Meet the Incoming Class of the Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management
August 2026
Hebrew Union College is proud to welcome the newest students of the Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management—a cohort of creative thinkers, community builders, and emerging leaders committed to shaping the future of Jewish life.
This year’s students bring a range of experiences to the classroom, from nonprofit leadership and Jewish advocacy to technology, the arts, scientific research, and rabbinic service. They include a software developer building tools for Jewish organizations, a researcher uncovering stories of Jewish ancestry, cultural leaders expanding access to Jewish experiences, and community professionals creating spaces where people can connect and belong.
Together they bring curiosity, innovation, and a shared vision for strengthening Jewish communities. Through the Master of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management, they will develop the leadership skills and strategic tools to turn that vision into lasting impact.
Meet the Students
Michael Bronstein
MSOLI, expected graduation 2027
Michael is a Jewish communal professional dedicated to creating spaces where people feel connected and inspired. After working in tech sales, public relations, and advertising, he found his passion for community building when he launched a Moishe House in North Hollywood. He now works at JQ International, creating programs for Jewish queer teens that celebrate identity and foster Jewish joy. Bronstein is pursuing a Master of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management to develop the leadership and organizational skills needed to guide Jewish nonprofits and strengthen the North American Jewish community. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, biking, concerts, discovering new restaurants, spending time with his cat, and exploring Los Angeles.
Levi Meir Clancy
MAJNM, expected graduation fall 2028
Levi supports the Jewish community through events, photography, and technology. A multiracial Indigenous Okinawan and Jewish leader, he is a Bay Area co-organizer for LUNAR Collective, creating programming that promotes visibility for Asian-American Jews. Clancy spent much of his adult life in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where he contributed to the restoration of the Shrine of the Prophet Nahum and promoted Jewish history and interfaith engagement. He is the founder of Etza, a CRM enrichment tool for Jewish public affairs organizations, and works with Bay Area Jewish nonprofits as a photographer and consultant. He participated in the Anti-Defamation League’s Glass Leadership Institute, served as a Zioness Pride Fellow, and was a Lobby Group Leader at Jewish California’s 2026 Capitol Summit.
He is pursuing his degree at Hebrew Union College to gain stronger training in nonprofit management. His goal is to turn years of organizing, service, photography, and software development into durable Jewish nonprofit leadership.
Leo Cooper
MAJNM, expected graduation August 2028
Leo Cooper is a scholar of the history and genetics of Jewish populations with a background in anthropology from Western Michigan University. He collaborates with the Reich Lab at Harvard and Open Genomes and co-authored a landmark 2022 Cell study that was the first to publish DNA sequences from historical Ashkenazi Jews. In 2025, Cooper co-founded the Jewish Genetic Discovery Foundation, where he serves as Co-President, promoting informed participation in Jewish genetic research and expanding access to DNA testing for underrepresented Jewish communities. At heart, Cooper is a citizen scientist who seeks to engage people about their genetic ancestry. He believes in participant-and-community-led engagement with modern-day ancestry discovery. He wants people to get involved in the scientific and psychospiritual work of story-crafting and identity-forming with the materials that now exist for uncovering the Jewish past. Cooper is at Hebrew Union College to form the relationships and learn the skills that will help to fulfill his mission and that of his new foundation.
Outside of work, Cooper loves to play drums, read, spend time outdoors, and be with family and friends.
Jessica Friedman
Rabbinical student and MAJNM, expected graduation/ordination: Spring 2028/2029
Jess Friedman is a rising third-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College and beginning the Zelikow School MAJNM program. Originally from Newton, MA, she grew up as an active participant in NFTY-NE. Friedman is a product of Jewish Day School and a graduate of Tufts University, where she studied Environmental and Urban Studies and Hebrew. Before beginning rabbinical school, she served as a Social Justice Community Organizer at a large synagogue in Massachusetts. This position allowed Friedman the opportunity to engage with people of all ages and a diverse portfolio of Tikkun Olam projects. She is committed to a variety of social justice issues with a focus on helping individuals and communities transform their ideas into meaningful action. In her free time, she enjoys sailing, taking long walks around the city, and reading historical fiction.
Orli Friedman
MAJNM, expected graduation Spring 2028
Originally from Ardmore, PA, Orli Friedman grew up deeply involved in Jewish communal life and graduated cum laude from Boston University with a B.A. in Psychological and Brain Sciences and a minor in Anthropology. Professionally, Friedman served as Development Associate at the David Labkovski Project, managing donor engagement, grants, and organizational operations, and currently serves as a Youth Advisor at Hamakom Jewish Youth Network. Friedman is pursuing her degree in Jewish Nonprofit Management to strengthen her leadership skills and deepen her understanding of nonprofit management, fundraising, and Jewish communal work. She hopes to continue building meaningful programs and organizations that create lasting impact within the Jewish community and beyond.
