WRJ is home to a hardworking and creative professional staff who oversee marketing and communications, events and leadership, philanthropy, programs, and affiliate services for sisterhoods & Districts and the organization as a whole. This diverse team has a variety of responsibilities and interests that help make the organization a success.
Executive
Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) is the CEO of Women of Reform Judaism, a role she has held since July 2023.
Previously, Hirsch was the rabbi of Temple Anshe Amunim in Pittsfield, MA. She was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. In recognition of her academic and leadership achievements, she was honored as a Wexner Graduate Fellow, a Tisch Fellow, and a WRJ Scholar during her rabbinic studies. She completed her undergraduate education at Brown University with a degree in Environmental Studies.
Read Rabbi Hirsch's full bio
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Rosenblum (she/her), COO (lrosenblum@wrj.org, 212-650-4056), oversees daily office operations. Lizzie previously served as WRJ's Manager of Development and Special Projects (2012-2017), Operations Manager (2021-2022), and Assistant Director (2022-2025). During her WRJ sabbatical, she served as the Director of Adult Life at the Rockland JCC and Development Director at Ben Porat Yosef Day School. Lizzie is a member of the board of Temple Beth Shalom in New City, NY, where she lives with her husband, Greg, sons Charlie and Henry, and dogs George and Louis.
Rabbi Marla J Feldman (she/her), Executive Director Emerita is both a Reform rabbi and a lawyer. In addition to serving as the Executive Director Emerita of Women of Reform Judaism, Rabbi Feldman currently serves ‘of counsel’ with the law firm Peer, Gan, & Gisler, specializing in clergy contracts. Previously, Rabbi Feldman was the Director of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism and Director of Development of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). Prior to her work with the Reform Movement, she served Jewish Community Relations Councils in Detroit and Delaware, where she also taught as adjunct faculty at the University of Detroit-Mercy and the Widener University College of Law in Wilmington, DE. Previously, Rabbi Feldman served congregations in Sarasota and Orlando, FL. Rabbi Feldman was ordained in 1985 at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), where she also received her M.A.H.L. in 1983. She received a J.D. from the University of Florida in 1993 and a B.A. in Jewish Studies from the University of Pennsylvania in 1979.
Administration & Operations
Bayley Swain, Senior Administrative Assistant (bswain@wrj.org, 212-650-4065), holds a bachelor’s degree in European History from Smith College and a master’s degree in Religion & Ethics from Yale. She is enormously fond of strong coffee, public radio, and almost anything written by Grace Paley.
Engagement
Heather Lorgeree, Director of Engagement (hlorgeree@wrj.org, 212-650-4063), handles support for all potential, new, and current affiliates and serves as the staff liaison for the WRJ Districts. Heather is an active member of Kol Dorot in Oradell, NJ, where she was proud to be honored as a WRJ Unsung Heroine and, most recently, a Woman of Valor. Heather enjoys baking cakes and making ice cream and is also an avid Chicago sports fan; she supports all of the teams, but the White Sox are her favorite.
Social Justice
Rena Crawford (she/her), Social Justice Manager (rcrawford@wrj.org, 212-650-4060). Rena is responsible for expanding WRJ’s commitment to improving and repairing our world. She holds relationships with coalitions, stakeholders, and WRJ members involved on the local and state level; helps advance WRJ’s high priority issues through a variety of actions; and represents WRJ in the larger field of social justice. Rena holds a Masters of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management from HUC’s Zelikow School. She and her husband live in Vermont, where she loves frequenting farmers markets, eating local delicacies like cheese and maple syrup, reading new fiction releases, doing yoga, and trying new recipes.
Jessica Cadmus (she/her), WRJ RAC Senior Legislative Assistant (jcadmus@rac.org, 202-545-3678). Jessica's legislative portfolio includes reproductive health and rights, gender equity. Jessica Cadmus just graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors of Science in Justice Studies and Political Science and a minor in Family and Human Development. In her Junior and Senior years, Jessica was the Social Impact Specialist at ASU’s Hillel and was a Service Engagement Intern with Repair the World. Originally from Los Angeles, she grew up at Temple Akiba and participated in L’Taken her sophomore year of high school sparking her interest in bringing Jewish values into social justice.
