Our Experts

Dr. Ron Katz, President

Ron Katz is an authority on rhetoric, propaganda, and persuasion. His research and writing have appeared in books, academic journals, and periodical publications. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Hen Mazzig, Senior Fellow

A globally-recognized speaker, educator, and digital influencer. Historians credit him as the founder of "Mizrahi Hertiage Month," and he has written for NBC News, Newsweek, and the LA Times. He has appeared as an expert on Jewish issues on four continents, over 500 college campuses, BBC, SkyNews, TEDx, and countless Shabbat dinners. He was named in Algemeiner's top 100 people positively influencing Jewish life, the top 50 online pro-Israel Influencers, Top 50 LGBTQ+ Influencers, and won CAMERA’s Portrait in Courage Award.

Shanni Suissa, CEO at Jews Talk Justice

Shanni Suissa is the CEO of Jews Talk Justice, a Tel Aviv Institute project focused on growing, nourishing, and educating the Jewish community in the diaspora. Shanni is the host of The Shanni Show, a podcast about everything and anything. She also moonlights as the Podcast and Social Media Director at the Jewish Journal where she co-hosts JJ Live and The David Suissa Podcast. Shanni graduated from IDC, Herzylia with a Bachelor's in Communication specializing in Visual Content. When Shanni's not helping save the Jewish people, you can probably find her painting a beautiful mural or jamming out to psytrance music.

Dr. Olga Kirschbaum-Shirazki, Visiting Fellow

Dr. Olga Kirschbaum-Shirazki is a historian and co-founder of the Tel Aviv Review of Books. She has a PhD in modern European history from NYU. As a researcher and translator she has collaborated with numerous  authors and organizations on the topics of Jewish history, inter-religious encounters and the universal in Judaism.  She is also the co founder and editor of Tel Aviv Review of Books, an online review that presents the entire spectrum of views from and about Israeli culture, religion, and politics to an international audience.

Dr. Matthias J. Becker, Visiting Fellow

A linguist whose research focuses on discrimination in mainstream society and the construction of implicit hate speech. Since 2020, Dr. Becker leads the international research project “Decoding Antisemitism”. In this 3-year pilot project, 9 researchers analyze antisemitism on mainstream news websites and social media platforms in Germany, France, and in the UK based on a mixed-methods approach, also integrating AI technology. who analyze antisemitism on news sites and social media using AI.

Yseult Polfliet Mukantabana, Research Fellow

Yseult Polfliet Mukantabana is Rwandan, Jewish and a queer woman. She is an author, creative director and social and art advocate. Mukantabana is the Co-founder of Kinswomen, sits on the Board Committee of POWarts, an organization meant to uplift professional womxn in the art industry, Ted Speaker and designer/ co-founder of YOAH, a gender-free children’s’ brand created with her brother Noah Polfliet. Her unique approaches to matters of race issues are global, located mainly in New York, she speaks four languages, lives and travels between Kigali, Paris and Tel Aviv.

Mukantabana has done consulting in anti-racism for small and large groups, her clients have ranged from corporate America, high profile art institutions and prestigious American universities such as Columbia and Yale. She has a distinct way of intersecting spaces and people. Her work aims at making the conversation possible and practical. She makes it available for people to build a realistic plan of action to be impactful and empowered in their advocacy.

David Christopher Kaufman, Adjunct Fellow

David Christopher Kaufman is a New York-based journalist. His work focuses on the intersections between politics, culture, media, and identity across the globe. Currently at the New York Post, he previously served as an editor at The New York Times and Global Digital Director at Architectural Digest, Kaufman regularly contributes to publications ranging from The Financial Times, The Guardian, and The Wall Street Journal, to Monocle, AirMail, The Telegraph, Tablet, and The Forward. Kaufman studied at Brandeis University and received a graduate degree in Journalism from New York University. He is co-author of the book "Pride: 50 Years of Parades and Protests.”

Daniella Rabbani, Community Manager

Following our 2022 Lab in Tel Aviv, Daniella joined our team officially as a Community Manager. An actress known for her roles as Rabbi Zoe on CBS’ God Friended Me, Jane in HBO’s Scenes from a Marriage, and extensive stage work with The National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene. She hosts the podcast Mom Curious, a safe space to ask moms of all stripes what the real deal is. BFA: NYU Tisch. She sheps nachas over her two kids Ness and Paz + advocates for a better world.

