JESNA Staff

srentas@jesna.org (Sal Rentas) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 22:47:47 +0000

To email a staff member, simply click on their name
For general information, please call (212) 284-6877 or email info@jesna.org

Chief Leadership Team

Leora W. Isaacs, Ph.D.
Chief Program Officer
Director, Berman Center for Applied Innovation
(212) 284-6899

As chief professional leader of the Berman Center for Applied Innovation, Leora and the Center staff provide direct support to communities seeking to redesign and enhance local Jewish education opportunities in order to engage more children and families in meaningful, satisfying, and impactful Jewish learning. Prior to assuming her current responsibilities, Leora was the founding director of JESNA’s Berman Center for Research and Evaluation. As a member of JESNA’s Senior Management Team, Leora works closely with Jon Woocher, Ralia Wagner and the JESNA Board to ensure effective strategic and tactical management of the agency.

Leora began her career at JESNA in 1986 after serving as a researcher at the American Jewish Committee and on the faculties of the Trenton State University (now Rowan University), College of St. Elizabeth, the Jewish Theological Seminary, and the University of Pennsylvania. She received her B.A. in Psychology (summa cum laude) from the University of Michigan and her Ph.D. in Educational and Developmental Psychology from the CUNY Graduate Center.

Ralia Wagner
Chief Financial Officer
(212) 284-6881

Ralia Wagner serves as JESNA’s Chief Financial Officer. In addition to being a member of the Chief Management Team and working closely with members of the Board, she oversees the overall finances of the agency and office operations.

Prior to joining JESNA in 2005, Ralia served as the Chief Financial Officer for The National Conference for Community and Justice, Inc., a New York not-for-profit and oversaw the finances of over 60 regional offices across the county. Ralia is a first generation Greek-American and has earned a BA in Accounting from Queens College. She has been working in the field of not-for-profit accounting since 1994.

Jonathan Woocher, Ph.D.
Chief Ideas Officer
Director, Lippman Kanfer Institute
(212) 284-6888

Jonathan Woocher is JESNA's Chief Ideas Officer and directs its Lippman Kanfer Institute: An Action-Oriented Think Tank for Innovation in Jewish Learning and Engagement. Jon served as JESNA's chief professional officer for twenty years before assuming his new role this year. In addition to guiding the work of the Lippman Kanfer Institute, he is a member of the agency's senior management, working with his colleagues on JESNA's strategic direction, new project development, external relations, and financial resource development.

Prior to coming to JESNA in 1986, Jon was an Associate Professor in the Benjamin S. Hornstein Program in Jewish Communal Service at Brandeis University, where he taught courses in Jewish political studies and communal service and directed the program in Continuing Education for Jewish Leadership.

He received his BA from Yale University, summa cum laude, in Political Science and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Temple University in Religious Studies. He has also studied at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.

JESNA Staff

Jenny Aisenberg, M.A.
Knowledge Development Manager
(212) 284-6877

Jenny came to JESNA in 2009. She is responsible for the overall management, development, and improvement of JESNA's online resources, including the Sosland Online Resource Center, The InnovationXchange, and allied sites such as the WOW! Project and Digital J Learning. She is responsible for the development and ongoing production of JESNA's webinar program, and works closely with JESNA program staff and technical consultants to enhance JESNA's dissemination of learnings through the web and social media. Before joining JESNA, Jenny earned her Master's in Media Studies from The New School University, while working as an educator in her synagogue's Children's Learning Program in Brooklyn, where she is currently serving on the board. She earned her B.A. in Women's Studies from Smith College, where she served on the Hillel Board, directed the Kosher Co-op, and received the Gemillut Chassidim Award for her years of service to the Jewish community.

Jude Kramer
Project Manager
(212) 284-6875

Jude Kramer is from Melbourne, Australia. She joined the JESNA team in January 2013 following her graduation from NYU’s dual Master’s program in Education and Jewish Studies. Jude coordinates JESNA’s Convenings on Complementary Education and staffs the Association of Directors of Central Agencies (ADCA). Prior to her graduate studies, Jude held several positions in Jewish Education. She worked for the United Jewish Education Board in Melbourne, Australia creating Hebrew School curricula and for the Jewish Children’s Museum in Brooklyn, NY, as an after school program coordinator. She has also taught Jewish Studies to junior high school students in Morristown, New Jersey, and to preschool students in Manhattan Beach, California. Jude also holds a BA from Monash University majoring in History and Jewish Studies, and a certificate in Jewish Law/Mishpatim from Hebrew University. Since moving to New York, Jude has been very involved volunteering her time and skills to organizing events for Young Jewish Professionals in New York City.

