Director
Jonathan Shulman Rabbi Jonathan Shulman served as Director of the Orthodox Union’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus at the University of Pennsylvania from 2010-2014, before transitioning into his new role as Associate Director of JLIC and Director of JLIC Israel. He received his BA in Foreign Affairs from The University of Virginia and studied at Yeshivat Mir in Jerusalem. Rabbi Shulman has worked in international development in northern India, restaurant management and development, and is an Iyengar yoga instructor. He is originally from Washington, DC and now lives with his wife Jenny and their three children in Jerusalem.
Associate Director
Gracie Newmark is Yavneh’s Associate Director. She completed a dual masters degree in Public Administration and Hebrew & Judaic Studies at NYU. She received her BA from Muhlenberg College, where she was a Yavneh fellow and campus mentor as well as a fellow of the Nachshon Project. Gracie is from Merion Station PA, and currently resides in the Upper West Side of NYC with her husband, Tony, whom she met on the OU-JLIC Summer in Jerusalem program! Gracie is passionate about leadership, coaching, and building Jewish community. In her free time, Gracie can be found on the Pickleball courts in Central Park.
Director of Student Leadership
Jeremy Tibbetts studied Public Health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and is currently a candidate for rabbinical ordination and studying at Yeshivat Siach Yitzchak. He is the Director of Student Leadership at Yavneh On Campus, where he works with students on over 40 college campuses to build local Jewish communities and establish a campus-wide Jewish student movement. In addition, Jeremy works with gap year students to prepare them for their college experience. Jeremy lives with his wife Emily and their dog Rosie in Baka, Jerusalem, where he loves to study mysticism, play tennis, and write. He is always in the mood for a seltzer.
Senior Educator
Tal Attia Tal Attia is JLIC’s Chief Operating Officer. In addition broader oversight over the organization, Tal drives the recruitment and placement of JLIC's all-star staff. She previously served as JLIC Director at Brandeis and Binghamton Universities with her husband Isaac. Tal is passionate about community-building, Jewish and Experiential education, and mentorship. After learning in Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim (MMY), Tal received a BA in Psychology from Stern College for Women, and an MA in Nonprofit Management & Leadership from Hebrew University. In Israel, she worked for Ayeka Center for Soulful Education, and MMY as an Activities Coordinator (Rakezet). While on campus, Tal participated in the Matan-Eshkolot Professional Development Fellowship for Jewish educators. She is an avid reader, enjoys hiking (especially in Israel!), and can often be found perusing studies about Psychology or Adaptive Leadership. Tal and Isaac live in Long Beach, NY with their adorable (if they do say so themselves) children..
Director of Summer Programs
Yonina (Silverman) Rosenthal was born and raised in New Jersey. After spending 2 years studying in Israel at Migdal Oz, she joined the Jewish community in downtown New York City and started attending Hunter College where she double majored in Psychology and Judaic Studies. She spent many summers at Camp Stone where she has strengthened her love for Torah and informal education in her many different roles. Yonina has a master's in nonprofit management from Hebrew University and is working towards getting a second master's degree in Jewish Education. She is also part of the Nachshon Project Graduate fellowship which has helped her get to where she is today. With her past work experience as a placement coordinator from Onward Israel, Yonina is very much looking forward to giving future participants an unparalleled experience on the JLIC summer programs in Israel.
Engagement Manager
Tal Ershler was born and raised in Detroit and is passionate about building community and developing leaders. He recently graduated from Brandeis University’s Hornstein Program with a Master's Degree in Jewish Nonprofit Management and an MBA. During his time at Brandeis, Tal served as Yavneh’s New England Coordinator. Prior to that, he studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion and Yeshiva University.
Tal has also served as an educator at Camp Stone and the Maimonides School. He is very excited to support Yavneh’s Strategic Expansion and run Yavneh’s new LEAD Fellowship, which is geared towards students who have completed Yavneh’s program for first-year students. Tal lives on New York’s Upper West Side with his wife Leora.
Yavneh Coordinator - New York & New Jersey
Zev Roberts grew up in Maryland, spent a year learning Torah at Yeshiva Orayta in Yerushalayim, and recently graduated with a degree in History from the University of Maryland. He is passionate about leadership, hospitality, and value-driven community development. He is excited to be in his second year with Yavneh, building the Jewish present and future.
Yavneh Coordinator - DMV, Southeast, & Young Professionals
Jocelyn Baruch was born and raised in Merrick, NY. She graduated Yeshiva University with a major in Strategy and Entrepreneurship and a minor in marketing. When she graduated, she moved to Washington, D.C, where she now lives with her husband. She has been involved with Yavneh for the past 3 years and loves every minute of it..
Yavneh Israel Coordinator
Miriam Pincus Gold, originally from Cleveland, completed her undergraduate degree from Binghamton University and her MSW from Wurzweiler school of social work. Miriam was involved in the Yavneh on Campus fellowship throughout her college experience both as a fellow and then on the National Board, as the mentorship chair. Miriam currently leads Yavneh B’Aretz, Yavneh’s pre-college leadership training fellowship for students eager to develop their leadership skills before heading to campus. In addition, she also coordinates programming for yYvneh events that occur in Israel. In addition to Yavneh, Miriam works as a clinical social worker and lives in Baka, Jerusalem with her husband Akiva.
Yavneh Coordinator - Midwest, Canada, & New England
Maayan Sandowski is a Yavneh Regional Coordinator. She was born and raised in Woodmere, New York. After her time in Israel at Midreshet Lindenbaum, she attended Queens College and graduated with a BA in applied mathematics. In her time in college she immersed herself in the Yavneh fellowship, soaking in the leadership opportunities and resources. As a recent graduate, she is excited to be part of the Yavneh team and help grow the leadership of the Jewish community.
Rabbi David and Shana Kashani
JLIC-Yavneh Valley Hub Directors
David and Shana Kashani are a dynamic couple with a shared passion for creating a vibrant Jewish community in the valley. As the new OU-JLIC couple of the area, they are thrilled to embark on this new journey together. David brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served as the JLIC President at UCLA and as the Yavneh West Regional Coordinator, where he successfully established the Yavneh community on the west coast. With his expertise in community building, David is well-equipped to lead the effort to bring together Jewish college students in the valley.
Yavneh Coordinator - West Coast
Dylan Rashtizadeh was born and raised in Los Angeles. He graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics and a minor in Accounting. As the Yavneh West Coast Coordinator, Dylan works towards strengthening the Jewish community across the West Coast by helping organize various events and programs. In his free time, Dylan enjoys playing basketball, watching TV shows, playing cards, and reading books.
Accounting and Operations Associate
Sophie Maimon is originally from Seattle but has spent the last 6 years living in New York. She graduated from Queens College with a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and a minor in Arabic. Sophie has been working for Yavneh for almost three years and was also a fellow in college. Sophie oversees the reimbursement system for both Yavneh on Campus and our Young Professionals and assists with some admin work.
