Evan Schlessinger

 Evan Schlessinger is chair of the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles. His past lay leadership roles include serving as chair of The Foundation’s Cutting Edge Grants Committee, member of the Jewish Funders Network’s Executive Committee, board chair of Jewish Family & Life Media, and founding member and past chair of the Los Angeles Jewish Venture Philanthropy Fund. Mr. Schlessinger is a nationally known marketing expert and president of the Springboard Company, a market research and consulting firm based in Los Angeles. His work has been featured in the national media including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Newsweek, CBS This Morning and the ABC Home Show. 

David Suissa is President of Tribe Media/Jewish Journal, where he has been writing a weekly column on the Jewish world since 2006. In 2015, he was awarded first prize for "Editorial Excellence" by the American Jewish Press Association. Prior to Tribe Media, David was founder and CEO of Suissa Miller Advertising, a marketing firm named “Agency of the Year” by USA Today. He sold his company in 2006 to devote himself full time to his first passion: Israel and the Jewish world. David was born in Casablanca, Morocco, grew up in Montreal, and now lives in Los Angeles with his five children.

David J. Wolpe  taught for eight years at the University of Judaism and later served at JTS. A prolific author, his books include The Healer of Shattered Hearts, Why Be Jewish?, and Making Loss Matter. In 1997, he became senior rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, where he launched the popular Friday Night Live service and grew the congregation significantly. is a prominent American rabbi, teacher, writer, and orator. Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and raised in Philadelphia, he is the son of Rabbi Gerald Wolpe of Har Zion Congregation. He studied English literature at the University of Pennsylvania, with a year abroad at the University of Edinburgh, and was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1987. Wolpe is  currently the scholar in residence for the Maimonides Fund.

Jacki Karsh is a six-time Emmy-nominated multimedia journalist and longtime reporter for LA36’s LA County Channel, covering civic, cultural, and humanitarian stories across Los Angeles. She has interviewed global leaders from Generals Stanley McChrystal and David Petraeus to Governor J.B. Pritzker, Mayor Eric Garcetti, and cultural icons like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Mindy Kaling. Since October 7, Jacki has become a leading voice in Jewish media advocacy, contributing to major outlets including the Jewish Journal, JNS, and The Times of Israel. She has led over 70 panels and interviews on antisemitism, Israel, and media misinformation, speaking at forums such as the Milken Global Conference, AIPAC, and JFNA. Jacki founded the Karsh Fellowship for Journalism, training journalists to report on Jewish identity and Israel with accuracy and depth. She serves on several boards, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and OpenDor Media, and holds degrees from Columbia University and the Columbia Journalism School.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Allyson Simon practiced transactional entertainment law related to film and television at various law firms and entertainment companies, including Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. Since moving to New York in 2004, Allyson has engaged in philanthropic endeavors connected to her new home, for instance, serving on committees and boards for UJA-Federation of New York and Westchester. Allyson raises funds and awareness as a committee member of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s New York and Westchester/Fairfield Chapters. Allyson also provides college and career preparedness mentorship to high school students through iMentor, an organization whose motto, “Every student deserves a champion,” resonates deeply with her. 

Founder of Open Temple in Venice, CA, Rabbi Lori Shapiro is an unconventional rabbinate dedicated to reaching unaffiliated and intermarried families and seekers. Previously the Director of Jewish Life and Senior Consultant for Interfaith Relations and Outreach at the University of Southern California Hillel, Lori’s transdenominational rabbinate was informed by her studies at the American Jewish University, years living in Israel studying within an Orthodox Jewish framework and graduation from both the Academy for Jewish Religion/California (MA in Rabbinics) as well as the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (MA in Jewish Studies). Rabbi Lori and Open Temple began as a part of a national incubator supporting cutting edge and innovative Jewish programming mentored by Rabbis Without Borders and CLAL. 

Rabbi Cantor Alison Wissot is best known for her joyful spirit, her soulful singing, and her passion for Jewish learning. As one of a handful of people in the nation who have been jointly ordained as Rabbi and invested as Cantor, she is dedicated to revitalizing worship and integrating the ancient sounds of Jewish tradition with contemporary music. Rabbi Cantor Wissot has served on the Executive Council of the Cantors Assembly, as well as the Board of Directors of Stand With Us.  She is an active leader in the American Conference of Cantors, as well as the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Prior to joining the Temple Judea clergy team, Rabbi Cantor Wissot was cantor at Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles and the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue in New York.

Robert Polak is the founder, CEO, and chief investment officer of Anchor Bolt Capital, a Chicago-based hedge fund specializing in industrial, transportation, and energy companies. Previously, he was a portfolio manager at Citadel Investment Group and held positions at Copper Arch Capital, NWQ Investment Management, and Salomon Brothers. Robert earned his MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA in Economics from UCLA. He lives in Chicago with his daughter, Olivia. An active philanthropist, Robert serves on the Chicago and national boards of the Friends of the IDF and the American Technion Society. His contributions include the Robert Polak Sports and Recreation Center for the Golani Brigade and the Robert Polak Fund for Applied Research with Commercial Potential, supporting Technion PhD students in transforming innovation into impact.