Adam Rozen is a homegrown Jewish Washingtonian—born in Bellingham, raised in Tacoma, and now living in Seattle. Since childhood, he has served in a variety of Jewish leadership positions, including as president of his high school NFTY chapter, various roles in almost all of the Jewish and pro-Israel organizations at the University of Washington, and now as board secretary of Congregation Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath. He loves Seattle for the proximity to the mountains and water, as well as for the small but mighty Jewish community. For the past decade, Adam has worked as a freelance grant writer, raising funds for charitable causes in the Pacific Northwest. When not volunteering in the Jewish community, he can often be found spending time with his friends and family, learning Torah, hiking, and anything that gets him into the great outdoors. Adam resides in Seward Park with his wife Rachel, their one-year-old daughter, and two cats.

Anna Shamitoff is a Russian Jewish immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1990 as a refugee with the help of the Jewish Federation and Jewish Family Services, an experience which has profoundly shaped her commitment to Jewish values of community and service. Professionally, she works as a physician at the Veterans Hospital in Beacon Hill. Anna takes great pride in being able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of veterans and those in need. Communally, Anna has co-chaired “The Tribe” at Temple De Hirsch Sinai in her 20s, where she worked to engage young adults in Jewish life and is a member of the Ben Gurion Society, a Federation affinity group for young philanthropists. Last year, she volunteered as a doctor on staff for Camp Kalsman. Outside of work, Anna enjoys spending time with her family.

Aviva Schecterson has been a professional game designer in the video games industry for almost ten years and is a crucial advocate for Jewish game developers navigating the growing challenges of antisemitism in the gaming industry. In response to rising online hostility following October 7, she was instrumental in revitalizing a community platform that provides support, solidarity, and comfort to Jewish game developers. Through her work with the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Special Interest Group for Jewish Game Developers, Aviva has provided guidance, hosted educational events, and facilitated roundtable discussions offering actionable solutions and educational resources to address antisemitism in the industry. Her proactive leadership has helped foster a safer and more inclusive environment for Jewish professionals in gaming.

Born in South Africa, Ayli Meyer-Uri spent three years on a kibbutz in Israel before moving back to South Africa and then to Houston, Texas. As a wandering Jew, she has lived in Los Angeles, New York, Central California, Phoenix, and now Seattle for the past four years. Ayli has worked as a special needs Jewish educator, Holocaust curriculum writer, Jewish Student Life coordinator for Hillel, freelance writer, TV news producer/director, software consultant, and project manager. She currently works for Amazon Prime Video as a Senior Program Manager with the Live Operations team. In her spare time, Ayli and her family love to be out in nature and take advantage of the numerous, beautiful trails the area has to offer. Fun fact: Ayli used to dance competitively.

Eliana Schwartz is deeply rooted in Seattle’s Jewish community, having grown up here in a Jewish Renewal congregation. From an early age, she experienced the richness of an intergenerational community that emphasized continuous learning and Tikkun Olam—values that continue to shape her vision of Jewish culture. Today, she is putting these values into action as a founding board member of the Seattle chapter of Jewish Women International, where she has helped build a vibrant and welcoming community for young Jewish women. Professionally, she works as a product manager, leading cross-functional teams of engineers and designers to build technology that solves customer problems. This experience has taught her invaluable lessons about bringing diverse perspectives together and thinking strategically to turn vision into reality—skills she is excited to apply to community leadership. In her free time, she enjoys reading cookbooks to find new dinner ideas, solving the NYT crossword, and listening to podcasts.

Gabe Cohn was born and raised in the greater Seattle area and is a proud member of its Jewish community. He grew up engaged with local institutions like the SJCC, Herzl, TDHS, Shevet Achim, and “Hebrew High,” and has remained active by organizing educational and fundraising events for the Federation, JFS, UW Hillel, ADL, JNF, and StandWithUs. From 2021 to 2024, he served as global co-chair of Jews at Microsoft (JAMS), building a strong network of Jewish employees worldwide. Gabe is a Principal Researcher at Microsoft, where he develops generative AI systems for drug discovery. His previous work focused on cardiovascular medical devices and large-scale cloud genomics. A passionate outdoorsman, Gabe enjoys skiing, hiking, biking, kayaking, travel, photography, and playing softball. Fun fact: his great-great-grandfather, Rabbi Hirsch Genss, helped found Seattle’s Jewish community in 1889, opening its first synagogue and serving as both shochet and mohel—with separate knives for each role.

Greg Shapiro brings a global and inclusive perspective to Jewish life, shaped by his experiences as a gay man and avid traveler. Originally from a New Jersey suburb of NYC, he graduated from Vassar College with a degree in Media Studies and additional studies in religion and anthropology. His career bridges travel and market research—beginning with preschool focus groups for Nickelodeon and later leading cultural facilitation programs in over 40 countries while working on cruise ships. Greg is deeply spiritual, certified in both yoga and Reiki, and enjoys hiking, snowboarding, paddleboarding, meditating, and macrame. A lover of entertainment, he appeared on Netflix’s The Mole as its only LGBTQ+ cast member. He’s active in Jewish life through Pride Shabbat, the JConnect steering committee, and JDC Entwine trips (including as trip co-chair). He also volunteers with the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes and values Seattle’s warm, connected Jewish community.

