Tribe 12 Fellowship
LAUNCHBOOK
A C C E L E R A T I N G S O C I A L I M P A C T
2025 Fellowship Cohort
Back, Left to Right:
Leah Krym
Dev Needelman
Becca Bassman
Daniel Magerman
Jeffrey Katz
Front, Left to Right:
Emily Buckman
Noah Strauss
Rebecca Millner
Not Pictured:
Lisa Borodyanskaya
Katherine Maguire
Odellya Sohnis
Dear Friends,
At Tribe 12, we are still navigating the deep currents of change that began in the wake of October 7th. The pain was — and still is — palpable. But what emerged alongside it was something equally powerful: a renewed sense of purpose and the unshakeable belief in the strength of our community.
Over the past year and a half, many young Jewish adults have experienced a level of isolation and identity questioning that is both deeply personal and globally resonant. And yet, amid this turbulence, the human spirit has proven remarkably resilient. I find myself consistently moved by the ways our community shows up — not just in spite of adversity, but often because of it.
This year ' s cohort of Tribe 12 Fellows is a living testament to that resilience. In a time marked by instability, they are creating connection, building sacred spaces, and expanding access to community care. They’ve taken uncertainty and transformed it into action. They've met complexity with courage. And they’ve leaned into one another — choosing to build, rather than retreat.
Watching them grow over the past four months has been more than inspiring — it has been grounding. In their ideas, in their questions, in their laughter and friendships, I see a vision for the Jewish future that is bold, compassionate, and beautifully interconnected. I feel lucky truly lucky to walk beside them.
A special note of gratitude to Danielle Selber, who returned to lead our Fellowship with her trademark wisdom and warmth. Her unwavering belief in each Fellow’s potential continues to be a guiding light for all of us. And to our coaches, trainers, board members, peer mentors, and staff — your steady support has been vital in a world that often feels anything but steady. Thank you for making this work possible.
To Becca, Lisa, Emily, Jeff, Leah, Danny, Katie, Rebecca, Dev, Odellya and Noah your passion, creativity, and openness are awe-inspiring. In uncertain times, you are choosing to lead. That gives me hope. And that hope is contagious.
With deep appreciation for each of you — and for all the ways we continue to grow through change, Rabbi Megan GoldMarche
Executive Director, Tribe 12
The biggest thing I need right now is founding sponsors who would be able to supply the retreats with resources like food, drink, or location.
Pronouns: she/her
Becca Bassman
To The Heart Retreats
Coach: Tami Astorino
Peer: Jenny Oswald (‘24)
Becca is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in Sex Therapy. In addition to carrying a full caseload of clients in her private practice, she has also always envisioned having a subsect of her business that includes leading and facilitating weekend retreats and conferences. Becca has come up with a framework that will help pre-marital to empty-nesting couples build a skill set they need to enter into "the next phase" of their relationships with more stability, structure, and satisfaction.
To The Heart Retreats are all-inclusive getaways for couples in various stages of their relationship. The retreat will focus on building and stabilizing the 5 "main pillars" of a strong relational home. With group therapeutic discussion forums, coupled adventures, and introspection and internal processing opportunities, this retreat will have couples feeling more connected, secure, and fulfilled.
becca.love
becca@becca.love
becca.love.therapy
linkedin.com/in/beccabassman
LisaBorodyanskaya Pullow
Products
Peer:
Coach: Susan Sandler
Michal Waldfogel (‘11)
Lisa has over five years of experience in clinical research, during which she also completed her MPH with a focus on pelvic floor health. Talking with women of all ages about their pelvic floor symptoms is what made her realize how many health obstacles women deal with that are often stigmatized or overlooked, especially when it comes to bladder health. It was these stories from other women that brought her to find a solution that empowers women to advocate for their own well-being and take control of their pelvic floor health! In her free time, Lisa loves hiking and climbing outside, traveling to new destinations and enjoying a fun night out in the city. However, an early bedtime is a must for her evening read (romance, mystery, or historical fiction novels always do the trick!)
Pullow Products helps women take control of their pelvic floor health when it comes to dealing with bladder leaks - a common postpartum and postmenopausal occurence. Currently Pullow Products consists of leak proof underwear and a pelvic floor muslce training device. The leak proof underwear helps people stay dry and feel beautiful while the pelvic floor muscle training device is a commitment that allows women to either prevent or decrease bladder leaks.
