Max DuBoff

Director of Education

Max is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Bowdoin College. Max‘s specialty is in practical ethics, both ancient and contemporary, including ethical deliberation (especially about death), reproductive ethics, and philosophy of sex. Max co-hosts the Bruchim Podcast and Circumcision Texts in the Jewish Tradition with Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon. Max holds a PhD in Classics and Philosophy from Yale University and a BA in Classics and Philosophy from Rutgers University – New Brunswick. Max has studied at Drisha and the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, and Max‘s favorite Jewish commentator is the Mei HaShiloach. A passionate enthusiast of Jewish music, board games, and homemade hummus, Max is thrilled to be part of the Bruchim team!

Lisa Braver Moss

President & Co-Founder

Lisa’s groundbreaking essay “A Painful Case,” published in Tikkun in 1990, was one of the first articles to challenge circumcision from a Jewish point of view. In the decades since, she has become a leading voice in the need for open choice about this tradition. Inspired by Jewish institutions’ growing efforts to embrace diversity, Lisa envisioned that same welcome for those who forgo circumcision—an idea that led to the founding of Bruchim. An award-winning novelist and accomplished nonfiction writer, Lisa is the co-author of Celebrating Brit Shalom, a ritual guide for alternative bris ceremonies, and the author of several novels, most recently Shrug.

Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon

Founding Executive Board

Eliyahu grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family in Brookline, MA. At the age of 13, he and his family moved to Israel, where he later decided not to serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Instead, he chose to study medicine in the UK. Three years into his medical degree, Eliyahu shifted his focus to filmmaking. After earning two degrees from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he completed his first feature-length documentary, Cut: Slicing Through the Myths of Circumcision. Eliyahu has since released his second feature-length documentary, A People Without A Land, and is the producer and host of The Bruchim Podcast, as well as a co-host of Four Cubits.

Rebecca Wald

Executive Director & Co-Founder

Rebecca has been a leading voice for Jewish families exploring alternatives to circumcision for more than 15 years. She is the founder of Beyond the Bris, a widely recognized platform that elevates Jewish perspectives on circumcision choice, and the co-author of Celebrating Brit Shalom, the first published guide to Jewish covenant ceremonies without circumcision. A graduate of The George Washington University, where she earned her B.A. in English with honors, Rebecca went on to receive her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, serving on the editorial board of the Brooklyn Law Review. She is active across multiple Jewish communities and continues to create spaces where tradition and ethical choice can coexist.

David Balashinsky

Outreach & Advocacy

David holds degrees in Arts (with a Special Honors Curriculum in Women’s Studies, History, and Philosophy) and Science (in Physical Therapy) from Hunter College, CUNY. He is currently working as a physical therapist in inpatient rehabilitation, where he helps patients recover and regain functional mobility. David resides near the Finger Lakes region of New York on a farm that he is dedicated to restoring to its natural state. To date, he has planted over 250 trees as part of this effort. In addition to his work, he maintains a blog where he writes thoughtfully on topics related to gender, bodily autonomy, and politics.

Lucy Levinsohn Berman

Special Projects

Lucy is a professional songwriter and recording artist, best known as the frontwoman of the L.A.-based alt rock band EVOLOVE, performing under the name “Lucy Lee.” Her original songs have been featured extensively in film and television. In addition to her musical career, Lucy is a passionate Jewish community leader and music rights activist. Noticing the absence of a synagogue and a strong Jewish presence in her neighborhood, she joined the Sunland-Tujunga Arts and Culture Committee and founded “Hanukkah in the Foothills,” a community event that has brought people together since 2014. Lucy is also an active member of the steering committee for Songwriters of North America.

Max Buckler

Bioethics Researcher

Max is an interdisciplinary scholar whose work explores the intersections of Jewish tradition, bioethics, and bodily autonomy. Max’s work has been published in journals such as The Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, Current Sexual Health Reports, The IJIR, and in books such as Bioethics and Religion: Exploring the Intersection. He draws on ethics, medical humanities, and legal theory to inform Bruchim’s leadership strategy. Max resides in Hong Kong with his wife, Charlene, who is part of the extended Bruchim team.

Jonathan Friedman

Operations Planning

Jonathan grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, and brings over a decade of experience working with nonprofit organizations. He is skilled in web technologies, public outreach campaigns, and media relations. Jonathan holds an engineering degree from The Cooper Union and is currently researching sustainable energy storage solutions.

