Rabbi_Shmuly@utzedek.org

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz has twice been named one of America’s Top Rabbis by Newsweek and has been named by The Forward as one of  The Most Inspiring Rabbis in America as well as one of America’s 50 most influential Jews. Rabbi Yanklowitz is the author of 27 books on Jewish ethics and his writings have appeared in outlets as diverse as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Guardian, and the Atlantic among many other secular and religious publications. He has served as a speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and a Rothschild Fellow in Cambridge, UK.

Rabbi Shmuly received a Master’s degree from Harvard University and a Doctorate from Columbia University. He serves as the Founder & President of Uri L’Tzedek (the Orthodox Social Justice movement),  the President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash (Torah learning center), the Founder and CEO of Shamayim (Jewish animal advocacy), and the Founder and President of YATOM (Jewish foster and adoption network). Rabbi Shmuly and Shoshana live in Scottsdale, Arizona. They have also served as foster parents to several children.

Emma Goldblatt has been a passionate animal advocate for as long as she can remember. From a young age, she dedicated her Bat Mitzvah project to Southwest Wildlife Sanctuary, sparking a lifelong commitment to animal welfare. She stopped eating meat at age 16 and became vegan after graduating from college. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Emma runs a professional pet care business and works with  Shamayim: Jewish Animal Advocacy and the  Peace Advocacy Network to champion a better life for all animals. As a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, she also empowers others to embrace plant-based, whole-food nutrition for optimal health and well-being.

Isaac Blumenthal is a motivated recent College graduate who is devoted to social justice. In December of 2023, he graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in environmental studies while minoring in food systems, sustainability, and equity. Immediately after, he moved to Arizona to work with Uri L’Tzedek. From a young age, Isaac has been interested in helping vulnerable populations both domestically and globally. He has demonstrated his passion for international aid as he has been involved with organizations based out of South Africa, Ecuador, and Israel. 

Marko Gasparovic is an educator dedicated to advancing social justice through the lens of Jewish values. With over 10 years of experience teaching piano and a background in Musicology and Music Management from the Sorbonne University in Paris, Marko has redirected his focus towards a career in the rabbinate. Currently studying at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York, he is passionate about integrating Torah learning with activism, fostering inclusivity, and uplifting marginalized voices. Marko is committed to aligning Jewish tradition with the pursuit of justice, making a meaningful impact within and beyond the Jewish community.

Brandon Nahsonhoya (Tewa/ Hopi) began work as a security driver for a human trafficking recovery program with F.I.R.E and Go to Work in 2016. He has an extensive background in personal security as he has worked in executive protection serving high level executives and athletes.  He has also been trained by survivors of human trafficking and Side by Side International Church in safe recovery techniques. Brandon currently leads a Men’s and youth empowerment program. He engages boys and men in addressing violence against women and all persons. Recently, he expanded youth services through sports and providing education/awareness on sex trafficking, social media dangers, health and wellness. His experiences continue with Honwungsi Consulting Services, LLC who partners and works directly with Law enforcement and First responder personnel. Honwungsi also works closely with all 22 Arizona Tribal Nations and throughout the country bringing awareness and education on MMIP. Family Services are also provided through their Missing Persons Recovery Program and Human Trafficking Recovery Team. In his free time he is a football and basketball coach at the Junior high and High School level.

Angelique Restivo is a passionate biracial Jewish young adult who is committed to social justice. Growing up with a strong sense of her Jewish identity and a deep understanding of her mixed heritage, she has always been interested in advocating for marginalized communities. Angelique is a recent graduate of Arizona State University and is actively involved in local organizations that focus on issues such as racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigrant rights. Her goal is to use her education and experiences to make a meaningful impact in the world and create a more just and equitable society. 

 As a Consultant at SM Bookkeeping Services LLP, Neel has had the opportunity to work with over 200 clients from all over the world over the past seven years. His expertise lies in bookkeeping and accounting, accounts payable and receivable, payroll administration, and staff and junior accounting. In addition, he is well-versed in popular accounting software such as Quickbooks Online, Xero, Netsuite, and Wave App. 