The biggest thing I need right now are connections to consumer clients, big and small.
Pronouns: she/her pullowproducts.com
hello@pullowproducts.com
The biggest thing I need right now are individuals or community based organizations that would like to take part in this program.
Pronouns: she/her
Emily Buckman
Breaducated
Coach: Barry Kahan
Peer: David Fine (‘13)
Emily loves being part of her community. As a bread baker in the Philadelphia food industry, nothing brings her more joy than helping to create meaningful experiences for others. She has baked for restaurants like Parc, Giuseppe and Sons, and Via Locusta. Emily is presently employed as Head Baker of the Kibitz Room in King of Prussia, building and overseeing the pastry and bread departments.
Breaducated works to engage children with education through the art of baking bread. As someone who learns best by doing, she is looking to inspire others to learn through interacting with the world around them. From science to history and culture, breadmaking has been a tangible part of the human experience for thousands of years and an under utilized resource in bringing education to life.
breaducatedphl.com
emily@breaducatedphl.com
linkedin.com/in/emilymbuckman
Jeffrey Katz
Social Katz
Coach: Bob Vogel
Peer: Josh Silverbauer (‘18)
Jeffrey is a former Googler turned entrepreneur with expertise in social media marketing and white label for other marketing agencies. He has two kids, a mini Australian labradoodle, and isn't afraid to get a little saucy at the Shabbat table. In his free time, Jeff is an avid points, miles, and award travel enthusiast; even once published in Conde Nast Traveler for his use of credit card points.
Social Katz is a digital marketing agency that takes a fullfunnel approach to social media and digital marketing management — with as much or as little hand-holding as you need. Anything from running your socials outright to unfreezing your Business Manager, we ’ ve got experts at the ready.
socialkatz.co
jeff@socialkatz.co
linkedin.com/in/jeffreymkatz
The biggest thing I need right now are introductions to businesses who are looking for a social media marketing refresh.
Pronouns: he/him
The biggest thing I need right now are contacts of those interested in supporting an upcoming crowdfunding campaign.
Pronouns: she/her
Leah Krym
Leah Surf
Coach: Peter Kestenbaum
Peer: Jess Edelstein (‘15)
Leah, an engineering graduate working in aerospace, combines her background in fitness and surf instruction with creativity and passion to build a growing surf business. Growing up surfing in New York/Long Island and with family in California, she blends East and West Coast surf culture. She enjoys time with family and friends, staying active, and exploring arts and cultural events.
Leah Surf is a brand focused on inclusivity for outdoor recreation, starting with a women ’ s wetsuit. Many surf products overlook women ’ s bodies and needs, often offering poor fit around the shoulders or torso, or quality that doesn’t match men ’ s options. I’ve heard from many women who want exactly what I’m building, and I’m excited to deliver that. By combining my background in engineering, materials, and human movement with input from women surfers, I’m designing a wetsuit that improves the industry standard. The goal is to help more people experience the peace and joy that comes from being in nature, whether in the water or outdoors.
leahsurfco@gmail.com
leahsurfco
linkedin.com/in/leahkrym
Daniel Magerman
TextTown Learning
Coach: Neil Cooper
Peer: Lindsay Tabas (‘18)
Daniel is a lifelong learner, passionate educator, and the founder of TextTown Learning. His professional journey began with a decade of work as an academic writing consultant. He supported English language learning in Brazil through the Fulbright program and taught Introduction to Intercultural Communication, an online course at Virginia Commonwealth University. Daniel is currently a college and career coach for adult learners with the nonprofit Graduate Philadelphia.
TextTown Learning is a startup dedicated to harnessing the power of the text message to enhance learning opportunities, increase access to vital resources, and build local community.
Recognizing that text messaging is the most accessible form of digital communication, TextTown aims to bridge the gap between technologically marginalized individuals and the online world. text.town TextTownLearning@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/daniel-magerman
The biggest thing I need right now is one or two enthusiastic business partners.
Pronouns: he/him
The biggest thing I need right now is to build a contact database of community members interested in or inspired by my project.
Pronouns: she/her
Katie Maguire
Living Dead Runners
Coach: Tracey Specter
Peer: RachelYakobashvili (‘24)
Katie is a multimedia artist, strategist, and educator who builds creative tech that actually sticks—story-driven motion work, immersive lessons, and visuals that move people. With a background in Design and Technology, she connects the dots between art, education, and social action. She teaches, runs, builds systems, and believes in using creative work to pry open the stuck places with a little beauty, a little humor, and just enough chaos.
Living Dead Runners is Katie’s answer to a running scene that felt bleak and flat. If you wanted to race for a cause, your options were mostly giant, corporate-style charities—with glossy branding, minimal transparency, and little connection to the communities we live in. So Katie built the opposite. Living Dead is a multi-charity, radically inclusive team for people who care about impact. We're fast enough to compete, but we run for smaller, real causes that matter to us—causes rooted in our neighborhoods, our histories, and our healing. Every mile is a message: we ' re still here, and we ' re not done.
kmgx.org
katherinemgr@gmail.com
Rebecca Millner
The Parent Empowerment Network
Coach: Paula Goldstein
Peer: Molly Wernick (‘13)
Rebecca is a community mental health provider with a passion for supporting new mothers and families. Rebecca serves as the Social Worker for Adath Israel on the Main Line, developing mental health programming to support the Jewish community and combat stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction. Rebecca was a trainer and clinician at the Institute for Health and Recovery, addressing the needs of women and families through perinatal mental health and integrating trauma-informed models of care into treatment. Rebecca has served as a Behavioral Health Clinician at Lahey Health Behavioral Services addressing child and family trauma in both a residential and community-based capacity. Rebecca has received specialized training in Perinatal Mental Health through Postpartum Support International and the Seleni Institute.
The Parent Empowerment Network partners with Jewish institutions to enhance maternal mental health and support the wellbeing of parents with children 0-8. By leveraging existing support within Jewish institutions, the Parent Empowerment Network addresses critical gaps in maternal mental health and family well-being through evidence-based early detection and intervention, education, and comprehensive supports. The breakdown of traditional parenting support systems, isolation, and parental stress has created an untenable parenting environment. Jewish institutions can fill this gap while also increasing community engagement.
Millner.Rebecca@gmail.com
The biggest thing I need right now are founding sponsors who can help launch our first 12 months of programming.
Pronouns: she/her
Pronouns: they/he
Dev Needelman Mysoulium
Dev is a horticulturist with years of experience in land stewardship through farming, orchard and tree care, gardening, and food systems organizing. Their Jewish, Queer and NonBinary identities guide them in the importance of community and the art of contemplation. They are passionate about honoring and celebrating the complexities of the natural world and working to create change in how humans tread on the planet.
Mysoulium’s two prong mission will utilize and educate people about green burial and land restoration techniques, while also providing grief support and spiritual care that is tailored and holistic for individuals and families. An End of Life doula will hold comforting space for grief processing and rituals in the physical space that holds their loved one and is being ecologically restored. The process of death has a profound impact on the living. We can either continue pouring precious resources underground and emitting carbon, or we can shift our practices, leaving behind a resilient ecosystem that can be an example of how we adapted to the challenges ahead of us.
Coach: Pat Quigley
Peer: Jessie Duke (‘24)
Odellya Sohnis
Upside Down Crab Bucket
Coach: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth
Peer: Rory Michelle (‘18)
Odellya is an Israeli-American producer rooted in the values of tikkun olam – repairing the world – and ahavat chinam –unconditional love. In response to the dehumanizing reactions following October 7th, she founded Upside Down Crab Bucket to equip communities with tools for empathy, clarity, and coexistence—restoring safety and well-being in a divided world. The project builds on her successful pilot series, Israel & Palestine: Arming Ourselves with Clarity and Advocacy through Empathy.
Upside Down Crab Bucket is launching an 8-part practical workshop series in schools and cultural institutions like the Weitzman Museum. The program equips participants— students, educators, families, and community members—to handle divisive conversations without fueling conflict, fostering a culture of calm, critical thinking, and mutual respect to prevent hate crime and heal the world. upsidedowncrabbucket.com
odellya@upsidedowncrabbucket.com
The biggest thing I need right now is support developing a team and connections to funding.
