Eve Barlow is an LA-based music and pop culture journalist. She is former Deputy Editor of the NME and currently contributes to New York Magazine, The Guardian, Billboard, LA Times, Pitchfork, and GQ, among other publications. Eve is one of today's strongest advocacy voices in fighting anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism on social media. Her work has shed light on the many forms that Jew hatred can take, both online and off, and continuously empowers many to push back. Eve has also been featured in Algemeiner's Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life in both 2020 and 2021 for her efforts.
Luai Ahmed is a 31-year old Yemeni journalist and content creator. He was born and raised in the capital of Sanaa, and moved to Sweden when he was 20 years old in 2014 where he has been living since. He worked as a columnist and journalist at the local Swedish newspaper Bulletin where he focused on integration, migration, and radical Islam. In 2024, and after he started making content in English, he started working as a host for Builders of the Middle East, an online content hub that fosters interfaith kinship, and fights extremism, radicalization, fake news, antisemitism, and racism on the internet.
Matthew Nouriel serves as the Director of Community Engagement at JIMENA (Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa) and is based in Los Angeles, California. An activist and content creator of Iranian Jewish heritage, Matthew is dedicated to advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, promoting equality within the Iranian and Jewish communities, combating antisemitism, and supporting the Women Life Freedom movement for a free Iran. Matthew actively works to expose the hypocrisy within the anti-Israel movement and to counter claims of pinkwashing, especially following the events of October 7. He highlights the signicance of fostering connections between Iranian and Jewish communities and promoting Iranian-Jewish solidarity. Through his social media presence, Matthew engages with those who resonate with his perspectives and experiences.
Tanya Tsikanovsky is a first generation American whose parents immigrated from the USSR with the help of the Jewish Federation. She is a proud Jew and Zionist who has committed herself to supporting Israel and combating antisemitism. She has a longstanding history of being an advocate for Israel, having attended graduate school there, lead Birthright trips, and served as a Hillel Director. Now she spends her time with speaking engagements, doing meaningful Jewish non-profit work, and utilizing social media platforms to advocate for Israel and its alliance with the United States.
I was born in Canada, Jewish, to Jack and Mina Chernick. I emigrated to the USA. I was part of the first political female comedy team Harrison & Tyler. (Yes, we were lovers) I was the first 'out' gay or lesbian comic on tv, recordings, and performances. I produced the main stages for 3 National LGBT Marches on Washington. I produced 25 Women's Music and Comedy Festivals (trans inclusive), as well as at the Kennedy Center and The First International Gay Comedy Show in Sydney, Australia. My late wife, Diane Olson and I were the first lesbians to file in the first successful marriage equality lawsuit in California.
Bellamy Bellucci is a South African born dancer, model, filmmaker, and advocate whose journey bridges continents, identities, and communities. A Black, transgender, Jewish woman, she has become a singular voice for inclusivity and representation, using her artistry and lived experience to spark conversations that matter. Bellucci is a passionate advocate for Israel and a bold voice against antisemitism. Through her writing, social media presence, and public speaking, she challenges stereotypes, amplifies marginalized voices, and inspires audiences worldwide with her message of authenticity and empowerment.
Rabbi Denise L. Eger is an international Jewish leader, author, sought after speaker and social justice activist. The first openly LGBTQ person to be president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the first women to head the Southern California Board of Rabbis, she is Founding Rabbi Emerita of Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood, CA. She is an author and editor of three books including "7 Principles for Living Bravely," "Mishkan Ga'avah: Where Pride Dwells, A Celebration of LGBTQ Jewish Life and Ritual" and "Gender & Religious Leadership: Women Rabbis, Pastors, and Ministers. She most recently contributed to Dr. Ron Wolfson's book, Jewish Communal Leadership: Lessons Learned from Leading Practioners.
Matt Lebovic is founding director of the Holocaust Education Center at StandWithUs. He holds a BA in Public Relations from Boston University and an MA in Society and Politics in Israel from Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Since 2012, he has authored more than 250 articles about the Holocaust for The Times of Israel. He has reported on the Holocaust from Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, and elsewhere in Europe. After graduating Boston University, he completed Project Otzma, a 10-month fellowship based in Israeli development towns. Matt has also been involved in LGBTQ activism in Israel and the US and volunteered for Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters for 10 years.
Hailey Stern, a Chicago native, was raised in a proud Jewish family with a deep connection to Israel. She earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and natural resource management from The Ohio State University. In college and early in her career, Hailey faced antisemitism and anti-Zionism from peers and colleagues. Experiencing hatred and misinformation firsthand inspired her to make combating antisemitism her full-time job. She joined StandWithUs in 2022 and has since spoken to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds across the United States. Hailey's ability to unpack complex topics and offer practical tools empowers audiences to navigate difficult conversations with confidence. She believes education is the key to combating hatred and inspiring change.
Ron Galperin is an American politician who served as the 19th Los Angeles City Controller from 2013 to 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, Galperin is the first openly gay official and first neighborhood councilmember to be elected to citywide office in Los Angeles.[1]Galperin was born to immigrant Jewish parents, one of whom was a Holocaust survivor. He is the first LGBT official elected citywide in Los Angeles.[8] His husband, Zach Shapiro, is a rabbi, and they have two children.
John Vaughan is a senior legal executive at a tech company whose pro bono work has consistently centered on advancing justice and equal rights. He has advocated for the decriminalization of homosexuality, supported marriage equality, and now focuses on equal justice for Jews in a variety of contexts — particularly within the LGBTQ+ community, which has witnessed a significant increase in antisemitism after the horrors of October 7.
Max Kasler was born and raised in the beautiful state of New Jersey and has been deeply involved in Jewish communal life, starting as a service leader at the age of 12. He holds a BA in Music Composition and Jewish studies from Muhlenberg College and his MA in Jewish Nonprofit Management from HUC-JIR. Since living in Israel in 2015 during the "lone-wolf" attacks and returning to an American college campus, Max has known the importance of Israel advocacy and turned it into his career, starting at Hillels and Federations. Max currently works at StandWithUs as the Tri-State HS Regional Manager, continuing his commitment to Jewish education and Israel advocacy and lives in NYC with his dog, Banjo.
Captivity Survivor
Join us for a combination of plenaries, group discussion, breakout sessions and more!
