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For Rabbi Mary Zamore, navigating challenging moments is part of her life’s work. Rabbi Zamore has been a guide for her community throughout the last 25 years. Today, she serves as the Executive Director of the Women’s Rabbinic Network, where she promotes the contributions and growth of rabbis who are women, championing initiatives that foster justice and equity within the Reform Movement and beyond. In this episode, she talks with Elana about the imperative of showing up for her community in difficult times and how she stays grounded in this work. The two also discuss how Jewish leadership has evolved since the first woman, Rabbi Sally Priesand, was ordained 50 years ago this June.

Hen Mazzig embodies many identities; he is an Israeli writer and educator, the son of Amazigh and Iraqi refugees, co-founder of the Tel Aviv Institute, and much more. As a digital influencer and Senior Fellow at the Tel Aviv Institute, Hen advocates for Jewish people, the LGBTQ+ community, and other minorities around the world. Hen joins Ilana in this episode, sharing how his upbringing and military service motivated him to create change on a broad scale. As Jews of Color, Hen and Ilana also discuss the breadth and diversity of their community and how such terms can resonate across cultural experience.

Mamie Kanfer Stewart is determined to help people work better together. That’s why she founded her company, Meeteor, where she and her team support clients in improving collaboration -- namely, through more thoughtful, productive meetings. In this episode, Mamie and Gali dig into the elements of a strong, healthy work culture and why it’s so important to be accountable as a leader today.

How can we turn landmark moments into long-term progress? Shana Aaronson is the Executive Director of Magen for Jewish Communities, an Israel-based non-profit providing advocacy, awareness, and support around sexual abuse. She and her team do vital work that requires patience and resilience. Shana sits down with Elana to share her vision of community safety and the promising turning points she’s seen over the last couple of years. Content warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual abuse.

Jordan Daniels is here to change the world. This is something the San Diego-based storyteller has learned through his journey toward radical self-love and liberation. As a writer, podcaster, and photographer, Jordan offers thoughtful commentary on the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, fashion, and body positivity. He joins Ilana to share how he leads by example, integrating his own identities to embrace and express his whole self. Content warning: This episode contains discussion of self-harm.

Vu Le isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind. For the last decade, the writer, speaker, and “unemployed rabble-rouser” has been busy exploring the fun and frustration of nonprofit work through his popular blog, Nonprofit AF. Vu cut his teeth as a nonprofit Executive Director and now uses his understanding of the nonprofit ecosystem to offer sharp commentary with a healthy dose of humor. In this episode, Vu and Gali dig into the awesomeness of nonprofit work and discuss how we can revolutionize the sector to create more opportunities for progress.

What does it mean to lead long term change? Ginna Green is a strategist, writer, and movement-builder who is helping people do just that. As partner of the social impact firm, Uprise, she guides those who are on the frontlines of social justice in taking meaningful steps forward. Ginna joins Elana Wien to discuss what it takes to push talk into action and why it’s vital to foreground the voices of those who are most affected when undertaking social change efforts.

Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife is disrupting expectations about what it means to practice Judaism. As the Executive Director of the Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute and founder of Kesher Pittsburgh, she brings her community together and offers space to connect, reflect, and discover embodied, Earth-based spirituality. In this episode, she speaks with Ilana Kaufman about reclaiming ancient traditions and rituals to create an inclusive, liberated experience for all who seek it.

Welcome to season two of Just Leading, where we’re thinking differently about leadership within and beyond the Jewish world. Co-hosts Elana Wien, Gali Cooks, and Ilana Kaufman are back and ready to dig into what it means to lead today; a time full of challenges -- and opportunities! They’ll be joined by inspiring leaders who are stepping up when it really counts, steering us through uncertainty and toward a better future. First, our three trailblazing hosts sit down to catch up and share their intentions for this season.

What are the steps you need to climb to reach the ladder of success? To answer this question, Elana, Gali, and Ilana unite for a final conversation with the President and CEO of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Rachel Garbow Monroe. In this discussion, Rachel shares the advice she wishes she could have given her 22-year-old self, what keeps her centered, and how in times of doubt, you should always make room for the mazel.

Shifra Bronznick has spent 60 years fighting for women. First as a suffragist, then feminist, and now a “deeply intersectional feminist” who aims to dismantle white supremacy in Jewish spaces. In conversation with Elana, Shifra discusses how to turn an initiative into a longstanding organization, why more women should become Rabbis, and how we are all responsible for ensuring there are structures in place to support the next generation.

Congressional Representative of North Carolina Kathy Manning knows that perseverance is a key factor to her success. After losing her first Congressional race, Rep. Manning learned that coming second in a race should not diminish her desire to lead. Two years later, she won. In this interview, Kathy talks to Gali about the experience of raising children as a working mom, feeling like a “freshman again” in Congress, and how you should never wait to be chosen in life.