Emma Aaronson (she/her), Social Justice Intern (eaaronson@wrj.org) is currently in her second year at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion where she is pursuing a dual cantorial and rabbinical ordination. She is a Weitzman-JDC fellow and is serving as student cantor at Temple Adas Israel of Sag Harbor. Emma is passionate about the intersection of faith and activism and is honored to be part of WRJ’s work advocating for human rights and gender equity through a Jewish lens. Emma holds a bachelor’s degree in Musical Theater from UCLA.
Shayna Dollinger (she/her), Social Justice Intern (sdollinger@wrj.org) is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. Last May, she received a Masters in Educational Leadership. She is a proud alumna of Wesleyan University where she majored in Religion, Jewish Studies, and Global Engagement. Shayna spends her summers at URJ Camp Newman as the Education Director.
Marketing & Communications
Alyson Rubin (she/her), Director of Communications (arubin@wrj.org, 212-650-4062) oversees and coordinates all internal and external marketing and communications for the organization. Alyson started off her professional career as a previous Advocacy and Communications Associate at WRJ and is happy to return to an organization so dear to her heart. Alyson is a proud product of the Reform Jewish Movement and previously supported other URJ programs and affiliates including the Religious Action Center and the World Union for Progressive Judaism on communications needs. She graduated from Indiana University with degrees in journalism and political and civic engagement.
Izzy Wellman (she/her), Communications Associate (iwellman@wrj.org, 612-454-0927) Izzy began her career consulting and providing digital and social media management and coaching to Jewish nonprofits across the nation. Izzy has also given five presentations on social media topics like creating video content at several digital conferences held by 70Faces Media. A New Jersey native, Izzy was an involved member of the local Jewish community; she was a board member in her NFTY region, held several positions on her college's Hillel board, and interned at Hillel International in Washington, D.C. Her involvement has continued into her adult life with her participation in JFNA's Changemakers Fellowship in 2021 and her commitment to working in Jewish life. Upon graduation from Rowan University in Spring of 2020, Izzy relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she lives with her fiancé and their dog, Ranger.
Events & Board Leadership
Amanda Feldman, Director of Events & Leadership (afeldman@wrj.org, 212-650-4054), oversees planning and logistics for the WRJ Fried Women's Conference as well as all other conferences and committee meetings. She also is the staff liaison to the WRJ Board of Directors, working on all Board meetings, trainings, and webinars; nominations; onboarding; and other leadership-related content. A lover of travel, Amanda enjoys being able to attend WRJ events in different locations. She is an avid reader and cook who loves spending time with friends and family, a fan of the New York Rangers, and a member of the Garden City Jewish Center Sisterhood in Garden City, NY (with her mom).
Nicki Braun (she/her), Program Fellow (nbraun@wrj.org, 212-650-4061), contributes to WRJ’s programming team by supporting online programs, coordinating the microgrant program and the L’Atid new board member program, and serving as registrar for in-person events and gatherings. She brings experience working with international Jewish communities, having lived in Jerusalem while working for World Union for Progressive Judaism, and in Australia where she grew up, attending Netzer summer camps and in Netzer Australia’s leadership group. Nicki hopes to bring together her education in social and political science and environmental management, and her background, to foster lasting relationships with the WRJ community. In her free time, Nicki enjoys playing tennis, swimming in Lake Michigan, and teaching her friends Australian slang and customs.
Philanthropy
Shari Schulner, Director of Philanthropy (sschulner@wrj.org, 212-650-4072), oversees the organization’s fundraising efforts, including the YES Fund and Annual Campaign. She has a Master's degree in Childhood Special Education from Hunter College and a BA in English, Literature, and Rhetoric from SUNY Binghamton. Previous to WRJ, she worked in development serving low-income youth and their families. She loves yoga, exploring new neighborhoods, spending time with friends and family, and traveling. She grew up in Rockland County and now lives in Queens with her husband, Ethan.
Rachel Lonker (she/her), Philanthropy & Database Fellow (rlonker@wrj.org, 212-650-4074), is a recent graduate of Tulane University, where she majored in Political Science and Communication with a minor in Public Health and a certificate in Gender-Based Violence. She previously interned with Reproductive Freedom for All and Ms. Magazine. Originally from the Washington metropolitan area, Rachel grew up an active member of her temple's youth group and social justice programming. She is excited to combine her Jewish values with her passion for reproductive justice and gender equity.