Executive Board
President - Eli Engelbourg
Eli Engelbourg is a junior Business major he has been on JSA board since his first semester of freshman year, and is very excited to be President for the upcoming year. Originall from Sharon, MA, he was involved with NFTY in high school and enjoys being part of the Jewish community on campus. He is a diehard Red Sox fan, and loves everything Boston. Feel free to talk to him about getting more involved with JSA or any other concerns you may have.
Vice President - Tamar Strauss-Benjamin
Tamar Strauss-Benjamin is a senior psychology major, from New York. She has been on JSA board since her freshman year. She first served as Tzedek chair and Religious Educational and Cultural chair. For fun Tamar enjoys reading great books, spending time with friends and when the weather permits snowboarding.
Brianna Kirsh is from Las Vega, Nevada and is a sophomore at AU. She is planning on majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in Jewish Studies. Brianna has been involved in many Jewish organizations such as USY, Genesis at Brandeis University, Nesiya, and was an intern with AIPAC her senior year of high school. She is so excited to be a part of the Jewish community here at AU. It is going to be a great year full of exciting events and she is so excited to be a part of it!
Community Relations Director - Blaire Cohen
Blaire Cohen is from Bridgewater, New Jersey, and is currently undecided. Last semester she was Social Chair as her first semester freshman year. This semester as Community Relations Director she will be organizing and planning all of the social events for the year. She is involved in Alpha Epsilon Phi and can't wait for a great semester!
Public Relations Director - Rachel Regberg
Rachel Regberg is a junior from Cincinnati, Ohio. She is majoring in International Relations - Middle East Peace and Conflict Resolution, with a minor in Justice and Law. When she isn't studying she enjoys traveling, reading, and photography. She likes bright colors and her socks never match.
Treasurer - Max Blumenthal
Max Blumenthal is a sophomore in SIS from San Jose, California. He likes to spend time playing soccer, beating Rabbi Choen at chess, and hanging out with friends.
General Board
Historian - Alli Gold
Alli is a senior in the School of Public Affairs. She is majoring in political science with minors in Israel studies and environmental studies. Alli has served as the Vice President and Community Relations Director of JSA in the past. She is from outside of Philadelphia and spent her summer in Israel and working at the EPA. She is excited to be back at school and looking forward to a great semester of events with JSA!
Tzedek Chair - Hayley Miller
Hayley is from Los Angeles and is a sophomore. She is double majoring in political science and public communications. She was head of all student led community service at her high school and led such activities as blood drive, food drives, toy drives, walks and marathons and bake sales. She is a member of Delta Gamma and is the Rikkud specialist at Temple Beth Ami. She likes to Israeli dance, cook, watch movies, eat frozen yogurt and read Harry Potter.
Jewish Learning Chair - Sophia Bernstein
Sophia is a junior from Philly. She is majoring in Religion and Spanish, and minoring in dance. She grew up in Israel and is very involved in Jewish education in her own life and in the D.C. Philly areas. She is part of a labor zionist youth movement that runs a summer camp (where she is a madricha every summer) and this spring she is heading to Argentina. She is also on the boards of AU Students For Israel (AUSFI), College Democrats, and AUSC.
Social Chair - Blaire Cohen
Publicity Chair -Alicia Garfinkel
Alicia Garfinkel is a sophomore from New Rochelle, New York and is studying to be a Jewish Educator. If she isn't in class or babysitting you will find her hanging out in the Hillel office. This is Alicia's second semester on JSA Board and she is so happy to be apart of it again. She loves Disney movies, blowing bubbles, singing/writing songs and playing with chalk. Alicia also loves to help out in the community however she can and takes every opportunity available to learn more Judaism.
Fundraiser Chair - Ben Vineburg
Ben Vineburg serves as the Fundraiser Chair for JSA. Ben was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin and transferred to American University this year. Ben enjoys Politics and Jewish Studies, two things that are able to keep him busy here at AU. He has a background in political consulting, fundraising and leadership and has served as a Wisconsin State Senate Scholar and a Lakewood Yeshiva Fellow. Ben is also the founding author of JSA's "Shabbos Schmooze" a weekly e-mail discussing the Torah portion and other relevent Jewish topics that is shared with the American University Jewish community.
Holocaust Remembrance Week - Hayley Miller
Hayley is from Los Angeles and is a sophomore. She is double majoring in political science and public communications. She went on the March of the Living trip to Poland and Israel and was an intern and now a volunteer at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. She is a member of Delta Gamma and is the Rikkud specialist at Temple Beth Ami. She likes to Israeli dance, cook, watch movies, eat frozen yogurt and read Harry Potter.