Abby Neuschatz grew up in San Francisco and lived in New York and Tel Aviv, before moving to Los Angeles. She graduated from Brown University with a degree in History, and has worked in the entertainment industry since, in both the strategy and development space. She is a filmmaker, and has directed, written, and produced four short films. Her writing has been published in The LA Times, The Bold Italic, and other publications. In her free time, she loves hiking, writing, creating and seeing visual art, and exploring LA with friends and family. She traveled to Bosnia and Croatia with JDC Entwine in October 2023, and can’t wait for her next trip opportunity with Entwine.

Born and raised in Dallas, Adina has called Chicago home for the last five years. She graduated from Loyola University with her J.D. in 2023, and has been an active community member in various Jewish organizations in Chicago. Adina’s involvement with Entwine began with her attending JDC board trips with her family, and includes two impactful Insider trips to Argentina and India, fostering a profound connection to diverse Jewish communities around the world. In her free time, Adina enjoys exploring Chicago’s food scene, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Amit Sapir is a senior at the University of Florida studying biomedical engineering. He is the Founder and President of Students Supporting Israel at UF, Chairman of the JNF College Student Summit, and Regional Chair for the Southeast/Midwest United States on the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Campus Global Board. Amit represents the United States in the Impact Fellowship for the World Union of Jewish Students and was a delegate for the prestigious Kakehashi diplomacy program to Japan, hosted by B’nai B’rith International. His passion for global engagement and Jewish leadership led him to participate in JDC Entwine’s Global Leaders: Inside India delegation, where he gained firsthand insight into Jewish communal impact worldwide. Through his leadership roles and international experiences, Amit is committed to fostering cross-cultural dialogue, strengthening Jewish identity, and advocating for global Jewish communities.

Andrea is a dedicated music therapist specializing in autism, passionate about using music to support neurodivergent individuals. She loves playing music, spending time with her dog, and exploring new restaurants. An avid walker, she has maintained a streak of 10,000+ steps per day for over six years. Andrea has been actively involved with Entwine, participating in two Insider trips with NuRoots—Bosnia and Croatia in Fall 2023 and Brazil in Fall 2024. She is excited to continue deepening her connection to global Jewish communities.

Brett Goldfine is a Clincial Microbiologist at VCU Health. When he’s not decoding DNA, Brett enjoys hiking, playing guitar and ukulele, and ambitiously collecting Legos despite limited space. As a self-proclaimed masochist, he loyally supports New York sports teams, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, and the University of Virginia Cavaliers. An avid attendee of live sporting events and concerts, Brett particularly enjoys Pop-punk/Emo bands, a genre he consumes with fervor. He frequently shares his musical talents on social media through song covers. Brett holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sport and Entertainment Management from the University of South Carolina, where he was a proud Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity brother, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science from Virginia Commonwealth University. He attended the Fall 2024 Entwine trip to Georgia as a Sisisky Fellow along with other future Richmond Jewish Community leaders.

Carolyn grew up in Rochester, NY. After graduating the University of Maryland she spent time living in Israel and NYC before she landed in Washington, DC 9 years ago. Carolyn works as a Recruiter focusing on technical hiring talent for a financial institution. She has participated in JDC Entwine trips to Rwanda and Montreal, where she made incredible friendships and bonds with both other participants and locals in the country. Carolyn is still involved with the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village and went back to visit on her own. In her free time she loves socializing with friends, going to concerts and musicals, and attending young professional Jewish events in the DC area. Her laugh can usually be heard from a mile away.

Clara Camber is a community advocate, steered by curiosity, empathy, and connectivity. As a committed member of the global Jewish community, Clara is an experienced community organizer and educator. She is driven by Jewish values of holding multitudes, mutual responsibility, and spirit, and she channels those values into her work in sustainable food systems and the many intersecting issues of justice and equity.

With a degree in Film and Media Studies from UCSB, Edwin Eddy Damavandi has seamlessly intertwined his passion for storytelling with various professional endeavors. Transitioning from roles in real estate to nurturing his love for film, he embarked on a journey as a real estate photographer, capturing the essence of properties through his lens. Beyond his professional pursuits, Eddy finds joy in the camaraderie of basketball games, the warmth of friendships, and the exploration of new cultures through travel. His deep curiosity led him to delve into the rich history of the Balkans during travels to Bosnia and Croatia, an experience that resonated profoundly with him. Additionally, he traveled to Brazil with JDC which allowed him to explore the land and the rich culture. As an avid learner and explorer, Eddy continues to seek inspiration from the world around him, channeling it into his creative endeavors.