Valerie Smith is a junior at Arizona State University, where she passionately advocates for queer rights and embraces her Jewish identity. Committed to justice and equality, Valerie actively fights for social change while proudly upholding her Jewish ethics. Her dedication extends beyond human causes; she loves to volunteer in support of animal welfare, demonstrating her deep compassion for all living beings. Valerie’s vibrant activism and community involvement reflect her unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.

David Scherzer is a Communications Specialist from New York who currently resides in South Florida. A proud Jew and passionate vegan since 2019, David brings with him over a decade of copywriting and journalism experience across a variety of sectors including non-profits, tech, telecom, sports, and hospitality. David holds a BA degree in Communications from CUNY Queens College.

In his free time, David’s dog takes David on long walks, or you can probably find David in the kitchen trying a new plant-based recipe he found on social media. 

Rosh Kehilah Dina Najman is the Marta d’Atra and Senior Rabbi of The Kehilah in Riverdale. From 2006-2013, RK Najman was the Marta d’Atrah at Kehilat Orach Eliezer in Manhattan (the first Orthodox synagogue to appoint a woman as senior Rabbi of a shul). She is head of the Gemara department at SAR Academy in Riverdale, NY. RK Najman has extensive experience teaching and speaking in the Jewish community on topics ranging from bioethics to environmental law. Rosh Kehilah Najman has served on the board of the Halakhic Organ Donor Society (HODS) for more than a decade and presently serves on the YCT and JOFA Advisory Boards as well. She participated in JOFA’s Agunah Task Force where she was the Education Committee chair.

Rosh Kehilah Najman studied at Michlalah in Jerusalem where she earned a teaching certificate. She went on to Yeshiva University, where she majored in Biology and minored in Judaic Studies, Music and Speech/Drama. Upon graduation, Rosh Kehilah Najman studied as a Drisha fellow and then went on to study at Nishmat, where she learned in their Machon Gavoha/Niddah learning program. She received her Rabbinic Ordination from Rabbi Professor Daniel Sperber. Rosh Kehilah Najman was a Torat Miriam Fellow and earned her certification in Bioethics and Medical Humanities from NYU/Einstein Bioethics and Medical Humanities Certificate Program. She compiled Jewish legal source material for HODS and has developed and taught halakhic curricula for the Drisha Institute as well as Ma’ayanot and SAR Yeshivot. RK Najman is a Senior Rabbinic Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem.

Evan is currently an Associate in the Commercial Litigation Group at Reed Smith LLP. He graduated in 1999 from Yale University with Distinction in Religious Studies, and in 2003 from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Evan has also clerked for Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of the Southern District of New York and for Judge Robert S. Smith of the New York Court of Appeals.

Evan has provided pro bono counsel to several synagogues and other Jewish institutions. He has served on the Board of Directors of Panim: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values, where he had previously completed a year-long fellowship, and of his shul, Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Evan has also volunteered for other organizations, including the Unemployment Action Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, and the Anti-Defamation League.

Dr. Lauren Gottlieb Lockshin is an assistant professor of history at Touro College’s Lander College for Women where she teaches modern and early modern Europe. Her research areas include modern French and Jewish history, and the history of antisemitism. She completed her Ph.D. in History at Yale University in 2019. Dr. Lockshin lives in New York City with her husband and three daughters. 

Rabbi April Villarreal has worked in Jewish education for over ten years as a classroom teacher in both orthodox and community day schools during which they were awarded the Covenant Foundation’s Pomegranate Prize for emerging Jewish educators. Currently, they teach Talmud and Tanach at de Toledo High School and serve as a Senior Coach and Program Manager at Pedagogy of Partnership. At the center of all of their work is their belief in Judaism’s ability to help people discover and nourish their best selves. They received semikha (rabbinic ordination) from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, as well as from Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo. A graduate of UCLA in the Study of Religion, they also hold a Master’s Degree in Teaching from the American Jewish University.