Outside of Hebrew Union College, Friedman is also enrolled in the Master of Social Work program at the University of California, Los Angeles. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, spending time outdoors, reading, and listening to music. She values opportunities to connect with nature, explore new places, and unwind through books and live music experiences.
Vanessa (Ziva) Gunther
Rabbinical student and CJOL, graduated Summer 2026
As a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College, Ziva Gunther is passionate about Jewish learning, teaching, and community. Throughout her journey, Gunther has focused on bringing Jewish texts to life, making them feel both accessible and deeply personal for everyone she teaches. Gunther served for two years as student rabbi in a Reform congregation in Ogden, UT, where she led worship, preached, taught, and supported congregants through every stage of life. She believes Jewish communities should be welcoming spaces for spiritual growth, connection, and belonging. Whether she is exploring the Hebrew Bible or diving into the world of the Jewish American sitcom, Gunther brings a passion for lifelong learning to everything she does. She is especially energized by helping people find their own voices within Torah and other sacred texts, discovering how ancient wisdom can offer guidance and meaning in our modern lives. Alongside her rabbinical studies, Gunther is completing the Zelikow School’s Certificate in Jewish Organizational Leadership and will serve as rabbinic intern at Congregation Or Ami in Calabasas, CA, this fall.
Beyond the classroom and the sanctuary, Gunther is all about building relationships and supporting people on their own unique Jewish journeys. She leads with plenty of curiosity, compassion, and a good sense of humor, always striving to create spaces where everyone feels they truly belong and can flourish together. She also enjoys writing poetry and prayers, baking, science fiction, Formula 1, and learning to work on cars.
Irène Hodes
MSOLI, expected graduation Summer 2027
Irène Hodes is the Associate Director of Development at JCRC Bay Area, where she works with major donors and supports community relations and partnerships in the North Bay. Her career spans Jewish communal service, arts and cultural leadership, communications, journalism, and the wine industry. Previously, she served as Director of the Sonoma County Jewish Film Festival and Director of Cultural Events at JCC Sonoma County, where she expanded Jewish cultural programming into a year-round virtual cultural platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. A graduate of the University of Chicago and Middlesex University, London, Hodes is pursuing a Master of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management to strengthen her commitment to Jewish communal life and her belief that a strong Jewish future depends on both a confident Jewish identity and active participation in democratic society. When she’s not working, she is often found with a crossword puzzle, a British murder mystery, or at a pub trivia night. She also happily admits to attending the occasional Star Trek convention. A lover of languages, she finds particular joy in Torah study and will lead her first Torah study class at her synagogue in the coming weeks.
Aaron Kaplan
MAJNM, expected graduation 2028
Aaron Kaplan grew up outside Baltimore in a vibrant Jewish community where Jewish life shaped his identity and values. He attended Hebrew school, participated in BBYO, and spent his summers at Camp Airy, progressing from camper to staff while developing leadership and communication skills. Kaplan earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies from Towson University and built experience in recruiting, patient support, and hospitality before joining the Union for Reform Judaism as Talent and Engagement Associate. Influenced by his grandparents’ commitment to Jewish learning and his connection to Israel, he became increasingly engaged in Jewish advocacy and communal life following October 7. Through the Master’s degree in Jewish Nonprofit Management, Kaplan seeks to deepen his expertise, expand his leadership capacity, and build a lifelong career advancing Jewish communal life. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, skiing, and exploring the Rocky Mountains.
Hannah Karr
MAJNM, expected graduation 2028
Hannah Karr is the Director of Marketing and Community Engagement at Congregation Beth Tikvah, a Reform synagogue in Worthington, OH, where she leads communications, marketing, and community engagement initiatives. A lifelong member of Beth Tikvah, she grew up immersed in Jewish life through religious school, NFTY, Confirmation, and active participation in her synagogue community. Karr earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in Marketing from Ohio University, where she deepened her commitment to Jewish communal life through Hillel and leadership opportunities. She is pursuing a Master of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management through the Zelikow School to strengthen her leadership, strategic planning, and management skills in service of thriving Jewish communities. Outside of work, Karr spends much of her time tending to what has become a small jungle of houseplants and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.