Gabi Silver is from West Hartford, CT and moved to DC at the end of last summer. By day he is an event planner and at night a community connector. He is a 2022 graduate of Johnson & Wales University, and prior to moving to DC he spent a year in Israel on a Masa program, including studies at Pardes in Jerusalem. He is a member of DC Minyan, sits on the Herut DC Board, and teaches Hebrew school on the side. When not building bridges he plays kickball, spends time in the community gaden enjoys reading, hiking, and finding the best coffee shops on countless walks around DC.

Hannah first became involved with Entwine as a participant in the Finland/Estonia insider trip, and is so excited to continue being involved as a community representative! Originally from Olney, Maryland, Hannah currently is living in Cambridge, Massachusetts pursuing her Master in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to this, she was living in Madrid, Spain working as an English Teacher. From BBYO in high school to Hillel in High School to living in a Moishe House in Madrid, Hannah has always been active in Jewish life, and is excited to continue this work as a community rep! In her free time Hannah enjoys traveling, reading, spinning, and spending time with friends.

Hayley is an excited and outgoing person who is crazy about spending time learning about her Jewish history and culture and with fellow like-minded Jews. She recently traveled to the Republic of Georgia with JDC Entwine, which ignited her passion for immersing herself into the community and engaging others to do the same. During the day, she works in clinical trials to provide patients with gastrointestinal disease an alternative option for medicine; and in her free time she loves to read, spend time with her two birds, and catch up on her favorite TV and watch horror movies.

Julie grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and currently lives in Philadelphia. She attended Muhlenberg College, where she majored in American Studies and received her Elementary Education Teaching Certification. After Muhlenberg, Julie was an AmeriCorps member for City Year Philadelphia. Julie moved to Pittsburgh from 2018-2019 as a Repair the World education justice fellow. Following Repair the World, Julie taught elementary school before getting her MEd in Higher Education at Temple University. She currently works as an advisor for the co-op program at Drexel University, where she enjoys helping her students pursue their passions. In summer 2024, Julie went to Austria and Bulgaria on her first Entwine trip. In her free time, you will find Julie reading (she is in two book clubs!), doing yoga, exploring Philly, or at a Shabbat dinner on Friday nights. Both volunteering and being involved in the Jewish community have always been passions of hers.

Julie is a craft-loving, board game-obsessed dog mom who works as a software developer and math instructor. She received her bachelor’s degree from UCLA and her master’s degree in math from CSUN. She previously attended JDC Entwine’s Los Angeles-based trip to Bosnia and Croatia and had a life-changing experience. She volunteers as a big sister through Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles and has been matched with her little for 9 years. She loves musical theater and is an avid hoster of Shabbatlucks. She’s very excited to be a community rep and looks forward to advocating for JDC’s global efforts on a local scale.

Kilian Colin is an environmental engineer with CalEPA, overseeing public drinking water systems in San Diego and Imperial Counties. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego, teaching environmental engineering. Originally from Iraq, Kilian fled Baghdad and later earned his B.S. and M.S. in Civil/Environmental Engineering from SDSU. Passionate about social justice, he founded Just Another Butterfly, a nonprofit supporting immigrants and LGBTQ asylum seekers. He is also an author, writing fiction inspired by environmental and cultural themes, including The Marshman—The Baker’s Daughter, which explores the Iraqi Jewish experience. A dedicated traveler who has visited 26 countries, Kilian enjoys exploring different cultures, walking on the beach, and caring for his plants and cats. His previous involvement with Entwine reflects his deep commitment to Jewish heritage and global engagement, and he is eager to continue fostering meaningful connections through this program.

Lauren is a Program Manager for Sundara, a nonprofit advancing hygiene and sustainability through locally-led soap recycling initiatives. She is currently pursuing her MSc in Adult Nursing at King’s College London, aiming to combine clinical skills with her public health background to work in clinical public health and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene).

Her passion for WASH began during her JDC Entwine Summer Fellowship in India in 2018, where she first encountered Sundara’s work. She later served as JDC Entwine’s Jewish Service Corps Fellow at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda, where she worked as the Public Health Fellow and loved the experience so much she stayed for a second year.

When she’s not working, she’s likely scouting out the best avocado toast, catching up with friends over a matcha latte, or spending time with her Frenchie-Pug, Daisy.

Maddie Levin is a Brooklyn-based non-profit professional passionate about social change and community building. With a background in Psychology and Jewish Studies, Maddie is dedicated to making a positive impact through her work and volunteer efforts. She previously participated in an Entwine trip to Rwanda, where she connected with local communities and explored the values of mutual responsibility and service. Maddie loves gathering with friends and family for a warm cup of tea, great conversation, and lots of laughter. You’re most likely to find her at her local ceramics studio, planning her next big trip, or out for a hike with her pup, Toast. Maddie is excited to bring her enthusiasm for community engagement to her role as a Community Representative.

