Talia Shapiro Blank

Talia Shapiro Blank headshot
Program Associate
Women of Reform Judaism

Talia Shapiro Blank is WRJ's Program Associate. She supports WRJ events, programming, advocacy, and partnerships with our lay leaders. Prior to WRJ, Talia worked in volunteer management, where she trained and supported volunteers. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Talia now lives in Las Vegas, NV, with her husband, Josh, and two dogs, Joe and Maisey. Talia is passionate about mental health and is a counselor on the Suicide Prevention Crisis Line.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Shoshana Dweck, VP of Social Justice, Temple Shaaray Tefila, Bedford Corners, NY
Talia Shapiro Blank
April marks the annual recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). WRJ is committed to addressing the discrimination many of us, unfortunately, have witnessed or experienced. As we look around our synagogues, it’s important to be aware that if you dig deep enough, you will find many people have stories. When we allow space for vulnerability and sharing, it keeps people from suffering in silence and allows room for change. For that change to make a lasting impact, it takes commitment from all members of a congregation or community.

WRJ Leads the Way for Equal Pay

Talia Shapiro Blank
WRJ and the Women's Rabbinic Network are leaders in the fight for pay equity. As an organization, we are conducting training on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and implicit bias, sexual harassment (WRJ says STOP), and equitable hiring practices. In addition, WRJ will continue mobilizing advocacy for legislative interventions for pay equity.

My Cross-Country Move: What Abortion Access Means To Me

Talia Shapiro Blank
I think we all can remember where we were the day that Roe V. Wade was overturned. I was at home. I was living in Tennessee at the time, a state with trigger laws. I was flooded with articles and headlines that shook me to my core. The more I read, the more my heart raced. I became sick to my stomach. I remember rumors and questions about what this could mean legally for practitioners, pregnant people, and anyone seeking birth control. I thought about the fact that I hope to bear children one day and felt a direct threat to my life. Our lease was up in a few months, and we had already been considering what to do next. To me, this verdict was the deciding factor.