Meet the 2016-2017 Eisendrath Legislative Assistants

The beginning of the program year is always an exciting time at the RAC, as we begin a new cycle of tikkun olam work. In many ways, the high point of our organizational Rosh Hashanah, the blowing of the shofar and our call to action, is the arrival of the new class of Eisendrath Legislative Assistants. As they begin their work on these key social justice issues, here's some more information about them and what they are working on:

From left to right:

Nathan Bennett (he/him) is from Wilmette, IL, and was a member of Ner Tamid Ezra Habonim Egalitarian Minyan. He attended Northwestern University, where he studied History and Political Science and spent a semester at Tel Aviv University studying Jewish history and Israeli politics. Nathan enjoys baseball, going to concerts, and roller coasters (despite his motion sickness). Nathan’s portfolio this year includes economic justice, housing and homelessness, minimum wage, disability rights, children and education, healthcare and labor.   

Maya Weinstein (she/her) grew up in Fort Myers, FL. She graduated from the George Washington University, where she studied Human Services and Criminal Justice. She enjoys attending services and programs at Washington Hebrew Congregation, visiting state capitol buildings, and Instagramming her cat, Apollo Avraham. Maya’s legislative portfolio includes Women’s Issues, Reproductive Rights, Human Trafficking, Gun Violence Prevention, and Election Issues. She will also be working as the Women of Reform Judaism LA. 

Max Antman (he/him) grew up in Evanston, Illinois, and remains a member of Beth Emet the Free Synagogue. He recently graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, where he studied Political Science, English and Jewish Culture and Society. During his free time, Max enjoys hiking, stir-frying and a good karaoke session. This year, Max's work will focus on LGBT rights, immigration, judicial nominations and Native American issues. He will also be working with Reform Jewish Voice of New York State.

Lizzie Stein (she/her) is originally from Phoenix, Arizona, where she is a member of Temple Kol Ami. She studied Politics and Spanish at Occidental college and spent a semester in Salamanca, Spain. Lizzie enjoys hiking, playing ultimate Frisbee and listening to podcasts. Lizzie’s legislative portfolio includes Environment: Clean Air and Water, Climate Change, Energy, Food Justice; Interfaith Relations; Civil Liberties; and Hate Crimes.

Shelby Friedman (she/her) is from Dallas, TX, where she is a member of Temple Emanu-El. Shelby graduated from Middlebury College, where she studied Political Science and Hebrew and spent a semester studying in Istanbul, Turkey. Shelby is a podcast aficionado and also appreciates a challenging yoga class. Her portfolio includes Israel, refugees, world Jewry, the Holocaust, Anti-Semitism, and international issues including global poverty, foreign aid, international religious freedom, global HIV/AIDS, foreign policy, arms control, debt relief, human rights, military issues and malaria prevention.