Hi, I’m Allison Josephs

Allison Josephs has been involved in the field of Jewish education for over twenty years and is the Partner in Torah mentor to actress Mayim Bialik. Variety named her as an advocate for inclusivity in the entertainment industry in its 2022 Inclusion Impact Report. Allison has been quoted or written about in numerous publications, including Variety, Newsweek, Daily Mail, Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, People Magazine, NYPost, Daily News, TMZ, The Daily Beast, and Hollywood Reporter. She has appeared on numerous television and radio networks including CBS, ABC, Chris Cuomo’s News Nation, Fox5, TLC, Associate Press TV, and NPR; her articles have appeared in publications including Variety, The Washington Post, NYPost, Daily News, JTA, Jewish Week, Jerusalem Post, and The Forward.

Pearson Education, the largest textbook company in the world, produced a video segment on Allison’s life for the Judaism chapter of their textbook. She is a sought-after international lecturer who has spoken at Congress  and whose corporate clients include Con-Edison and NYU Langone and hosts a weekly podcast on the Nachum Segal Network. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University in Philosophy and lives with her husband and four children minutes from the George Washington Bridge.

Tammy started her career in finance, working as a credit analyst in JPMorgan Chase’s middle market group. She enjoyed the team aspect of her job and helping clients achieve their financial goals but lacked passion for the industry. During a long hiatus to focus on her children, Tammy volunteered for a variety of Jewish nonprofits and put her organizational and creative skills to use running her school’s PTA for several years. Tammy enjoys modest fashion, historical fiction and any good food she doesn’t have to cook herself. She earned a BA at Barnard in Economics.

Bonnie is an experienced finance and operations professional who has managed projects in industries ranging from technology start-ups to summer camps. She specializes in creating stable financial infrastructure and using data analytics in both the for-profit and non-profit industries. She’s an expert in SalesForce and Quickbooks and has swum the English Channel. She earned an MBA from Columbia Business School, a BA from Johns Hopkins in Economics, and is pursuing a second Masters in Accounting from Baruch.

Kaplan is an award-winning writer/producer and directed multiple short documentaries for NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change. She is the co-founder of Hollywood Resumes, a career services business dedicated to entertainment industry professionals and spent 8 years at Endeavor-owned agency Signal Entertainment Marketing, where she executed brand integrations with Disney, Paramount, and other major production partners. Previously, she worked at Kids at Play, where she wrote and produced content for Disney Jr., Yahoo!, VEVO, and Electus, and managed a development slate of reality series. Originally from Brooklyn, she graduated from the Yeshivah of Flatbush and Brandeis University with a BA in American Studies, Creative Writing, and Journalism.

Alex is an editor, writer and content creator. Most recently she served as the Editor-in-Chief of 2.0, Mishpacha’s business magazine. Before that she was the News Editor at People Style where she covered entertainment, fashion, beauty and lifestyle. She has interviewed dozens of celebrities including Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson, and Melissa McCarthy. She’s worked and created partnerships with influencers, hosted and produced videos and managed the brand’s social media accounts. Previously, she worked as an assistant editor at Seventeen. Her work has also appeared on POPSUGAR.com, People.com, Time.com, SHAPE and the website she launched, Chai on Life, which profile and highlights inspirational Jewish women. She is a graduate of Binghamton University with a degree in English.

Ben Michals is a creative producer and content developer with experience in technology, music production, and social media. With a combined TikTok and Instagram following of nearly 200,000, Ben has fist-hand experience producing meaningful content to build an online community. Thought his career, Ben has collaborated with industry leaders such as Google, Instagram, HBO, and Reddit, contributing through impactful content creation. His work has been featured in digital outlets such as Buzzfeed and 9Gag. Ben holds degrees in both Computer Science and Music from Brown University and also serves as producer at Trivium Interactive in Boston.