Elana Johnson

Social Media Manager

Elana is a mother of four with a professional background in social media since 2016. She is dedicated to creating positive Jewish content for social media advocacy, particularly supporting non-circumcising families. Additionally, Elana serves as one of the Directors of Equity for Your Whole Baby. Raised in a Reform Jewish family in the greater Chicago area, she is deeply committed to raising her children to appreciate, respect, and embrace their Jewish identity and heritage.

Josh Olswanger

Web Architect

Josh is excited to bring over a decade of professional experience in web design and business development to the creation and management of Bruchim’s online presence. Originally from Sacramento, California, Josh was raised in a secular Jewish household before relocating with his family to Boise, Idaho, where he later attended Boise State University. He is the co-owner of Thrive Web Designs, a company that serves over 500 clients worldwide and is committed to giving back to the community by offering support to impactful nonprofits. Josh lives in the Boise area with his wife and two young children, and he enjoys celebrating Jewish traditions and holidays with his family.

Taryn Pinstein

Conversion & Interfaith Support

Taryn grew up in Massachusetts, where she enjoyed playing sports and celebrating joyful family gatherings with her 26 first cousins. After earning an undergraduate degree in religious studies, she became a massage therapist, discovering a deep passion for helping others through the healing process. In her twenties, Taryn’s Jewish fiancé introduced her to the beauty of Jewish life, and she embraced Judaism before their marriage. Now living in a Boston suburb with her husband and two children, Taryn finds profound meaning in the values and traditions of Judaism. When she’s not driving her teenagers to theater rehearsals or sports practices, she enjoys hiking in the woods with her dog, Tovah.

Mark David Reiss

Brit Shalom Advocacy

Mark is a retired radiologist, a classical concert pianist, and an active member of his Conservative synagogue. He is a passionate advocate for brit shalom, the covenantal naming and welcoming ceremony for Jewish newborn males who will not undergo circumcision. As the founder and administrator of Celebrants of Brit Shalom, a website that connects families with brit shalom officiants, Mark has counseled numerous Jewish parents on the medical risks and benefits of circumcision. He has also played a key role in connecting families to brit shalom celebrants around the world. In addition, Mark serves as Executive Vice-President of Doctors Opposing Circumcision.

Bari Schilowitz     

Community Engagement

Bari leads with a creative mindset in both her work and life. She holds a Master’s in Clinical Art Therapy and Mental Health Counseling and a Ph.D. in Psychology. Bari maintains a private psychology practice and is also a full-time mother, dedicated to fostering conscious, connected relationships between parents and children. With longstanding roots in the Jewish community, Bari is continuing her family’s tradition of service and engagement. She is deeply committed to challenging societal norms and empowering families to make intentional choices. She believes that questioning inherited traditions with care and awareness is essential to the evolution of personal and collective growth.

Diane Targovnik 

Parent Advocate

Diane is a former newspaper reporter turned lawyer, with expertise in investigative work, transactional law, and corporate affairs. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Near Eastern Studies, with Honors, from the University of Arizona, a Master’s in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a J.D. from Arizona State University. Although born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Diane spent many years traveling and working around the world, only to realize that the only place she felt truly at home was her hometown. She eventually returned to Phoenix, where she lives with her two children and a collection of dogs.

Leif Thompson

Physician Advisor 

Leif was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, and has dedicated over 20 years to practicing family medicine in the state, primarily serving the Alaska Native community. Before pursuing a career in medicine, Leif earned a B.M. in Piano Performance and an M.A. in Music Theory and Composition, and worked as a wilderness guide. Due to the trauma of his own circumcision, Leif distanced himself from his Jewish identity for much of his adult life and chose not to perform circumcisions during his medical training and practice. Upon discovering Bruchim, Leif has begun to reconnect with his Jewish roots and is excited to contribute his medical expertise to the team.

Dr. Rabbi Tzemah Yoreh

Biblical Scholar In Residence / Rabbinic Advisory Council 

Rabbi Yoreh, leader of The City Congregation, is a prominent intellectual figure in the field of Jewish humanism. His most recent book, Why Abraham Murdered Isaac: The First Stories of the Bible Revealed (2021), explores foundational biblical narratives. Rabbi Yoreh has been a devoted student of the Bible since childhood, winning the Diaspora Division of the International Bible Contest at a young age. He earned his Ph.D. in Biblical Criticism from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in record time and went on to complete a second Ph.D. in Ancient Wisdom Literature at the University of Toronto, driven by his passion for studying ancient texts.