8th-grade Israel trip at Rodeph Sholom School, JNF’s Alternative Spring Break, and Taglit-Birthright Israel. Ira holds a Master’s Degree in Adolescent Education with a focus on Social Studies from Hunter College and is a graduate of the iCenter Graduate Program in Israel Education at George Washington University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Judaic Studies from Binghamton University. He resides on Long Island with his family and holds a license as a New York City sightseeing guide.

Daniel Small serves as Assistant Director for AJC Long Island. In his role, Small strengthens and builds relationships with community leaders and elected officials. He has extensive experience in government and politics, having previously served as Chief of Staff to a Nassau County Legislator. Small holds a B.A. in U.S. History from the University at Albany and an M.A. in Urban Affairs from Queens College. As a native New Yorker who grew up in Queens and on Long Island, Small is a lifelong Mets fan who enjoys hiking and running in his free time.
 

Miami

Maia Kofman is a Senior Associate of Young Leadership for AJC Miami. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2022 with her Bachelor of Science in Animal Biology. Throughout her time at UF, Maia was very involved with Hillel on campus and was given the opportunity to spend two months in Israel through Birthright and Onward. Her pro-Israel involvement on campus led to her being invited as one of five pro-Israel student leaders on Fact Finders, a mission trip designed to take non-Jewish student leaders to Israel to better understand the Israel/Palestine conflict. When Maia graduated, she decided to pursue further studies at NYU to earn her master’s degree. While at NYU, she encountered an unprecedented amount of antisemitism that only got worse post-October 7th. Her experiences at UF and NYU led her to pursue a career in her passion for Jewish activism and in fostering pro-Israel sentiment.

Sapir Levi is an Israeli educator and community leader currently serving as a Jewish Engagement Educator at the David Posnack JCC in South Florida. Originally from Nahariya and formerly based in Tel Aviv, she has dedicated her career to education, community building, and experiential learning. Prior to her current role, Sapir served as the Director of Israel Programming at Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach, where she worked closely with college students to foster meaningful connections to Israel and Jewish identity. Through storytelling, culture, and personal experience, she is passionate about creating engaging conversations that inspire the next generation of Jewish leaders.
 

New England (Boston)
 

Jonathan Golden Dr. Jonathan Golden is a Senior Educator at Unpacked for Educators and the Founder of HeartStance Education Consulting. He teaches at Hebrew College in Boston in the Rabbinical School. Previously, he served as Israel Curriculum Coordinator and a history teacher at Gann Academy in Waltham, MA, from 1999 to 2023.  A graduate of Princeton University, he holds an M.J.Ed. from Hebrew College and a Ph.D. from Brandeis University, where he studied American Jewish history under Professor Jonathan Sarna. He is a former member of the Global ACCESS Steering Committee and the AJC New England Board.

Rachel Savage is the Senior Associate, Operations & Education Development at AJC New England. Rachel brings nearly 15 years of experience in Jewish education and nonprofit organizations, including a decade working in admissions at The Rashi School and four years leading a USY youth group in Newton, Massachusetts. She has also held roles at Gateways: Access to Jewish Education and Temple Reyim. Rachel earned her B.A. in Religion and Jewish Studies from Smith College. She is excited to work with LFT students this year and help them grow into confident, thoughtful Jewish leaders.

New Jersey

Naya Wiezel is a Contractor and Faculty member for the AJC's Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) program in Northern New Jersey. She is a second-year law student at Fordham University School of Law, where she serves as President of the Jewish Law Students Association and works to strengthen Jewish student life, leadership, advocacy, and education on campus. Before attending law school, Naya worked in intellectual property law in New York City. She holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from UCLA. She also serves as a JIGSAW Fellow at the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, where she focuses on equipping Jewish students with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to respond to antisemitism, understand their rights, and become effective advocates for themselves and their communities.

Dena Dubofsky-Blum serves as Associate Director of AJC New Jersey, where she oversees the region's legislative advocacy, educational programming, and leadership development and board engagement efforts. For nearly a decade, she has worked with elected officials and community leaders to advance public policy priorities, strengthen Jewish communal life, and build relationships across New Jersey. A frequent speaker and moderator, Dena leads conversations on antisemitism, Israel, and public policy. Drawing on years of experience in government relations and public affairs, she works at the intersection of advocacy, community engagement, and policymaking, helping translate complex issues into meaningful action at the local, state, and federal levels. Before joining AJC, Dena worked with AIDS Walk New York and NextGen Climate. She earned her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law, her BA from Ithaca College, and a Certificate in Israel Education from the iCenter. 

