The Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago has announced the fifth annual “Double Chai in the Chi: 36 Under 36” list of young Jewish movers and shakers in Chicago.
(The letters of the Hebrew word “Chai,” which means “life,” also represent the number 18.)
Check out the list online at: www.oychicago.com/36under36
Presented by JUF’s Young Leadership Division (YLD) and Oy!Chicago ( www.oychicago.com )-an outreach website for Chicago 20- and 30-somethings-the list shines a spotlight on the faces of Chicago’s Jewish future and recognizes the amazing contributions of this generation. The young professionals featured are noted for making a difference through their work, giving back in their free time, and earning distinction in the Jewish community and beyond.
“It’s truly amazing that this marks our fifth year of this initiative-and that in that time we have honored and gotten to know 180 of this community’s innovative young leaders,” said Stefanie Pervos Bregman, co-founding editor of Oy!Chicago. “As always, this year’s list confirms for us that the future of Chicago’s Jewish community is incredibly bright.”
This year’s list is replete with entrepreneurs, activists, fundraisers, and more, running the gamut from writers to youth group advisors, attorneys to pediatric neurologists… and, well, the list goes on.
“I get excited when the list comes out every July to see what other young Jewish adults are doing to help make the future of our community better,” said Michael Waitz, incoming YLD board member and a former award winner. “From rabbis to entrepreneurs, the thing that’s really remarkable is that the list includes young Jewish professionals from different backgrounds that are making an impact.”
This year, for the first time ever, donations to JUF of up to $36 in recognition of a 36 under 36 honoree will be matched in full, doubling the impact and benefit to those in need in the community. Learn more and donate at https://donate.juf.org/36Under36 .
Full profiles of each honoree are available on the Oy!Chicago website.
The 36 winners will be honored at YLD’s “WYLD” party at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 24 at Joy District, 112 W. Hubbard St, Chicago. The party is open to the public. Tickets are available for $20 in advance or $30 at the door. To register, visit http://www.juf.org/yld/wyld.aspx or e-mail [email protected] . Register early – last year’s party completely sold out!
The 36 named to this year’s list are:
Courtney Anixter , 33, of River North, business owner and YLD board member
Brian Barasch, 29, of Edgewater, communications manager and arts education advocate
Paul Cantz , 34, of Skokie, clinical psychologist and professor of psychology
D’ror Chankin-Gould , 32, of Skokie, Rabbi at Anshe Emet Synagogue and LGBT Jewish leader
Stacey Dembo , 32, of West Town, Chair of JUF’s Community Legal Services clinic
Mayrav Dolgin , 36, of Lakeview, Israel educator and advocate
Jonathan Eisen , 28, of Pulaski Park, expansion and activation manager at OneTable
David Eisenberg , 34, of Wilmette, Attorney and Jewish communal leader
Zev Eleff , 30, of West Ridge, Chief Academic Officer of Hebrew Theological College
Leslie Finkel , 33, of Lakeview, Pediatric neurologist
Noah Frank , 34, of Wicker Park, Attorney and community connector
Kevin Friduss , 33, of Near North Side, BBYO advisor and Marketing and Promotions Coordinator at CBS Radio Chicago
Matt Gaines , 33, of Highland Park, financial advisor and non-profit co-founder
Alan Goodis , 32, of Lincoln Park, National touring Jewish musician
Seth Gruen , 31, of River North, sports writer and personality
Orly Henry , 30, of Lincoln Square, Attorney and YLD Board President
Alan Lagunov , 28, of Gold Coast, President of AJC’s ACCESS
Helee Lev , 33, of Near North Side, Executive VP of Goby Inc.
Pam Mandel , 36, of Glencoe, Associate Rabbi at Am Shalom
Becky Marks , 28, of Wicker Park, Owner/Operator of Be Leaf
Matthew Miller , 28, of Lakeview, chair of YLD Pride committee
Elan Mosbacher , 31, of West Ridge, VP of Marketing at SpotHero
Liz Robbin , 34, of Lincoln Park, Speech language pathologist and director of Camp Firefly
Adam Rogowin , 36, of Lincolnshire, PR Director for the Chicago Blackhawks
Lauren (Jacobson) Rosenberg , 27, of Lincoln Park, Director of Development for Chicago Jewish Day School
Aviva Rosman , 28, of West Town, COO of BallotReady
Joshua Rubenstein , 31, of Lincoln Park, founder of Windy City RE and Windy City Playhouse
Lauren Schrero , 33, of Lakeview, Co-founder of The Nora Project
Tony Shir , 31, of West Ridge, partner at HAN Capital Group
Sara Siegall , 35, of Palatine, Attorney, supporter of the performing arts
Zachary Silver , 33, of Lakeview, Rabbi at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School
Lisa Tarshis , 29, of Fulton River District, Senior Associate Consultant at Giving Tree Associates
Elena Valentine , 30, of Irving Park, Co-founder and CEP of Skill Scout
Sara Wasserteil , 31, of Wicker Park, Consultant at Civic Consulting Alliance
Ayal Weiner-Kaplow , 27, of Skokie, iCenter for Israel Education
Jeremy Wolf , 35, of Near North Side, director of e-commerce and business development at The Great Escape