Debbie Lechtman, Associate

writer, educator, and content creator • Los Angeles, USA

Debbie Lechtman is a Jewish, Israeli, and Latina writer, educator, and content creator. She is a sitting board member at Indigenous Bridges, writes educational content and curriculums on Jewish history and identity for the Anti-Defamation League, Creative Community for Peace, Honest Reporting, and more, and works as a research assistant for a top Israeli journalist.

Alex Woscoff, Associate

artist, painter, graphic designer • Los Angeles, USA

Painter and Graphic Designer. Alex utilizes his skills to help the Jewish community undo harmful beliefs that have been internalized over years of poor representation. His mission is to tell the Jewish story honestly and empower the Jewish community to take command of our narrative through art.

Jade Tailor, Associate

actress • Los Angeles, USA

Jade Tailor is an American actress. She is known for her regular role as Kady in the Syfy television series The Magicians (2015–2020), and for starring in the 2018 film Higher Power.

Hallie Abrams, Associate

fashion stylist • Cleveland, USA

You don’t have to be a movie star walking the red carpet to benefit from a professional stylist: Hallie is a fashion stylist, styling real people for real life.

Bianca Jade Taxman, Associate

television host, lifestyle person • New York, USA

A Honduran-American Television Host and lifestyle personality known as Mizzfit.

Daniel Spaulding, Associate

stand-up comedian • New York, USA

Daniel Spaulding is an internationally touring stand-up comedian based in Europe. He has performed in over 45 countries worldwide and has appeared on numerous talk shows.

Avigail Collins, Associate

stylist, designer • London, UK

Avigail Collins is a stylist and designer whose work has been featured on the pages and covers of Italian Vogue, Vanity Fair, Interview, iD, Hunger, Twin, Dazed, and in advertising campaigns for Tula, Nike, Sony, Braun, Coca-Cola, Max Factor, Bape, Hannah Martin, and others.

Liz Rose, Associate

content creator • Atlanta, USA

Using her platform she has been able to share stories thoughts and comments about Jewish life, the current situation in Israel and Gaza, and being a mom with young children. She is real, she’s to the point, and she cares about sharing Jewish life and traditions.

Ari Axelrod, Associate

artist • New York, UK

Through acting, singing, directing, teaching, consulting, and public speaking, Ari crafts stories to open hearts and minds, so people feel seen, heard, and validated. He recently debuted his Jewish Broadway cabaret.

Ella Sisso, Associate

content creator • London, UK

A plus size content creator with a love of fun colorful style and self-love.

Emmanuelle Chriqui, Associate

actress • Los Angeles, USA

Emmanuelle Chriqui is a Canadian Jewish-American actress. She is known for playing Sloan McQuewick on HBO's Entourage, Claire Bonner in Snow Day, Dalia in You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Lorelei Martins on CBS's The Mentalist, and Lana Lang on The CW's Superman & Lois.

Hannah Jacqueline Kaye, Associate

artist • Los Angeles, USA

Hannah knows firsthand the horrors of hatred. She’s a survivor of the 2019 synagogue shooting in Poway, near San Diego where a gunman killed one woman and injured three others during a Passover service. That one woman was Hannah’s mother, Lori Kaye.

Amelia Adams, Associate

writer • New York, USA

Amelia Adams is a freelance writer and an avid meme enthusiast actively speaking out against antisemitism online.

Liorah Tchiprout, Associate

artist • London, UK

Liorah Tchiprout is an artist based in London. She is represented by Marlborough Gallery London, and Marlborough Graphics for prints.

Jen Cohn, Associate

producer, actress • New York, USA

Jen Cohn is a mom, wife, actress, voiceover for Pharah in Overwatch, performer, trend scout, fashion and branding consultant, copywriter, producer, and story editor. Besides Overwatch, she has done work for other games like World of Warcraft, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Red Dead Redemption, and Grand Theft Auto. Jen is also known for her roles in films The Wrestler(2008) and Turbo.

Irit Landgraf, Associate

artist • Vienna, Austria

From medicine to art and back again - former MD turned intuitive watercolor and mixed media artist helps artists find joy in their creative process and paint intuitively with Watercolor.

