As Director of Climate Engagement at Hazon, Rabbi Jacob Siegel works with Jewish institutions across North America to begin their journey toward climate action. Rabbi Siegel is an expert in Jewish values and ESG (environmental, social, governance) issues, and previously served as Director of Engagement for JLens, the Jewish impact investing organization. He is the author of Put Your Money Where Your Soul Is (forthcoming April 2022, Ben Yehuda Press) and serves on the board of his local credit union.

Risa’s journey to Hazon began in 2005, when she joined Teva as an environmental educator. In 2008, she grew veggies, milked goats, and dabbled in the art of fermentation as an Adamah fellow. In 2009, Risa returned home and served for 13 years as the founding Executive Director of Shoresh, a Toronto-based non-profit committed to leading, inspiring, and empowering community members to be Shomrei Adamah, protectors of the earth, through nature-based Jewish education and environmental action. Risa holds a B.A. Honours from Queen’s University in Religious Studies, a M.A. from the University of Toronto in Contemporary Jewish Environmental Ethics, and is a certified Ontario Master Naturalist by Lakehead University. She currently lives in Toronto with her partner and two children and is happiest when frolicking in fields and forests.

As Hazon’s Deputy Climate Action Director, Liore inspires and supports American Jewish communities in taking bold and just action to address the climate crisis. She most recently was CA Interfaith Power & Light’s NorCal Director, where she mobilized communities of faith & conscience to advocate for strong climate policy and green their congregations. With nearly two decades of experience in leading community-based sustainability programs, Liore is honored to return to Hazon with a focus on climate action. She earned an MPS in Environmental Economics and BS in Environmental Science, both from Cornell University. While not at work, Liore can be spotted with her family at myriad farmers markets, gardening at home or biking around San Francisco.

As the Development Associate for Hazon, Aliza supports the goals of the Development Department, primarily focusing on managing and supporting the work within the database, grant proposals, and reports. Prior to joining Hazon, Aliza worked in development for the Mid-Atlantic Executive Director at the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science and the National Director of Development for the Israeli-American Council. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Aliza immigrated to Israel after college and lived there for 10 years. She now lives in the metro DC area with her incredible husband and three amazing boys and when she’s not working, Aliza loves spending time with her family and enjoying all that the DMV has to offer, especially the museums, monuments, and outdoor excursions.

Rachel Siegal loves bringing big ideas to life. She steps in as Hazon’s Chief Development Officer having served as the Managing Director of The Alvin & Lois Lapidus Center for Healing & Spirituality, aka The Soul Center, since 2016. From 2010-2016, she served as the Development Director for the Pearlstone Center. Prior to that, she was a Vice President at The Associated (the Jewish federation in Baltimore), for four years, focusing on financial resource development.  Born and raised in Cleveland, Rachel holds an MBA and a Masters in Jewish Communal Service from Brandeis University and an undergraduate degree in Judaic Studies and Africana Studies from Brown University.  She and her husband Sam Andorsky have three children. She is an active volunteer with JPRIDE Baltimore, Mitsui Collective, Eden Village Camp, and Baltimore Station. She loves live music, being active, reading historical fiction, and cooking vegetarian meals. 

From 2008-2021, Yoni Stadlin served as founding director of Eden Village Camp, the Jewish environmental sleepaway camp with locations in New York and California as a place where Jewish education is synonymous with fostering each child’s self-confidence, empathy and social responsibility. Yoni’s recognitions include the Covenant Foundation’s Pomegranate Prize and Jewish Week’s “36 under 36”, and he holds a BS in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and an MA in Informal Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Prior to founding Eden Village, Yoni traveled extensively as an environmental educator and activist. He worked for many Jewish organizations including American Jewish World Service, Birthright Israel, Teva, the 92nd Street Y, and six Jewish summer camps. As a formative experience of environmental activism, in his mid-20s, Yoni spent several months living aloft in ancient redwood trees that were slated to be cut. Yoni lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two children. He acknowledges the extensive privilege he has been given and aims to leverage it toward meaningful change. 

Sonja Sugerman loves creating order and systems.  As the Chief of Staff at Hazon she works with the Senior Executive team to actualize and communicate the strategic priorities of the CEO.  Her prior roles at Pearlstone include the Director of HR and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Culture and the Director of Programs.  She brings a love of systems, project management, and a sense of humor to her role as well as extensive knowledge and experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors.  Sonja received a BA from Barnard College and an M.Phil from the University of Glasgow/Christie’s both in Art History and an M.A.T in Museum Education from George Washington University, and from 1997-2017 worked in various facets of the art and museum world. A New York native, she has lived in Baltimore since 2004. She enjoys spending time with her husband, three boys, and two dogs cooking, playing board games, travelling, and spending time with friends.  In her spare time, she is also a board member at the Krieger Schechter Day School and loves volunteering and doing Pilates. 

Adam Berman founded Urban Adamah, a Jewish community farm and environmental education center in Berkeley, CA, and served as its first Executive Director from 2010 – 2019. Prior to that he served as the Executive Director of the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center (2002 – 2009), where he also founded and served as the first director of the Adamah Fellowship.  From 1996 – 1999, he served as an educator at the Teva Learning Center and subsequently became its Director. Adam currently runs a non-profit consulting practice, leveraging his experience in the JOFEE world to support other organizations seeking to maximize their impact. His focus areas include organizational development and culture, pedagogy, greening of physical infrastructure, Jewish Environmental education, fundraising and Nonviolent Communication (NVC). He’s delighted to serve in a part-time role as Hazon’s Chief Strategy Officer. He has an undergraduate degree from Brown University in Environmental Policy and an MBA from the Haas Business School at UC Berkeley. He currently lives in Berkeley, CA, with his wife Deena Aranoff and two children, Shira and Maya.  

Eve Wachhaus (WALK-HOUSE) builds hospitality systems. She is an experienced hospitality director, a former non-profit executive director and a foodie. Eve’s lively past includes Principal Investigator on a dirt-eating research project for National Institutes of Health, sole proprietor of her own catering company, and management positions with Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, Hyatt Regency Baltimore, and several museums. Eve has managed over a dozen food and beverage operations, banquets, catering, restaurants, entertainment catering venues, in the corporate, social and Kosher markets, and loves bringing meaning to people’s simchas. As Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area, Eve earned her place in Harrisburg’s top Movers and Shapers list and was a recipient of both the Distinguished Service Award and the Excellence in Public Beautification Award from the City of Harrisburg. Eve was a frequent webinar and conference presenter for Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) with expertise in community engagement, home preservation, marketing and ReStore leadership. She also served in her community’s Long Term Disaster Recovery Committee. As a side hustle, Eve owns Do What Ema Says, a Mediterranean Food Blog and catering company, where you will find she heaps on the spices and encouragement, and also, she’s got a killer Baba Ganoush recipe. When not working, Eve is happiest cooking and dancing around her kitchen with her husband, adult kids, and foster dogs.