Advisory Board - Consejo Asesor

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Ely Benhamo (she/her) is a proud Cuban-American Jewtina hailing from sunny Miami, Florida. A lifelong Jewish leader, she currently serves as the National Director of Major Gifts for OneTable. 

Her commitment to the Jewish community is multifaceted. In addition to her work with OneTable and Jewtina y Co., she serves on the San Francisco board of Jewish Women International's Young Women's Impact Network. Here, Ely collaborates with like-minded individuals to advocate for women's rights and empowerment, contributing to the betterment of society.

A proud member of Jewtina y Co., Ely actively celebrates her rich heritage and diverse identity, embodying the inclusivity and dynamism that characterize the contemporary Jewish landscape. Through her various roles and initiatives, Ely continues to be a driving force for positive change, community enrichment, and cultural celebration within and beyond the Jewish community.

Eddie Chávez-Calderón (he/él) champions the creation of a more inclusive, diverse America through his dedicated leadership as the Director of Uri L'Tzedek, the nation's singular Orthodox social justice organization. Hailing from Michoacán, México, and now a proud resident of Phoenix, Arizona, Eddie's journey as a DACA recipient and a devoted student of Torah has been the crucible forging his fervent commitment to justice and equality.

Eddie’s passion emanates from the harmonious blend of his deep-seated Jewish values, which emphasize continuous education and Tikkun Olam – repairing the world, and his personal confrontation with systemic oppression. His experiences have imbued him with a profound understanding of the intricacies of inequality and have fueled his resolve to cultivate a progressive movement dedicated to societal betterment.

With an unyielding belief in the power of unity and the richness of diversity, Eddie actively seeks to bridge divides and foster understanding. His work at Uri L'Tzedek has been instrumental in galvanizing communities and advocating for change, showcasing the potent synergy of faith and action. Eddie's life story is a testament to resilience, a beacon of hope, and a compelling call to action for those committed to shaping a more equitable and compassionate America.

Julia Hernández Nierenberg  (she/ella) grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and recently relocated to Minneapolis after having spent three years in Los Angeles. 

Growing up in an interfaith and multicultural household shaped Julia’s worldview from an early age. Celebrating both Catholic and Jewish traditions, fluently communicating in English and Spanish, and learning a wide array of family recipes from Mexican, Sicilian, and Turkish cuisines have all played integral roles in defining her cultural identity.

When she isn’t engrossed in work or studies, Julia’s passions come alive through storytelling and culinary experiments, offering a piece of her diverse heritage to those around her. She is an avid dancer, a curious consumer of podcasts and audiobooks, a regular visitor to local farmer’s markets, and a keen rock climber, continuously seeking new challenges.

Academically, Julia holds a joint Masters in Social Welfare and Public Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles. During her time there, she served as the communications liaison for the Luskin Latinx Caucus, actively engaging in advocacy and fostering connections within the community.

Julia’s diverse background and multifaceted identity continue to shape her perspectives and fuel her pursuit of knowledge and personal growth.

Jennifer Olissa Leshnower (she/ella) was born in Bogotá, Colombia, raised in New York, and is a proud, Jewish Afro-Latina.  A skilled facilitator and trainer, Jennifer has dedicated her career to empowering communities, assisting them in amplifying their most valuable asset: their voices.

Holding dual degrees – a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Social Work – from Columbia University, Jennifer contributes her skills to AmeriCorps. In this role, she collaborates with federal agencies and various external stakeholders to foster, elevate, identify, and support initiatives focused on bridging divides and fortifying democracy through national service. Her experiences are enriched by her tenure as a returned Peace Corps volunteer, where she devoted her time to serving communities in the Eastern Caribbean.

Jennifer’s multicultural roots, extensive academic background, and hands-on experience position her uniquely in advocating for community voices and strengthening democratic values.

Aurora Levins Morales (she/ella) is a Puerto Rican Ashkenazi Jewish activist, historian, teacher, writer and poet who is significant within social justice movements. 

Her writing and activism persistently imagine a world in which the personal is understood as political and vice versa, the complexities of identity and heritage are explored rather than erased, and structures of oppression (racism, classism, sexism, imperialism, colonialism, capitalism, etc.) are recognized as interlocking, such that they must be simultaneously challenged to be dismantled. 

Aurora's contributions have been critical to third wave feminism and its evolution, Puerto Rican and Latinx feminism, disability justice, radical Judaism, climate change activism, and grassroots organizing.

Ariela Ronay-Jinich (she/ella) grew up in Mexico City, where her family is from. She has been serving Bay Area youth and families since 2005, focusing her work on innovative Jewish educational programs that center nature connection and community-building. 

Programs she has founded and directed include Urban Adamah’s youth and family programs, B'Hootz (Wilderness Torah), and Edah Berkeley. She is particularly excited about her recent launch of Olamim, a family engagement program for Latinx Jewish families in the East Bay that blends her current equity work with her extensive background in nature connection, early childhood education, and community-building. 

Ariela holds a B.A in Education Policy and History from Brown University, and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Mills College in Oakland. She is a Helen Diller Family Award recipient for Excellence in Jewish Education, a Kevah Teaching Fellow, and a Rockwood Alum. 

Ariela lives in Berkeley with her daughter, Alma, and delights in eating papaya as much as possible.

Dr. Ramona Tenorio (she/ella) is a Jewish Latina (Jewtina) with Mexican/Indigenous and Dutch ancestry from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has a background in research and evaluation as a trained anthropologist and geographer. 

She is the Founder and President of Broader Impact, LLC, a professional consulting firm that assists clients in achieving the broader impacts of their mission through research and evaluation, strategic planning, data analysis, and grant services. Ramona is also Co-Founder of Tiyuv Initiative, a hub for Jews of Color (JOC)-led, culturally responsive evaluation (CRE) of Jewish community racial justice programs. Her passion for justice draws inspiration, guidance, and direction from the Jewish ethos of Tikkun Olam. 

Dr. Tenorio currently serves as a member of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Community Relations Council (JCRP) and Board of Trustee for Congregation Sinai, a Reform Congregation in Fox Point, Wisconsin. She is a 2021-2022 Union of Reform Judaism, JewV’Nation Fellow, part of Audacious Hospitality's focused effort on Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (REDI) work.