We are delighted to welcome Ari Rudolph, JFN’s new Vice President of Philanthropic Engagement. In this new position encompassing the traditional member services responsibilities and new avenues of engagement for different cohorts of members and prospects, he will be responsible for developing and overseeing JFN’s member relationship and engagement strategies, developing relationship management and stewardship systems, and ensuring a robust programmatic and educational offer for members and prospects according to their specific needs.

He will also be identifying opportunities to cultivate new connections among members. Prior to joining JFN, Ari was the Chief Program Officer at the Legacy Heritage Fund, and before that was the Planning Director of the Jewish Life Planning Department at UJA-Federation of New York, overseeing a team of grant and program officers. Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Ari holds a Masters in Diplomacy and National Security from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He lives in Riverdale, New York, with his wife and three children.

Earlier this year, we also welcomed Julie Wiener, our new Communications Director, and Debra Feldstein, our West Coast Associate Director.

Julie was most recently Communications Director at T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, but she worked for more than 15 years in Jewish journalism before that. She served as managing editor of My Jewish Learning, online editor at the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, and associate editor at The New York Jewish Week, where she reported on education and wrote "In the Mix," a column and blog about intermarried life. She lives in Jackson Heights, New York, with her husband and two daughters.

Debra has worked in nonprofit management and development for 25 years, serving most recently as executive director of the Center for Jewish Life at Stanford University and of City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley. She has a JD from Northeastern University School of Law and a Masters of Management degree from Brandeis University’s Heller School. She lives with her family in Santa Cruz, California.