Jessica Peskin was born and raised in Seattle and developed her leadership skills early through active involvement in local Jewish institutions, including JDS, Herzl, and NYHS. After participating in the Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel, she continued her leadership journey at the University of Washington, where she was involved with Hillel, Students Supporting Israel, and the Coalition of Husky Allies for Israel. After a few years in New York, she returned to what she considers the most beautiful US city and has remained engaged in the Jewish community through Mercaz Seattle and Hillel UW. Jessica works professionally as a software engineer. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, crocheting, and baking. In another life, she imagines herself as an aurora chaser.

Jon Elkin, originally from the Boston area, spent summers on Mercer Island with his grandparents, enjoying Sephardic cooking and trips to the SJCC pool. He is a graduate of Jewish day schools, including Solomon Schechter of Greater Boston and Gann Academy, and attended Jewish summer camps like Yavneh and Ramah New England. At the University of Rochester, Jon served as Hillel president and later joined the Peace Corps in Azerbaijan. He earned an MBA from Dartmouth and an MA in International Development from Johns Hopkins. Jon is currently the Associate Director of Strategy & Analytics at Dataminr, an AI company focused on safety and security. Having lived in Seattle for eight years, he enjoys the city’s natural beauty. Jon and his wife, Kiley, are raising two daughters and a dog. He enjoys sports, reading the New York Times, and listening to podcasts on politics, national security, and Israeli current events.

Joshua Gladstein was born and raised in South Seattle, where he grew up deeply rooted in the local Jewish community, attending SBH, SHA, SAC, and NYHS. After spending two years studying in Yeshiva in Israel, he pursued college and graduate school in New York. Joshua and his wife returned to Seattle more than two years ago, where he has continued his long-standing commitment to communal service. Throughout his life, he has been drawn to supporting his community by serving on boards and helping to improve organizational outcomes. He is currently active on multiple committees and plays a key role in organizing community events. Joshua values Seattle’s strong Jewish community, which has become the foundation of his Jewish identity, religious practice, and social engagement. In his free time, he enjoys board games, reading fantasy novels, and spending quality time with his family.

Kaori Barvin is a violinist and Suzuki educator who recently relocated to Bellevue with her husband and two children. Passionate about music education, Kaori built a leading Suzuki violin studio in Houston and has served as a faculty member and clinician for numerous organizations across Texas. Her nonprofit experience includes serving as treasurer for the Southeast Texas Suzuki Association from 2019 to 2024, chairing a women’s philanthropy event for the Houston Federation, and speaking at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle’s 2024 fall fundraising event. Newly arrived in the Pacific Northwest, Kaori is excited to engage with and contribute to the local Jewish community.

Katie Stern is an experienced event professional with over 20 years in the field, specializing in building and cultivating niche communities of professionals and consumers. Equally at home managing intimate board meetings or large-scale conventions with 50,000 participants and budgets exceeding $75 million, Katie brings both strategic vision and logistical expertise. A West Coast native, she previously served as Board Secretary and Fundraising Chair for Contra Costa Midrasha, a board member of the Federation’s East Bay Young Adult Division, and a member of the Tikkun Olam Committee for the Federation’s San Francisco Young Adult Division. When OneTable launched, she hosted a series of Summer Shabbats in her home, believing that shared meals foster the deepest connections. More recently, she participated in the Federation’s Rest & Refresh program. Katie currently lives in West Seattle with her husband and their four-year-old daughter, continually inspired to create meaningful experiences through gathering.

Leah Hasson’s multicultural background and her family’s history, including a grandfather who was a Holocaust survivor, have profoundly shaped her commitment to community, connection, and inclusivity. Inspired by her grandfather’s resilience and dedication, Leah strives to create spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Professionally, Leah has held leadership roles that require adaptability, strategic thinking, and cross-cultural engagement. She’s passionate about uplifting diverse voices and fostering collaboration. Since moving to Seattle, Leah has developed a deep appreciation for its vibrant community and the opportunities to connect across backgrounds. She also loves the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, which offers space for reflection and growth. In her free time, Leah enjoys outdoor activities, travel, staying active, and building strong relationships. Leah looks forward to using her global perspective, collaborative spirit, and enthusiasm to strengthen the Jewish community.

Matt Gotteiner has lived in Seattle for the past nine years and first became involved in the Jewish community through Moishe House. Deeply passionate about philanthropy, he has dedicated time to volunteering with a variety of nonprofit organizations across the region. Outside of his professional and communal commitments, Matt enjoys dancing salsa.

Max Green has called Seattle home for over eight years. Raised in Colorado by New Yorkers, his strongest Jewish connections were formed during his college years in Chicago, where he joined Alpha Epsilon Pi—the Jewish fraternity—and met his partner, who brought a more observant perspective to their shared Jewish life. Professionally, Max has built a career in analytics and marketing. As of January 2025, he serves as REI’s Director of Performance Marketing and Analytics. While weekends once revolved around backpacking, mountain biking, and snowboarding with friends, today Max is more likely to be found at a Tot Shabbat or enjoying a family camping trip.