Sofia Abbruzzesi is the Senior Coordinator for AJC New Jersey, where she supports the region's advocacy, development, and community engagement efforts. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). Using her background in healthcare and community health, she brings a data-driven, holistic perspective to organizational growth and community building. She is particularly skilled at building meaningful people-to-people relationships that foster collaboration, strengthen communities, and contribute to a thriving region. At TCNJ, Sofia was involved in Theta Phi Alpha sorority and served in several leadership roles, including Philanthropy Week Chair. In that position, she developed creative fundraising initiatives that supported a local nonprofit organization while engaging fellow students in meaningful service.

San Diego

Kelsey Greenberg Young has been dedicated to combating antisemitism and bias since 2016. As Education Director for ADL San Diego, she partnered with parents and educators to challenge prejudice and bullying in schools through interactive programming, school-wide initiatives, and student mentorship. Since 2022, she has focused on creating and facilitating activities that empower students and educators to stand up to antisemitism, including co-facilitating AJC San Diego’s first Leaders for Tomorrow cohort in 2024–2025. Kelsey holds a B.A. in Communication from UC Santa Barbara and previously managed community and project work for San Diego-based mobile app companies. A proud patrilineal Jew, she is passionate about celebrating Jewish diversity, welcoming interfaith families, and approaching antisemitism education through an anti-bias lens. She recharges by teaching and practicing yoga, hiking with her husband and dog, and reading as many books as possible.

Sara E. Brown, Ph.D., is the Regional Director of the San Diego office. She is an educator and leading expert on genocide studies. She earned the first Ph.D. in comparative genocide studies from the Strassler Center at Clark University and has led and advised organizations including the USC Shoah Foundation, the United Nations, Aegis Trust, and Common Circles. Sara’s career spans academia, research, and humanitarian work, with experience in Israel, Rwanda, and refugee camps in Tanzania. She has taught courses on history, human rights, and mass violence at San Diego State University, Kean University, and Worcester State University, and her writing has been widely published in academic journals and major news outlets. She is the author of Gender and the Genocide in Rwanda: Women as Perpetrators and Rescuers and co-editor of the Routledge Handbook on Religion, Mass Atrocity, and Genocide.
 

Washington, D.C.
 

Emily Jacobson is an Alexander Assistant Director for the Washington, D.C., regional office. In her role, she manages the region's young professionals’ network, ACCESS, and facilitates LFT. Currently, she is working to grow ACCESS D.C.’s already-thriving community and foster future advocates through programming that reflects AJC’s mission.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs with a minor in Spanish from Indiana University in 2018 and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in International Affairs at American University, with a focus on Global Governance, Politics, and Security.

Daniel Rosenthal, Ph.D., Daniel Rosenthal, Ph.D., is the Assistant Director of Academic Affairs at AJC’s Center for Education Advocacy and a facilitator for the Washington, D.C., Leaders for Tomorrow program. He previously chaired the Jewish History Department at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, where he also helped lead the Center for Excellence and Engagement in Jewish History. Daniel has taught at Western University, the University of Haifa, where he held a postdoctoral fellowship, and the University of Toronto, where he earned his Ph.D. in History, focusing on Polish-Jewish society after World War I. His scholarship includes publications on Jewish identity and responses to suicide in interwar Eastern Europe, and he has worked as a curatorial intern at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
 

Westchester/Fairfield
 

Lauren Hollander is the Office Coordinator at AJC Westchester/Fairfield and is thrilled to begin her first year as a LFT Facilitator. She graduated from Binghamton University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Judaic Studies. During her time at Binghamton, Lauren was deeply involved in Jewish campus life, serving as President of Hillel in her senior year. She was also a group leader for Hillel's Perspectives Interfaith Trip to Israel, which aimed to educate students about the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Following graduation, Lauren became the Director of Teen Programming at Temple Shaaray Tefila of Northern Westchester, where she led two advocacy trips to Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Religious Action Center. Passionate about community engagement and leadership development, Lauren is excited to bring her experience and enthusiasm to the LFT program and to be part of the AJC community.

