Staff - Jewish Democratic Council of America

Chief Executive Officer

Halie Soifer

Since 2018, Halie has led the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) as its Executive Director and, since 2020, as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Prior to joining JDCA, Halie served for nearly two decades as a national security advisor to four members of Congress, as a senior policy advisor in the Obama administration, and as a foreign policy expert and civil servant. Most recently, Halie was National Security Advisor to then-Senator Kamala Harris (CA). Previously, she served as foreign policy advisor for Sens. Chris Coons and Ted Kaufman (both DE), and Rep. Robert Wexler (FL). Halie also served for more than two years in the Obama administration as Senior Policy Advisor to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power. Additionally, she served in the Bush Administration as a civil servant in the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. During President Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, Halie was the campaign’s Florida Jewish Vote Director. Halie received her master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Middle East Studies, and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan Honors College.

Senior Staff

Sam Crystal, Chief of Staff and Communications Director

Sam Crystal serves as JDCA's Chief of Staff and Communications Director. Sam has worked with JDCA since its founding in 2017. In his current role, he oversees JDCA's external communications strategy and manages JDCA's growing staff. He graduated with a B.A. from the University of Mary Washington and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Maryland. Get in touch with Sam and our Communications team.

Robert J. (Bobby) Saferstein, Chief Program Officer

Since 2020, Bobby Saferstein has served as the chief architect of JDCA’s portfolio of virtual and in-person programs and events. Under his leadership and vision, JDCA has developed and produced more than 1000 high-impact programs, events, and conferences, attracting well over 100K attendees and featuring some of the most sought-after and well-respected industry experts and political leaders from around the world. Previously, Bobby served as Market Development Director of “Sh’ma Journal hosted by The Forward,” Creative Director of "Broadway's Best Shows," and founded both "Friday Night Lights Events" and "Eighteen:22" – initiatives serving LGBTQI+ communities. An interdisciplinary creative and entrepreneur, Bobby harnesses media, design, and ritual to craft experiences that impact and strengthen community and drive social good. He is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is also an accomplished artist in the worlds of photography, film, music, and theatre. Get in touch with Bobby and our Programming team.

Michael Berkowitz, Senior Political and Policy Director and Director of JDCA PAC

Michael is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in political science. At Washington University Michael was heavily involved in Jewish life and progressive politics, leading WashU's J Street U chapter, volunteering for local electoral campaigns, and running the Orthodox minyan at WashU's Chabad. The summer before his senior year, Michael interned at Bluelight Strategies, a political consulting firm specializing in Jewish and Democratic politics. In his last year at WashU he served as the Midwest Vice President on the J Street U National Board, helping to lead the pro-Israel anti-Occupation student movement. Prior to joining JDCA, Michael worked as a field organizer for the Iowa Democratic Party in the 2020 general election.

Mil Dranoff, Senior Development Director

Mil Dranoff is the Senior Development Director for the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA). Prior to joining the organization, she was Director of Development for the National Council of Jewish Women's New York Section, and before that, she was on Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice’s development team for 6 years. As an alumna of Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps, Mil is deeply passionate about creating systemic social change. She holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration and a Bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis in Political Science and Jewish, Islamic, and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. Get in touch with Mil and our Development team.

Marika Hjelmaas-Bresler, Director of Organizing and Partner Engagement

Marika is serving as the Director of Organizing and Partner Engagement at Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA). They started working on campaigns in 2012, working in organizing and/or management roles for progressive organizations and candidates. Marika is an Ohio University graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communications.

Staff

Brett Bauer, Development Manager

Brett is an Illinois native with a BA in Political Science from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was deeply involved with the local Chabad chapter. He has previously worked with Democratic fundraising and campaigns and has additional political experience through a Capitol Hill internship with a Democratic member of Congress. He is an Honorary Board Member for the Lauri S. Bauer Foundation for Sudden Loss. Get in touch with Brett and our Development team.

Matthew Craig, Director of Operations and Scheduling

Get in touch with Matthew and our Operations team.

Gideon Eichenwald, Programming Associate

As JDCA’s Programming Associate, Gideon helps plan, organize and manage events ranging from Zoom panel discussions to in-person convenings. Gideon holds an associate’s degree from Bard High School Early College and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at the University of Maryland. A native Brooklynite, his political career traces back to his Jewish day school student council presidency. While Gideon’s efforts to persuade the administration to bring in a vending machine were ultimately unsuccessful, he credits his day school teachers with imparting the values and inquisitive spirit that continue to shape his political perspectives. Gideon began engaging with national politics in high school, as an intern with President Biden’s Michigan campaign. In his free time, Gideon enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee, visiting museums and supporting the Green Bay Packers.

Sara Grostern, Communications Manager

As Communications Manager, Sara focuses on assisting with JDCA's social media, emails, web content, and virtual programming efforts. Before joining full-time, Sara proudly served as a JDCA Organizing Fellow and Outreach Intern during the 2022 midterm elections. She further developed their passion for political communications as a Press and Legislative Intern for a Democratic Member of Congress and as a Marketing, Development, & Admissions Intern at a Jewish High School. Sara graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with majors in Economics and Jewish, Islamic, & Middle Eastern Studies and a minor in The Business of Social Impact. Sara's areas of interest include Jewish advocacy, LGBTQ+ rights, and voting rights.

Becca Hammerman, Organizing and Partner Engagement Manager

As JDCA's Organizing and Partner Engagement Manager, Becca works with JDCA's volunteers, partners, and stakeholders to grow and expand JDCA's mission across the country. Prior to joining JDCA full-time, she enthusiastically served as an Organizing Fellow and Outreach Intern with JDCA during the 2022 midterm elections. Becca additionally interned on Capitol Hill with a Democratic member of Congress and served the Biden-Harris Administration as a White House Intern. She graduated from George Washington University (GWU), where she studied Human Services and Social Justice and attained a Masters in Public Administration with a field of study in Politics, Policy, and Administration.

Dalia Segal-Miller, Political and Policy Manager

Dalia works on the Political and Policy team where she advances JDCA's policy agenda and legislative advocacy and supports JDCA's electoral efforts. Prior to joining JDCA full-time, she worked for a Jewish Democratic member of Congress, interned with House Majority PAC, and spent two years working with the City of Evanston to increase representation in local politics through the city’s first Participatory Budgeting initiative. She graduated from Northwestern University, where she studied Social Policy and Civic Engagement.

Jacob Spiegel, Deputy Communications Director

Jacob is a proud Ohio native who has been with JDCA since April of 2023, beginning as Communications Manager and now serving as Deputy Communications Director. Prior to his time at JDCA, Jacob managed local and statewide races in his home state, including serving as the Deputy Campaign Manager for the Democratic Ohio Attorney General candidate in 2022 and as the Campaign Manager for a successful Cincinnati City Council campaign in 2021, where he won as a first-time campaign manager with a first-time candidate in a crowded field. Jacob graduated from The John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Public Management, Leadership, and Policy, a degree in Strategic Communications, and a minor in Campaign Media & Communications. Get in touch with Jacob.