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 represented the Reform Jewish Movement to Congress and the Administration.

Barbara Weinstein

Associate Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Barbara Weinstein 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 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 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 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 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

Leroy Bailey
Building & Custodial Services Manager


Rachel Beck
RAC-PA State Organizer


Sarah Blaine
RAC-NJ Lead Organizer


Emily Bourgeois
RAC-Texas State Organizer


Rabbi Lindsey Danziger
Senior State Organizer


Michele Eiger
RAC-Florida State Organizer


Cara Gold
Director, Strategic Programs & Operations


Logan Zinman Gerber
Director of Youth Organizing


Jaimie Green
Operations Director, Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI)


Aliza Greenberg
Programs and Operations Manager, Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI)

Jacob Greenblatt
Assistant Legislative Director


Rachel Hall
Assistant Director, Racial Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (REDI) Content


Sammy Angelina
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant


Ellen Garfinkle
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant


Noé Granados
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant


Rachel Landis
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant


CJ Wechsler
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant


Jonetta Kelly
Facility Manager & Executive Assistant


Rachel Klein
Program and Operations Associate


Paige Kohn
Program and Operations Associate, Finance


Toby Manewith
ADL/URJ Partnership Manager

Shoshana Maniscalco
Organizer, Teen Justice Fellowship


Jacob Kraus Preminger
Campaign Manager


Sophie Raim
Program and Operations Associate


Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller
RAC-CA Northern California Senior Organizer


Zoë Smith
Leadership Development Manager


Aaron Sofian
RAC-IL Lead Organizer


Sandra TooGood
Receptionist and Administrative Associate


Kara Weiner
Director of Social Justice Experiences


Lee Winkelman
Assistant Director of Organizing