How did you become interested in politics and advocacy?

Politics always fascinated me. I started avidly listening to political podcasts and reading Jewish newspapers in high school, discovering I had a good grasp of political situations and the workings of government. 

My interest in advocacy began in twelfth grade when I began reading the over 600-page biography of Rabbi Moshe Sherer, the Vice President of Agudas Yisroel of America, for an assigned project. The more I read, the more enamored I became with the world of advocacy and public policy. The strategic elements fascinated me and I knew that this would be my way of contributing to the Jewish community. Through reading about Rabbi Sherer, I saw that people can impact the government without losing sight of their values. From beginning to end, Rabbi Sherer’s goal remained the same--to advocate on behalf of the Jewish people while adhering to Jewish law and principles. Because his agenda was pure, he always sought guidance from Jewish leaders and followed their advice.

While compromise is a critical strategy in advocacy, Rabbi Sherer's values were unchanging. His successes in rescuing Jews from the former Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, or the Middle East, securing federal protection for Sabbath observers, as well as numerous other accomplishments demonstrate that principles never need to be sacrificed to achieve results. 

Did you have any internships while you were in college? Can you share where you worked and what your roles were?

While at Touro, I worked for the Coalition for Jewish Values, a mission-driven organization that promotes classical Jewish principles in public policy.  I started as an intern and was later was promoted to Director of State Chapters. Coalition for Jewish Values represents over 2,500 Orthodox rabbis in matters of American public policy. My role as intern was to develop weekly newsletters, update the website, write press releases, read policy documents and write public comments addressing issues with the proposed policies, research, among other tasks. As a Director of State Chapters, I facilitated the launching of new local chapters through communicating directly with chapter leaders. 

Can you describe a day in the life on the job at Agudath Israel of America?

Each day is different, as there are always new tasks to be completed. Currently, I am working on several writing projects, so my day is comprised of meeting with relevant staff members to obtain the necessary background, doing additional research, and finally drafting the assigned project. While Agudah is a large umbrella organization comprised of a variety of departments, I work in the government affairs department, so my tasks relate to advocacy initiatives in various Agudah offices. My work supports Agudah’s efforts in allocating government funding to benefit Jewish institutions. I am also doing grant writing as well as software research and programming.

What is your ultimate career goal?

 My ultimate career goal is to fully utilize my talents to assist the Jewish community by advocating on their behalf. I hope I can be an active player in critical negotiations and with G-d’s help, facilitate positive outcomes for the Jewish people.

How did your Touro education help propel your career?

The Touro Political Science program strengthened my writing, reading comprehension, and critical thinking skills. I learned how to analyze the world from the mindset of both the constituent and the legislator, enabling me to recognize solutions that will satisfy both groups. 

Additionally, Touro’s Lander College for Women introduced me to a wide variety of perspectives. There I found like-minded peers searching for authenticity and a broader understanding of the world around them. I discovered that my values would be respected even as my horizons were broadened. This is one of the many reasons why a degree from Touro is esteemed, as my employer knew that a Touro graduate was allowed the opportunity to explore and excel.