Jack Abramowitz is the editor of OU Torah www.ou.org/torah. Among the many educational initiatives he has created over the years are the Orthodox Union’s Nach Yomi – a daily chapter of study followed by thousands worldwide – and NCSY’s “Torah on One Foot” series. He is the author of six books, including The Tzniyus Book and The Taryag Companion. For more Q&A, follow his new video series, Ask Rabbi Jack, on YouTube.

Elie is the Creative Director and owner of Elie Creative LLC. With a dual degree in film and photography from The Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, and over 18 years of photography and video production experience behind him, Elie has produced work for numerous corporations, non-profits and schools, including NBC, Hilton, Yeshiva University, The Maccabeats, and many more. Elie also enjoys creating stories from precious moments in people’s lives. Working with Jew in the City allows Elie to express his creative side and have a little fun with it. Action!

Chaya is the founder and creative director of Teitel Creative. With close to 10 years of experience in design and marketing Chaya combines her knowledge, inspiration and keen eye for detail to provide custom design solutions along with the highest levels of customer service in the industry. Chaya’s obsession with logo design and deep understanding of branding and identity development makes her the go-to designer for any startup

Zeldy grew up in a very close and tight-knit chasidish community in Brooklyn. She yearned to find her spiritual individuality and gain a deeper emotional and intellectual understanding of G-d. Zeldy became a certified life coach in order to help others find the same happiness she was able to find on her journey. In her spare time, Zeldy loves to dance and exercise. Before Makom she taught children in a local Jewish school. Zeldy lives in North Jersey with her husband and four beautiful children

Ben Madsen is a school psychologist at a Yeshiva High School in New Jersey. He grew up in a Reform/Conservative Jewish community in Boston, Massachusetts. After encountering his Jewish identity as a young adult at Tufts University, he decided to expand his Jewish education after finishing his college degree in Clinical Psychology at Tufts University in 2013. After two years in yeshiva, Ben met his wife, they got married, and they spent a year in Israel learning Torah in Yerushalayim. They returned to the states so Ben could pursue his dream of becoming a therapist. In grad school at Rutgers, Ben learned experientially in four different school settings and a clinic in New Jersey, all while taking classes and being an active member of the Edison Chabura, run by Rabbi Billowitz. Beyond his professional interests, he likes biking with his kids, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and hosting fire-pit kumzitses in his back yard.

Tzophia Stepansky graduated Yeshiva University with a double major in Judaic Studies and Psychology. She feels passionate about both subjects which is why she is currently in a full-time program, GPATS, dedicated to learning Torah at an advanced level for Orthodox women. She also plans to pursue her passion of psychology by training to be a therapist. Tzophia loves broadening her horizons by meeting people from all walks of life, which is why she loves conversing with people about their lives and traveling to see other cultures.

Anna Yolkut spends most of her time in her other roles as Judaic teacher, community rebbetzin, wife and mother. She is the daughter of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and she was raised with a strong Jewish identity, if not a fully observant lifestyle. As a young teen, inspired by her extended Lubavitch family, as well as local friends in her NJ suburb, with the help of NCSY, she embarked on a journey towards a fully immersive, committed, halachic lifestyle. That journey included time studying in Israel as well as a degree from Yeshiva University. She has been involved in Jewish education in one way or another ever since. Anna is passionate about the idea of Orthodox Judaism as a big tent with room for many different approaches to serving G-d. She loves raising her family in Pittsburgh, PA, a Jewish community that does its best to embody that idea.

Nechuma works as a school reading specialist in Brooklyn and maintains a private practice. She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham method and holds an MS in special education. Nechuma was raised in a Hasidic community and at the age of 25 found herself on journey of redefining her Judaism and connection to God. She now lives as a modern Orthodox Jew in Brooklyn. Nechuma brings the experience of her journey to Makom, a branch of Jew in the City which helps disenfranchised Haredi Jews find a positive place in Judaism. In her spare time, Nechuma enjoys traveling, hiking and being surrounded by nature.