Emma Mair
Rabbinical student and MAJNM, expected graduation/ordination: Spring 2028
Emma Mair is a fourth-year rabbinical student at Hebrew College, pursuing ordination with plans to be a congregational rabbi. Mair currently serves as Director of Learning and Engagement at Temple B’nai Abraham in Beverly, MA, where she has doubled Hebrew school enrollment, supported new and seasoned members in developing meaningful relationships, and built programming that spans many different ages and stages. She also serves as a B-Mitzvah tutor at Temple Emunah in Lexington, MA, and a rabbinic apprentice for the Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Beth Israel Congregation in Waterville, ME. At Mount Holyoke College, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Psychology & Education, Mair served as Chair of the Jewish Student Union and earned certification in Intergroup Dialogue facilitation. She has pursued additional Jewish learning through the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem and the Hadar Rising Song Institute Davening Fellowship. Mair is entering Hebrew Union College’s Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management to develop the organizational and strategic leadership skills she believes are essential to building congregations that are not only spiritually vibrant but sustainable and resilient for generations to come.
Tali Medwed
MAJNM, expected graduation 2028
Tali Medwed has been involved in Jewish communal life for as long as she can remember, attending Jewish day schools, spending summers at Jewish day camp, and volunteering as a madricha in her synagogue’s Hebrew school. This experience sparked her interest in Jewish communal work and led her to pursue opportunities to develop her leadership and organizational skills. Medwed has worked at Midway Jewish Center for three years, first as a college intern supporting Religious School, synagogue administration, and youth engagement through advising the USY youth group. Following graduation, she returned to MJC full-time as an Executive Assistant before advancing to her current role as Office Manager, where she supports the day-to-day operations of a vibrant congregation and builds meaningful relationships with students, families, and congregants. During college, Medwed also completed a co-op as an administrative and event planning intern at First Stop Health. These experiences inspired her to pursue a degree at Hebrew Union College, where she looks forward to gaining new knowledge, skills, and community while continuing to grow as a Jewish communal professional.
Arieh Miller
MSOLI, expected graduation Summer 2028
Arieh Miller has dedicated his professional and personal life to Jewish communal leadership, advocacy, and community engagement. He is the CEO of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, which serves and advocates for Jewish communities in nearly 40 countries around the world. Previously, Miller served as CEO of the Union of Jewish Students of the UK and Ireland, where he led national campaigns, strengthened student welfare and leadership development, and worked with universities, communal organizations, and government stakeholders to combat antisemitism and promote Jewish life on campus. He has also held senior leadership positions with The Shalom Foundation, the Embassy of Israel, and the Community Security Trust, gaining experience in advocacy, public affairs, volunteer coordination, and community engagement. He volunteers as an emergency medic, security officer, school governor, and football club trustee, and enjoys sports, writing, and supporting Arsenal Football Club.
Ben Poor
Rabbinical student and CJOL, graduated Summer 2026
A native of Mercer Island, Washington, Ben Poor has lived in Los Angeles on and off for 15 years, beginning at Occidental College. He currently serves as a rabbinic intern at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, where he leads the “Choosing Judaism” program, and previously served as Student Rabbi of Congregation B’nai David in Visalia, CA. Before Hebrew Union College , Poor worked as a community organizer with T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, building bridges between Jewish communities and the wider world. At Hebrew Union College, Poor has received awards for service to small congregations, study of Rabbinic literature, and Israel Studies, and also serves as a Student Ambassador for the Office of Recruitment and Admissions and tutors b’nai mitzvah students. An alum of NFTY and BBYO youth leadership, Poor looks forward to deepening his understanding of Jewish organizations and strengthening his ability to lead the next generation. Outside of his studies, he enjoys hiking, biking, swimming, and growing his guitar skills.
Tanner Smith
Rabbinical Student and MAJNM, expected graduation/ordination: Spring 2028/Spring 2030
Tanner Smith’s Jewish education journey began in high school through the Eisendrath International Exchange on Kibbutz Tzuba. He later joined AmeriCorps NCCC, working with nonprofits on conservation and housing projects. He earned a B.S. in Human Resource Management from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, UT. His diverse career path—from real estate and early childhood education to building supervisor at Temple Israel—has grounded his understanding of Jewish organizations and the communities they serve. He has been active in young adult engagement through roles at Next Dor, Hinenu, and Congregation Temple Israel and has worked with JCC St. Louis, Central Reform Congregation, and Congregation Temple Israel in various capacities.
Smith was a member of the Community Service Committee during his first year as a rabbinic student with Hebrew Union College. He assisted with a project renovating the apartment of a family displaced from their home in the North of Israel. He was also the World Union for Progressive Judaism’s Rabbinic Intern, where he participated in many projects, including their Digital Leadership Fellowship.