Bara Levitt
Project Manager
(212) 584-7341

Bara came to JESNA in 2012, and manages JESNA's Lainer-Masa and Grinspoon-Steinhardt Awards programs. Prior to joining JESNA, Bara worked for two years as a fourth grade teacher in Newark, New Jersey as part of the Teach for America program. Bara has held a number of positions within the world of Jewish education, notably as a staff member at Camp Sprout Lake and Camp Tel Yehudah, both a part of the Young Judaea camping system, and as a teacher at Congregation Adath Israel in Riverdale, NY. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Columbia University and a B.A. in Jewish Women's Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Bara also holds a New Jersey State Teaching License.

Kris Marin-Pilgrim
Human Resources Associate
(212) 284-6558

Sal Rentas
Webmaster
(212) 584-7324

David Resnick, Ph.D.
Director, Israel Office
011-972-52-6130716

David joined JESNA in 1983 and was the Acting Executive Vice President for two years. He has directed JESNA's Israel programs since they began in 1986. Currently, David supervises the Lainer Interns for Jewish Education program with tracks in Tel Aviv and Hebrew Universities. David is also a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at the School of Education at Bar Ilan University, specializing in Jewish education.

He received his BA in psychology from UCLA; his PhD in developmental psychology from Columbia University; and his rabbinic ordination from JTS. He also worked for two years in the Manhattan market research firm, Oxtoby-Smith.

Our Mission

srentas@jesna.org (Sal Rentas) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 01:45:57 +0000

JESNA is dedicated to building a strong Jewish future where learners of all ages lead Jewish lives infused with purpose and meaning. Functioning as a hub in a many-spoked wheel of community federations, central agencies for Jewish education, foundations, social entrepreneurs, families, and others, JESNA transforms and strengthens Jewish education in North America across all denominations and venues. Our extensive experience in a complex landscape enables us to assemble creative new ideas and models for success with state-of the-art knowledge to catalyze innovation and change for our partners, our clients and the entire field.

Seeking always to add value, spur improvement, and nurture a culture of data-driven decision-making, we:

Advocate and develop networks to galvanize the "national conversation" on Jewish education
Build capacity and empower practitioners in the field
Provide evaluation, guidance and hands-on support to leaders committed to productive change and advancement
Model effective use of web-based technologies and social media to disseminate knowledge and know-how
Drive valuable educational innovation to the center of Jewish life

JESNA Board

srentas@jesna.org (Sal Rentas) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 22:30:15 +0000

Chair Cass Gottlieb	Honorary Chair Mandell L. Berman	Vice Chairs Sandra Gold Searle Mitnick Philip Schatten Carol Brennglass Spinner
Secretary Ellen Kagen Waghelstein	Treasurer Fred Claar
Board Members		Life Members
Ann Berman Helene Kalson Cohen Seymour Epstein Beverly Bloom Fellman David Fishman Ed Frim Gil Graff Rabbi Idit Jacques Shelley Kreiger Richard Krugel Cynthia Morin Jo-Ann Price Michael Rosenzweig	Robert Sachs Marty Scheck Kyla Epstein Schneider Steve Seiden Shirley Solomon Blanche Sosland Eve Kresin Steinberg Gail Weinstein Howard Wilchins Arnee Winshall Lois Zachary	Robert Arnow Helene Berger Arthur Brody Billie Gold Neil Greenbaum Joseph Kanfer Mark Lainer Mark E. Schlussel David Steirman Diane Troderman

Sosland

srentas@jesna.org (Sal Rentas) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 02:30:05 +0000

Topics

{loadposition content1}

Online Donations & Tributes

srentas@jesna.org (Sal Rentas) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 22:30:26 +0000

Information submitted on this form is for the use of JESNA only and will not be shared with any outside individuals or institutions. JESNA uses PayPal for secure online payment processing.

Make a General Donation to JESNA
OR
If you would like to make a donation in honor or in memory of someone click here

For further information, please contact:
Ralia Wagner, JESNA's Chief Financial Officer | rwagner@jesna.org | (212) 284-6881.

Thank You

srentas@jesna.org (Sal Rentas) — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:44:10 +0000

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION!

Mailing Address

Jewish Education Service of North America
247 West 37th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Phone
212.284.6877
Fax
212.532.7518

Have a question for us?
Email info@jesna.org or visit our Staff Directory to find a specific staff member.

View Larger Map

JESNA - Jewish Education News

JESNA Staff

Our Mission

JESNA Board

Chair

Honorary Chair

Vice Chairs

Secretary

Treasurer

Board Members

Life Members

Sosland

Topics

Online Donations & Tributes

OR

Thank You

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION!