Hello, my name is Sally Hirschwerk, and I am so excited to be the Avodah Organizer at JCUA this year!

I am from Port Washington, New York, where I grew up with my parents and twin brother. I was deeply involved in Jewish life through my Reconstructionist synagogue, where I played violin in our Shabbat band, engaged in intergenerational dialogue groups, and participated in social action work. Growing up in the Reconstructionist movement, I learned that fighting for justice is a core part of what it means to be Jewish.

Both during my gap year living in a Jewish pluralistic community and in college, I engaged in a diversity of Jewish practices, experiences, cultures, and traditions. I am on a journey to explore the wide breadth of American Jewry and shape my own Jewish identity. This journey led me to JCUA, where I can explore Judaism while working with a coalition of Jews to fight injustice and create a society aligned with my values.

I earned my undergraduate degree at Brown University, where I studied history with a focus on institutions and inequalities. My studies culminated with a thesis exploring religious chaplaincy during the AIDS pandemic. I interviewed chaplains who cared for patients during the height of the epidemic in the 1980s and documented their stories. I have been inspired by these religious leaders who transcended hate, bigotry, fear, and injustice in order to provide affirming care to their patients. This work has motivated me to pursue social justice rooted in my own Jewish identity.

During my summers at college, I was involved in nonprofit work advocating for universal health care, where I learned the power of grassroots organizing to create change. I am excited to grow as an organizer at JCUA and build strong relationships for action in Chicago’s Jewish community. I look forward to meeting you and learning from all of you in the coming year! You can reach out to me at sally@jcua.org.