Ari Dayan, Associate

songwriter, actress • Los Angeles, USA

Channeling influences of Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks, and Sia, Dayan is a prolific songwriter as well as an actress working with numerous producers in both fields in LA, London, and beyond.

Tamar Teifeld, Associate

producer • Los Angeles, USA

Tamar Teifeld has been Vice President of Digital Marketing at Paramount Pictures for the last 10 years, prior to which she spent years at MGM in Publicity. Tamar currently oversees digital PR for all Paramount titles including Transformers, World War Z, Fences, Star Trek, Mission Impossible, and many more of the biggest titles under her lead. Tamar was also the producer of the wildly successful and critically acclaimed documentary A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Vasquez Story.

Kenny Hamilton, Associate

entrepreneur • Los Angeles, USA

Kenny has been in music and entertainment for 14 years now, focusing on music management, social media/ influencer marketing, and hospitality.

Aliza J. Sokolow

Aliza J. Sokolow is a pri­vate chef, food styl­ist, and pho­tog­ra­ph­er for both dig­i­tal and print. She attended the Uni­ver­si­ty of Cal­i­for­nia Berke­ley and got her start in the culi­nary world work­ing for Jamie Oliv­er’s Food Rev­o­lu­tion project. Her work has won an Emmy, earned two Emmy nom­i­na­tions, and a James Beard lit­er­ary award. Her pho­tog­ra­phy can be seen in The New York Times, Archi­tec­tur­al Digest, Bon Appetit, The Wall Street Jour­nal, and Los Ange­les Times. Aliza loves to give back to the com­mu­ni­ty and has traveled all over the world to do so.

Zoë Buckman, Associate

artist • New York, USA

Zoë Buckman is a multi-disciplinary artist working in sculpture, installation, and photography, exploring themes of Feminism, mortality, and equality. Notable solo shows have included Nomi at Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London, No Bleach Thick Enough, at Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London, Heavy Rag at Fort Gansevoort Gallery New York, Let Her Rave at Gavlak Gallery Los Angeles, Imprison Her Soft Hand at Project for Empty Space, Newark; Every Curve at PAPILLION ART, Los Angeles; and Present Life at Garis & Hahn Gallery, New York. Public works include a mural, We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident, in collaboration with Natalie Frank at the Ford Foundation Live Gallery of New York Live Arts in NYC. Buckman lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

Shanni Suissa, Associate

Shanni Suissa is the Podcast Director at the Jewish Journal, host of The Shanni Show, co-host of The David Suissa Podcast, and a writer.

Shanna Fuld, Associate

Shanna Fuld is a writer / reporter / TV news producer. She was born in Queens, New York, and worked at NY1 News in Manhattan until she moved to the Israel in September of 2018. After working in general news, reporting on NYC politics and other issues plaguing her beloved city, Shanna moved her reporting to Jerusalem covering Middle East news, politics and culture. Since then, Shanna has been working in print, television and "modern radio" as she calls it. In 2020 Shanna launched the Israel Daily News Podcast which has become her main daily work. Shanna is also a community organizer who runs high quality events to help new immigrants in Tel Aviv connect to change-makers in Israeli society as well create a deep sense of community and connection for all who attend.

Nicole Zisman, Associate

Nicole Zisman is an artist and designer working across fashion, sculpture, print, and moving images to address fractured identity and assimilation within physical and digital culture. Analysis of her multiple identities (especially her Venezuelan Jewishness and her manufactured digital persona) is consistently woven into Zisman's work. As well as having her own eponymous label, Zisman is a fashion lecturer at Central Saint Martins, and a collaborator with Feminist Internet and Centre for Sustainable Fashion. Her work has been discussed and featured in the likes of Dazed, LOVE Magazine, SHOWstudio, The Face, Vogue Italia, Teen Vogue, Tatler, King Kong Garçon, Schon! Magazine, Culted and ODDA. In October 2019, she presented her first solo exhibition, יהי רצון / So Let It Be Your Will. In February 2020, she presented at London Fashion Week for the first time, as part of the Positive Fashion Exhibition at 180 the Strand. Recent successes include her first award of funding from Arts Council England for her exhibition, בטחון — Tranquila, Mami, which opened at Ein Sof Gallery, London in April 2022.