URJ/ARZA Israel Speakers Bureau

Our Israel speakers bureau is a resource for finding a speaker for an event at your congregation/community. See below for the list of speakers available. Please fill out the form to let us know who you are interested in having. Someone from the URJ’s team will follow up about your request.

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Gidi Aizen

Legal Advisor and KKL Consultant

Gidi Aizen
Organization: Arzenu
Location: Israel

Topics: WZC 101 – Why you Should Vote Reform, General Israel Update

Types of events: Virtual

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Rabbi Lindsey Danziger

World Zionist Congress Campaign Manager

Rabbi Lindsey Danziger
Organization: URJ
Location: Nashville, TN

Topics: WZC 101 – Why you Should Vote Reform, The Reform Movement and liberal Judaism in Israel

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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Rabbi Lindsey Danziger is the National Director of Campaigns at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism where she leads a team of campaign professionals and organizers in crafting our movement’s strategy to bring more justice into the world. As the Campaign Manager of Vote Reform’s 2025 World Zionist Congress Campaign, Lindsey is steeped in all things WZC, and our campaign tactics and strategy. She has 8 years of experience working with synagogues and clergy across the country in their work to organize and mobilize in support of Jewish values. She is also an adjunct professor at The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where she teaches Community Organizing.

Ariel Fogelman

Director of Yallah! Israel

Ariel Fogelman

Organization: URJ
Location: Israel

Topics: General Israel Update, WZC 101 – Why you Should Vote Reform, The Reform Movement and liberal Judaism in Israel, Democracy in Israel and Judicial Overhaul, Religion and State in Israel

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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Prior to Yallah! Israel, Ariel served as Director of programs for Keshet Educational Tourism and as director of the Haifa University Tour Guides Course. Ariel continues to do reserve duty in the IDF Educational Corps as a Commander at the Speakers unit, in charge of contextualizing security situations for soldiers on ground at changing circumstances and war times. Ariel earned a master’s degree in Jewish education from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and is a graduate of the Israeli School of Tourism at Haifa University. He is a featured guest lecturer for Teacher and Guide Training Programs and for the IDF with specialties in Biblical Studies & History, and Israel Studies.

Orly Erez Likhovsky

Executive Director

Orly Erez Likhovsky Organization: Israel Religious Action Center
Location: Israel

Topics: General Israel Update, WZC 101 – Why you Should Vote Reform, The Reform Movement and liberal Judaism in Israel, Democracy in Israel and Judicial Overhaul, Women and gender issues in Israel, LGBTQ+ issues, Religion and State in Israel

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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Orly Erez Likhovski, Adv. Serves as the IRAC Executive Director. Orly has been working as an attorney at the Israel Religious Action Center of the Reform Movement in Israel since 2004. She was the director of the legal department of IRAC between 2014 – 2021. In this capacity, she led the legal struggle against discrimination on the basis of religious affiliation, gender segregation in the public sphere and racial incitement. Orly has led to significant legal achievements such as abolishing gender segregation on public buses, breaking the Orthodox monopoly regarding the funding of salaries of Rabbis, disqualifying racist candidates from running to the Knesset and recognizing the rights of LGBTQ couples to adopt children in Israel. Since November 2022, Orly is the executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center.

Marla Gamoran

Executive Director

Marla Gamoran Organization: Skilled Volunteers for Israel
Location: Washington, DC

Topics: General Israel Update,WZC 101 – Why you Should Vote Reform, The Reform Movement and liberal Judaism in Israel

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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In 2010, following a career in non-profit management and workforce development, Marla completed the PresenTense Global Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurs. The course ignited her lifelong passion for Israel by establishing Skilled Volunteers for Israel, where she continues to serve as Executive Director. Prior to this role, Marla served as the manager of Business and Industry Services (workforce development) at Madison Area Technical College (now Madison College) and as finance manager for other Madison area nonprofit organizations. Marla serves on the boards of American Reform Zionist Association (ARZA); Arzenu (the constituency for Reform, Progressive and Liberal Religious Zionists within the World Zionist Organization); and the American Zionist Movement. She serves as co-chair of the budget committee for the World Zionist Organization.

Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch

Chief Executive Officer

Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch Organization: Women of Reform Judaism
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) is the CEO of Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ). WRJ is the women’s empowerment affiliate of Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish denomination in North America. She is an advocate for women’s rights and gender equality in North America, Israel, and around the world. She writes and speaks frequently about these topics, including on her weekly podcast, Just For This.

Anna Kislanski

CEO

Anna Kislanski Organization: Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ)
Location: Israel

Topics: General Israel Update, WZC 101 – Why you Should Vote Reform, The Reform Movement and liberal Judaism in Israel, Religion and State in Israel

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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Anna has served as Director General (CEO) of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) since September 2021. A seasoned educator and community building specialist, Anna previously served as IMPJ Deputy Director General from 2010-2021. In this role, she oversaw the Movement’s Congregational and Educational initiatives, successfully expanding the network of Reform Congregations in Israel from 23 to 54 communities.

Michael H Laufer

Chair

Michael H Laufer Organization: American Zionist Movement
Location: New York, NY

Topics: Why you Should Vote Reform!

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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Michael Laufer has been active in leadership within the Reform Movement for many years. In 2024, he completed 16 years of service on the URJ board where he also served two terms on the URJ Oversight Committee. Michael is a long time ARZA board member, a former ARZA Vice-Chair and the former chair of the Reform Movement’s 2015 World Zionist Congress election campaign. He also serves on the executive board of ARZENU, the political voice of Reform, Progressive and Liberal Religious Zionists within the World Zionist Organization. Michael currently serves as the Chair of the Board of the American Zionist Movement and is a member of the World Zionist Organization’s Va’ad Hapoel (Zionist General Council) and its Presidium and represents the Reform Movement in those bodies. He has been a delegate to the last three World Zionist Congresses.

Yair Lootsteen

Chair

Yair Lootsteen Organization: Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ)
Location: Israel

Topics: General Israel Update, WZC 101 – Why you Should Vote Reform, The Reform Movement and liberal Judaism in Israel, Democracy in Israel and Judicial Overhaul, Religion and State in Israel

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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Yair Lootsteen is the Chair of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ). Yair represents Arzenu as a vice-chair on the board of directors of Keren Kayemeth Leyisrael. A lawyer, Yair Lootsteen served in the IDF’s Military Advocate General Corps for 23 years, completing his term of duty in 2007 with the rank of Colonel.

Daryl Messinger

Chair

Daryl Messinger Organization: ARZA
Location: Palo Alto, CA

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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Daryl Messinger is the current chair of the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA). As chair she serves on the board of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Zionist Movement and ARZENU, the Reform Movement’s international Zionist arm. She is a past chair of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) Board of Trustees. In addition to ongoing responsibilities with the URJ, she currently serves as chair of Leading Edge, an organization seeking to improve talent, culture, and leadership throughout the Jewish non-profit sector. She is also on the boards of Israel Policy Forum and Hebrew Union College. From 2011-2015, Daryl was chair of the Reform Pension Board (RPB), which serves Reform movement professionals. She was the first woman to serve as chair of ARZA, URJ and the RPB.

Rabbi Bennett Miller

Past Chair

Rabbi Bennett Miller Organization: ARZA
Location: New Brunswick, NJ

Topics: WZC 101 – Why you Should Vote Reform, The Reform Movement and liberal Judaism in Israel

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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Gary Perlin

Gary Perlin
Organization: ARZA
Location: McLean, VA and Encino, CA

Topics: WZC 101 – Why you Should Vote Reform, The Reform Movement and liberal Judaism in Israel

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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Gary Perlin serves as a leader for ARZA and long-time advocate for Reform Jewish values in Israel. Member and supporter of several Reform congregations in Israel and donor of the Rabbi Amy & Gary Perlin Offices of the Israel Religious Action Center on the campus of HUC-JIR in Jerusalem.

