Young NYJA Leaders Network - New York Jewish Agenda

NYJA Young Leaders Network

What is NYJA?

New York Jewish Agenda advocates, organizes, and convenes to promote the values of liberal Jewish New Yorkers to influence state and local policies, politics, and the communal discourse. We envision a future where the Jewish communal and political discourse in New York are deeply rooted in and guided by liberal Jewish values.

Liberal and progressive Jewish New Yorkers can bring their full political selves to NYJA: domestic politics that are grounded in social justice alongside a nuanced perspective on Israel, geared towards those who feel caught in the middle and who strive to lean into complexity. As a representative of New York’s liberal and progressive Jewish majority, we ensure that this set of politics are accurately reflected in our state and local policies, politics, and the communal discourse.

Areas of Focus

Nuanced Approach to Fighting Antisemitism:

NYJA works to ensure that New York leaders take antisemitism seriously while approaching it with nuance. We oppose its weaponization by illiberal actors and advocate for responses that effectively counter antisemitism. Our work spans the political spectrum, challenging rising antisemitism wherever it arises, and calling balls and strikes as it is co-opted or weaponized for political gain.

Legislative Advocacy

NYJA advocates at the city, state, and federal levels on key issues like the migrant crisis, criminal justice reform, access to education, and combating antisemitism and all forms of hate. We engage primarily at the grasstops level, advising elected officials and mobilizing Jewish leaders to support or oppose legislation based on our values. We both champion bills directly and collaborate in coalitions.

Rapid Response:

NYJA mobilizes quickly around urgent issues, leveraging our broad network to respond publicly and behind the scenes. Our actions have included sign-on letters regarding Jewish and secular issues–ranging from reproductive justice to countering hate online–to our elected officials, organizing timely public-facing actions and assisting other leaders and organizations in their rapid response (i.e. organizing a protest of Ben-Gvir’s visit to NYC), and organizing a Jewish response to attacks on our immigrant neighbors. We also advise elected officials, convene Jewish leaders and experts during crises, and host rapid response briefings to guide community action.

Young Leaders Network

NYJA’s Young Leaders Network is a community of Jewish New Yorkers aged 21 \- 35 who are passionate about social justice and civic engagement. Participants come together to learn, connect, and take action. Young Leaders have the opportunity to develop and elevate thought leadership on issues liberal and progressive Jewish New Yorkers care about, as well as learn from the broader NYJA community and other Young Leaders through social, educational, and action-oriented programming.

What can I expect from the Young Leaders Network?

You’ll have access to a range of social, political, and educational opportunities, including happy hours and community gatherings, special briefings on key policy issues, and invitations to participate in NYJA’s lobby days and rapid-response actions (e.g., rallies, sign-on letters)

You will also have the opportunity to participate in NYJA surveys and informal polling so that we can get a real-time understanding of how our community is thinking about core issues of import to Jewish New Yorkers, such as elections and related discourse, Israel and the war in Gaza, city and state policies, and more.

To join NYJA’s Young Leaders Network we ask that you make a meaningful, yet manageable commitment to support our work to develop this community of Jewish New Yorkers. We suggest an annual contribution of $36, $54, or $72+ based on your ability and comfort level, which can be made via the donate page on our website.

How can I apply?

Please send an email with your name and short (really!) answers to the following. There are no right or wrong answers, but we’re interested in learning more about you!

How do your Jewish and political identities intersect right now?
Why do you want to join the NYJA Young Leaders Network?

*You can learn more about our approach to Israel/Palestine on the ‘Our Platform’ page, as well as previous statements, webinars, and more.

Rabbi Rachel Timoner

Co-Founder & Board Member

Rabbi Rachel Timoner is the senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Elohim, a synagogue based in Brooklyn, New York. She helped to launch RAC-NY and Reform California, two statewide efforts to bring Reform Jewish values to bear on core issues of our times. In November 2016, Rabbi Timoner, in cooperation with City Councilmember Brad Lander, founded #GetOrganizedBK to protect human rights and democracy in the Trump years.

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum

Co-Founder & Board Member

Rabbi Kleinbaum is the Director for The Beacon and Senior Rabbi Emerita for Congregation Beit Simchat Torah. Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum has dedicated her life to promoting social justice, LGBTQ+ and human rights, and progressive values within Judaism. Rabbi Kleinbaum served as a Commissioner on the New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR). Rabbi Kleinbaum is on the Executive Council for New York State’s Interfaith Council and the Co-Chair for the Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet of JStreet.

Karyn Gershon

Board Member

Karyn Grossman Gershon is the CEO of Project Kesher, a nonprofit building Jewish life and empowering women leaders in Ukraine, Israel and Belarus. In Israel, Karyn has been at the forefront of supporting programming and advocacy for Ukrainian and Russian women immigrants and refugees and the Russian-speaking LGBTQ community.

Nancy Kaufman

Board Chair

Nancy Kaufman is a coach for women in the c-suite and a consultant for not-for-profits. She most recently served as CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW,) a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates inspired by Jewish values. NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.

Amy Spitalnick

Board Member

Amy Spitalnick is the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the national convener of Jewish coalitions working across communities to build a just and inclusive American democracy. She previously served as Executive Director of Integrity First for America, which became a powerful national voice in the fight against white supremacy and extremism.

Phylisa Wisdom

Executive Director

Phylisa Wisdom comes to NYJA with a life-long commitment to service that she acquired growing up in a tight knit Reform temple community in San Diego. With that anchor, she has rooted all her professional commitments thus far in the deeply-held value of tikkun olam. Her Ladino-speaking Sephardic grandmother from The Bronx instilled a deep appreciation for the diversity of Jewish communities in New York City.

Brad Lander

Co-Founder

Comptroller Brad Lander serves as New York City’s chief financial officer, leading an office of roughly 800 public servants in their work to promote the financial health, integrity, and effectiveness of city government and secure a more thriving and sustainable future for all New Yorkers.

Amy Rutkin

Amy Rutkin is a veteran government and political leader with 25+ years of Capitol Hill and New York experience. She served as Staff Director to the House Judiciary Committee (the first-ever Democratic woman in the role) and Chief of Staff to Congressman Jerrold Nadler, and is a trusted advisor to Democratic Leadership and the White House.

Naomi Horn

Naomi joined NYJA in 2025 and serves as the Engagement Manager. She previously worked as an analyst at a research agency, where she specialized in social and political insights. Naomi graduated from Swarthmore College with a degree in Economics & Educational Studies. She founded a small grassroots minyan in 2023 and enjoys testing the limits of how many people can fit in her apartment for Shabbat.

Jacob Tolson

Jacob joined New York Jewish Agenda (NYJA) in 2024 and serves as the Programming and Political Manager. Previously, Jacob was the Project Manager for a series of interfaith trainings aimed at stemming domestic terrorism and hate-based violence at a large Jewish nonprofit, and has volunteered for several local and state candidates in New York City. Jacob holds a B.A. in Political Science, Middle Eastern Studies, and History from Duke University. Jacob grew up on the Upper West Side and enjoys cooking, watching Duke basketball and the Yankees, and spending time with family in his free time.