Rabbi Ron Symons is a purpose-driven leader and a bridge builder. Working through synagogues, JCCs, Jewish and community organizations, Ron helps community members of all ages make meaning of our current circumstances through Jewish wisdom.  In so doing, he enters conversations as a faithful neighbor, eager to hear others’ perspectives and learn alongside them.  One of the defining chapters of his career was founding the Center for Loving Kindness and Civic Engagement (CFLK) at the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh. Through the Center, he convened over 500 religious, civic, educational, and community leaders to foster dialogue and mobilize collaborative responses to issues affecting both the Jewish community and the broader society. Following the Tree of Life attack, those trusted relationships became essential to strengthening communal resilience and public trust, reinforcing his conviction that meaningful advocacy begins with listening, authentic relationships, and the courage to build bridges across differences.  Ron is excited to guide AJC LFT participants to embrace the mantle of Jewish leadership.  Ron and Rabbi Barbara Symons were ordained at the HUC-JIR and are the proud parents of Aviva Symons, a Jewish Engagement Professional; Rabbi Ilana Symons of Temple Sinai, Saratoga Springs, NY; and rabbinic student Micah Symons and their daughter-in-law, Vered Ben Gideon Symons, who is immersed in Talmud study.

The Sophie and Bernard Gould LFT Program in New York City

Julie Reisberg is the Assistant Director of Donor Relations at American Jewish Committee (AJC), where she focuses on donor engagement and stewardship across the organization’s leadership giving communities and donor programs. She brings more than a decade of experience in the Jewish nonprofit sector, with a background spanning fundraising, donor relations, programming, and the development of meaningful donor experiences. Throughout her career, Julie has managed major fundraising initiatives, led complex events and donor missions, and developed engagement and stewardship strategies designed to strengthen long-term relationships and deepen donors’ connection to an organization’s mission. Julie earned her B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University. Born and raised in New Jersey, she is now based in New York City.

Isaac Ostrow is a Program Coordinator at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, supporting the Institute’s Wellspring initiatives for Jewish educators and the Hartman College Student Network. He previously worked as a Student Life Associate at Columbia/Barnard Hillel and as a madrich (counselor) for the Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel. In both roles, Isaac sought to engage students in vibrant Jewish life and learning, guide them to connect more deeply and intentionally with their Jewish identity, and support them in building resilience as they emerged as young adults. Isaac graduated in 2022 from Albert A. List College, the Joint Program between Columbia University’s School of General Studies and the Jewish Theological Seminary, with degrees in Urban Studies and Jewish History. He is a two-time alum of the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies Summer Program and a volunteer book reviewer for the Jewish Book Council. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Isaac now calls New York City home. In his free time, he enjoys swimming and biking, wandering around the Met, reading (ideally, too many things at once), playing board games, and watching football and Formula 1.
 

National Virtual Cohort
 

Ben Goodman is the Assistant Director for AJC’s Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs (BILLA) in Washington, D.C. Responsible for the operational management of BILLA’s international missions, D.C.-based programs, and BILLA’s annual Strategic Forum, Ben also advances BILLA’s engagement with emerging leaders, both domestically to strengthen Latino-Jewish relations and globally to cultivate the next generation of Ibero-American Jewish advocates. Before joining BILLA as a Program Coordinator in 2022, he analyzed demographic datasets at the employment law firm NT Lakis LLP. Ben holds a B.S.F.S. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, where he majored in International Political Economy, minored in Spanish, and grew his passion for Jewish advocacy as President of Georgetown Israel Alliance. Though he loves to travel, Ben proudly defends his New Jersey origin story while playing tennis and watching nearly every sport on the planet.
 

LFT Administration
 

Aaron Bregman is AJC’s Director, K-12 Student Leadership and Programming. At AJC, he oversees the Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) program, empowering Jewish teens to advocate for Israel and combat antisemitism. Previously, he taught Jewish history at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, where he chaired the department, co-founded the Center for Excellence in Jewish History, and led initiatives promoting Israel engagement. Aaron also trains educators nationwide and frequently presents on Jewish identity and advocacy through AJC's Center for Education Advocacy (CEA). His educational philosophy blends historical depth with a strong commitment to student identity, belonging, and advocacy. He holds a B.A. in History with concentrations in American foreign policy and Jewish studies, an M.A.T. in Secondary Education from American University, and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Educational Leadership from The George Washington University. Originally from Boston, he lives in Washington, D.C., with his family.

Corey Minkoff is the Assistant Director of Student Affairs. In his role, he supports the department in developing the LFT curriculum, leading training sessions and seminars for local high school students and faculty, and assisting regional offices with recruitment for high school leadership programs. Before working in High School Affairs, he served as the Alexander Associate for AJC Chicago, managing the regional ACCESS chapter, AJC's young professional division, and facilitating the Chicago LFT cohort. Before joining AJC, Corey worked for two years at Hillel at the University of Vermont as a Springboard Innovation Fellow, where he designed programming to enhance Jewish life and strengthen the Jewish community on campus. He is a passionate advocate for the value of experiential education and the benefits of people-centered, creative problem-solving. Corey holds dual bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Journalism from the University of Kansas and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Education from George Washington University.