Rabbi John Rosove

Senior Rabbi Emeritus

Rabbi John Rosove Organization: Temple Israel of Hollywood
Location: Sherman Oaks, CA

Topics: General Israel Update, WZC 101 – Why you Should Vote Reform, The Reform Movement and liberal Judaism in Israel

Types of events: Virtual

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Rabbi John L. Rosove is Senior Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Israel of Hollywood in Los Angeles where he served from 1988-2019. He is a past national chairman of the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) and a former national co-chair of the Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet of J Street. He is the author of “From the West to the East“ A Memoir of an American Liberal Rabbi” (Fresno: West to West Center, 2024), “Why Judaism Matters” Letters of a Liberal Rabbi to his Children and the Millennial Generation” (Nashville: Jewish Lights, 2017), and “Why Israel and its Future Matters” Letters of a Liberal Rabbi to the Next Generation” (New Jersey: Ben Yehuda Press, 2023 2nd edition). He is the co-editor of “Deepening the Dialogue” Jewish Americans and Israelis Envisioning the Jewish-Democratic State” (New York: CCAR Press, 2020, in Hebrew and English). He writes a regular blog at rabbijohnrosove.blog and a blog at The Times of Israel.

Adv. Yaron Shavit

Deputy Chair

Adv. Yaro Shavit Organization: The Jewish Agency for Israel
Location: Israel

Topics: General Israel Update, WZC 101 – Why you Should Vote Reform, The Reform Movement and liberal Judaism in Israel, Democracy in Israel and Judicial Overhaul

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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In February 2021, The Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors elected Adv. Yaron Shavit to the role of Deputy Chairman of the Executive of The Jewish Agency. Yaron completed his law studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and holds a master’s degree from Bar Ilan University. As part of his professional activities as a lawyer he specialized in commercial litigation, insurance law, professional liability, computer law, and copyright. Throughout his life, Yaron has combined professional activity with service in the military reserve, during which he performed a wide variety of roles and was promoted to the rank of colonel. Yaron served as chairman of the Reform Movement in Israel in 2008-2012 and is serving as a member of the Zionist Executive and the Board of Governors of The Jewish Agency since 2006.

Rabbi Josh Weinberg

VP of Israel and Reform Zionism

Rabbi Josh Weinberg Organization: URJ
Location: Brookyln, NY

Topics: General Israel Update, WZC 101 – Why you Should Vote Reform, The Reform Movement and liberal Judaism in Israel, Democracy in Israel and Judicial Overhaul, Religion and State in Israel

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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Rabbi Josh Weinberg serves as the Vice President of the URJ for Israel and Reform Zionism and is the Executive Director of ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America. He was ordained from the HUC-JIR Israeli Rabbinic Program in Jerusalem, and he is currently living in New York. Josh previously served as the Director of the Israel program for the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and as a faculty member of NFTY-EIE High School in Israel teaching Jewish History. Josh is a reserve officer in the IDF spokesperson’s unit, has hiked the Israel-trail, and came on Aliyah to Israel in 2003.

Shoshana Dweck

Co-chair

Shoshana Dweck
Organization: ARZENU
Location: Armonk, NY

Topics: General Israel Update, WZC 101 – Why you Should Vote Reform ,The Reform Movement and liberal Judaism in Israel, Democracy in Israel and Judicial Overhaul, Women and gender issues in Israel, LGBTQ+ issues, Religion and State in Israel

Types of events: Virtual, in person

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Shoshana Dweck is co-chair of ARZENU, the international political voice of Reform, Progressive, Religious and Liberal Zionists that represents the Reform Movement in the World Zionist Congress and the National Institutions of Israel. She is a member of the Executive Board of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and of the Women of Reform Judaism Executive Committee, and serves on the leadership team of the Religious Action Center’s Commission on Social Action as well as on the National Commission of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). She sits on the Executive of the Jewish Agency and the Expanded Executive of the World Zionist Organization. A second-generation activist in the worlds of WRJ and Reform Zionism, Shoshana has been vice president of ARZA and vice chair of the United Israel Appeal. She also has served on the Tribunal of the American Zionist Movement (AZM), where she is currently a board member. A recovering lawyer and engineer, she was a member of WRJ’s then-District 3 Board and the sisterhood president of Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford Corners, New York, where she now serves on the Temple Board. As WRJ Social Justice VP, Shoshana helped to launch “WRJ says STOP: an Initiative against Sexual Harassment and Assault.” Shoshana is a former local Federation President and chaired the New York Says Thank You Foundation and its “Stars of HOPE” healing arts work that supports individuals and communities around the world impacted by mass tragedies. She is the proud mother of three sons, one cat, and two grandkitties.