Mayer Fertig is a communications and public relations executive who served in senior communications roles at the American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, the Orthodox Union, and Yeshiva University. Earlier, he was a journalist in both print and broadcast media, including as managing editor of WCBS Newsradio 880 in New York City, and publisher and editor of a weekly newspaper on Long Island called The Jewish Star. He co-founded a volunteer ambulance corps and serves at his synagogue both as a member of the board of directors and on the congregation’s security team.

An entrepreneur turned angel investor, Mark has been investing in early-stage ventures full time for the last 5 years. He founded Regah Ventures to invest in visionary entrepreneurs who are transforming the world and improving lives. Mark’s deep network in the VC community and startup venture space has propelled Regah Ventures to amass an impressive track record including 51 portfolio investments, 13 exits, and 7 unicorns. According to PitchBook’s “2018 Unicorn Report”, Mark is listed as one of the top unicorn investors at the seed stage

Elliot Press is a Partner on the Private Transactions team at Deerfield Management Company, a healthcare investment firm located in New York City. Elliot joined Deerfield in 2016 to work on structured transactions for the Deerfield Funds. Prior to joining Deerfield, Elliot was a Partner in the corporate department at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, where he practiced for 20 years and co-headed the New York securities group. At the firm, he represented investors and issuers in various public company investment transactions, IPOs, mergers and acquisitions and other securities-related transactions and advised investors and issuers on various securities law-related issues. Elliotreceived a B.A. from Yeshiva University, a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and an M.B.A. from Fordham Graduate School of Business Administration.

Michael Sage is a founding partner of Sozo Investment Partners LLC (SIP) and is a well-respected bankruptcy lawyer for over thirty years. Michael is an active member of his community and recently received the Community Leadership Award by the Jewish Family Service of Clifton/Passaic, NJ. Prior to SIP, Michael was the co-chair of the Dechert LLP’s financial restructuring practice. Michael is a member of the Board of Contributors of The Bankruptcy Strategist and has authored several bankruptcy related articles appearing in Practicing Law Institute publications. He is also a contributing author of Contested Valuation in Corporate Bankruptcy: A Collier Monograph, “Value Allocation,” (2011). Michael received his law degree from Emory University, with Honors, and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Vermont.

Herman Friedman is a dynamic entrepreneur with almost two decades of start-up success in multiple industries. Launched in 2018, he is the founder and president of QRM (Quality Rehab Management), servicing 35 states. Previously, he was the founder and president of BluePax Pharma, licensed distributor and wholesaler of generic pharmaceutical products. He was also the founder and former president of Apra International LLC, a manufacturer and distributor of premium fragrance celebrity lines for mass markets. In addition to his professional achievements, he has made a broader impact as one of the first visionaries to lobby for prison reform through the First Step Act, which passed in 2018. Though hailing from the hasidic community, Herman is passionate about all Orthodox Jews making a kiddush hashem in society and he is committed to eliminating division within the Jewish community.

Joyce Azria is the founder and CEO of Aven Les Filles which debuted its apparel collection to 155 Macy’s stores in February. Prior to that, she was the Creative Director of BCBGeneration. In her five years leading the company, she took it to over a quarter billion dollars and brought it to over two hundred locations–spanning twenty-nine states. They partnered with Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Macy’s and Dillard’s.

Mike Swieca helps manage alternative investments at Talpion Fund Management, a private investment firm based in NYC. He has a BA in Middle Eastern & Asian History from Northwestern University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He is also on the board of his family’s philanthropic foundation which supports a number of Jewish and Israel related causes.

Sarah Hofstetter is the president of Profitero. Before that she was the president of Comscore and the Global CEO of 360i, a firm which was named No. 2 on Ad Age’s Agency A-List as well as Mashable’s best Digital Agency of 2013. Her clients included Coca-Cola, Ben and Jerry’s, Oreo, Verizon and HBO. Hofstetter has won numerous industry honors, including being named to Ad Age’s “40 Under 40” for 2013 and CableFAX’s Digital Hot List. She has been honored as a “Social Media All-Star” by the Social Media Society and as one 2012’s Female Advertising Executives of the Year at The Stevie Awards.