Morgan Helfman is an Assistant District Attorney in Westchester County, New York where she prosecutes domestic violence, child and elder abuse, and sex crimes cases. A South Jersey native, Morgan graduated from Northeastern University where she found her purpose in advocating for victims of crime. Morgan also studied abroad at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she also trained to staff and lead Birthright Israel trips, and went to law school at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She currently serves on the board of Women of Reform Judaism and has traveled to Montreal and Rwanda with JDC Entwine. In her free time, you can find Morgan at a Broadway show or as her friends put it, “Doing Something Jewish.”

Natalie Buchbinder is a San Diego local currently working as a Biomedical Studies Project Manager at UC San Diego. She earned a Masters of Public Health from San Diego State University and a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and Business Administration from American University. She is very active in the local Jewish community and has taken two transformative Entwine trips to Budapest and Italy, serving as a co-trip chair for the inaugural Italy trip. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, and exploring all that San Diego has to offer.

Nathan studied computer engineering at the University of Michigan where he was the president of the Jewish Engineers Association. He’s since worked on consumer electronics at Fitbit and now works for Toyota on self-driving cars. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he now lives in New York City where he helped make a website for his local Jewish community to make it easier to welcome newcomers. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, camping, and playing frisbee in the park.

Rachel is from Metro Detroit and lives in Chicago. She is the Midwest Regional Director of Development for the Washington Institute. A lover of travel and adventure, Rachel spent a semester abroad in Budapest and continues to explore Europe and Israel. In December 2019, she traveled with JDC Entwine, KAHAL, and Gabriel Project Mumbai to Mumbai, India, engaging with the local Jewish community and volunteering. In March 2022, she joined an Entwine trip to the UAE after the Abraham Accords. A year later, she staffed a Northwestern University spring break trip to Morocco. Rachel loves meeting new people, hosting Shabbat dinners, and exploring Chicago coffee shops.

Rachel is a youth librarian at a public library in the Boston area, where she runs programs for 1st through 4th graders. She’s participated in three Entwine trips so far: Inside Montreal (August 2024), Assiyah for Asheville (December 2024), and most recently, Inside Rwanda (February 2025). In her free time, Rachel enjoys going to the movies, traveling, and trying new foods.

Originally hailing from NYC suburbs, Prim has spent the past 6+ years immersing herself in the Bay Area community and through her work supporting startups as a Relationship Manager J.P. Morgan. Prim originally caught the bug for startups when thinking about how one new idea has the “butterfly effect” ability to change the world’s previously uncontested notions. Above all, she values open mindedness and non-judgment. When not banking, Prim can be found singing with the SF Bach Choir, skiing black diamonds at Tahoe, or checking out a new restaurant in down. She attended the Entwine Bay Area trip to Bosnia and Croatia, and not only learned a ton about the Balkan Jewish community, but made a ton of new connections in her local community.

Regan N. Smith (she/her) is a public relations professional with a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of California Polytechnic-Pomona. Regan is a passionate activist who employs the griotic methodology of storytelling to preserve and educate people about African American and Jewish history.
In addition, she also cares about restorative justice and doing her part in upholding the Jewish Mitzvah of Tikkun Olam to create a better world.

Robyn is a Marketing and Communications professional with experience across corporate, nonprofit, and higher education sectors. Passionate about storytelling, she thrives in a career that allows her to craft compelling narratives every day. Beyond work, she enjoys reading, cooking, baking, and staying active, including playing in a flag football league. She also hosts a book club that fosters meaningful discussions across various genres. Deeply engaged in her local Jewish community, she serves as co-chair of a committee dedicated to connecting Jewish adults in their 20s and 40s. Robyn’s involvement with Entwine includes an Insider Trip to Italy this past November, a partnership between the Jewish Federation of San Diego and JDC Entwine, which deepened her understanding of and appreciation for Entwine’s impactful work.

Shelby is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a BA in Communication Studies. Shelby currently works at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation as the Administrative Assistant for Jewish Volunteer Center and Elevate Leadership. Being born and raised in Miami, she always had a passion for learning about Jewish communities from different countries and cultures. She’s very passionate about her Judaism and Israel. She was a participant on the Inside Jewish Montreal trip in August 2024 which was the trip that inspired her to want to get more involved with JDC Entwine.

Valerie grew up on Long Island, and returned to New York in 2020 after living in Washington DC. She currently works on government programs to improve air quality, and is passionate about environmental health, community-building, and urban design. Valerie traveled to India with JDC Entwine in 2020, and participated in a virtual “Inside Georgia” trip. Valerie likes to explore Jewish life across the city, but can often be found at camp reunions, independent minyans, or Sephardic community events. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor adventures, learning new skills, and classic New York activities like going to Broadway shows and searching for the perfect bagel.