Pronouns: she/her
The biggest thing I need right now are Jewish educational institutions to display and utilize the project as a curricular
Pronouns: they/them
Noah Strauss
Emet Project:
Living Shiva, Living Shomer
Coach: Ilana Trachtman
Peer: Jaime Bassman (‘13)
Noah is a Jewish educator, community organizer, and writer in West Philadelphia. They teach 4th grade at Jewish Children’s Folkshul and taught at Narberth Havurah and Hebrew College. Noah has a degree in Judaism and Human Rights from Gratz College and dreams of pursuing the rabbinate. They have completed several fellowships including the Ma’avir Fellowship with the National Havurah Committee, Bend the Arc’s Jeremiah Fellowship, Repair the World’s Service Corps and others with Jewish Learning Venture, Shomer Collective and Disability Belongs. Noah’s writing is featured in Jewish Currents, New Voices, Lilith Magazine, The Forward, Jewschool, and Disability Visibility. They facilitate weekly Shabbat services in American Sign Language with their partner live on TikTok.
Emet Project memorializes that when Rabbi Emet Tauber entered hospice in December of 2018, his classmates and friends surrounded him, ensuring he was never alone. It was a radical experiment in community care. It was a cross disability, cross faith space. Emet’s community wanted to ensure the lessons learned from this endeavor were not lost or forgotten so Noah designed and conducted an oral history film project interviewing each person about their experience, what they learned, and how their skill sets influenced their involvement. The project was designed based on the ACT UP oral history project, and Crip Camp.
els5343@gmail.com
emetproject.org
Coaches
Coaches are volunteers who work one-on-one to provide hands-on, tactical support to Fellows as they develop their ventures. Fellows meet with their coaches monthly or more to discuss bigpicture strategy and workshop challenges. As established professionals from a variety of fields, coaches lend their expertise to Fellows and the program at large, creating a learning community that leverages diverse talent and knowledge in service of social innovation.
2025 Coaches
Tami Astorino
Neil Cooper
Paula Goldstein
Barry Kahan
Peter Kestenbaum
Pat Quigley
Susan Sandler
Tracey Specter
Miriam Steinberg-Egeth
Ilana Trachman
Bob Vogel
As someone who mentors young Jewish leaders around the world, it was a natural fit for me to work with Tribe 12 right here in Philadelphia. When I volunteered, I could never have imagined the incredible level of competency and passion exhibited by the Tribe 12 staff in executing this program - truly impressive. However, the real prize was getting to work with Emily. Emily is bright, passionate and a natural learner who is not afraid to think big. She quickly grasps ideas and then turns them into reality in a very impressive way. Instead of me making Emily look good as her mentor, it was Emily who made me look good. I have received so much value from this experience.
Barry Kahan, Coach of Emily Buckman
"I came into this "I came into this Fellowship with just a Fellowship with just a seed of an idea, and seed of an idea, and this entire community this entire community helped me turn it into helped me turn it into something really something really special. The Fellowship special. The Fellowship has been one of the has been one of the best experiences of my best experiences of my life and has given me life and has given me so many opportunities." so many opportunities."
Emily Buckman
2025 Fellow
Alumni
Alumni, representing over 170 Fellows from 14 cohorts since 2011, are some of the most dedicated members of Tribe 12's community. The alumni “pay it forward” after their Fellowship experience, often through volunteering as a peer for an incoming Fellow. A peer acts as a bookend for the Fellow, welcoming them to the community and helping them prepare for Launch Night. Tribe 12 provides ongoing opportunities for alumni to connect both personally and profesionally well after their Fellowship ends.
2025 Peers
Jaime Bassman (‘13)
Jessie Duke (‘24)
Jess Edelstein (‘15)
Dave Fine (‘13)
Jenny Oswald (‘24)
Brett Richman (‘23) – Lead Trainer
Josh Silverbauer (‘18)
Rory Michelle Sullivan (‘18)
Lindsay Tabas (‘18)
Michal Waldfogel (‘11)
Molly Wernick (‘13)
Rachel Yakobashvili (‘24)
Being a peer is an exhilarating experience. It is really fun to watch someone flourish, and to have a tiny part in them growing from already good to even better. It feels great to be able to see where someone is, listen to what they dream of accomplishing, and help them articulate it more clearly to an audience and for a setting that you've experienced yourself. I'm really excited for this class to shine at Launch Night!
Rory Michelle Sullivan (‘18)
To browse all of our alumni, visit tribe12.org/fellowship-alumni
“Tribe 12 has been the “Tribe 12 has been the best part of moving to best part of moving to Philly —it has made Philly —it has made everything else worth it. everything else worth it.
I’m incredibly grateful to I’m incredibly grateful to the organization and the the organization and the people who make it people who make it hhappen!” appen!”
Leah Krym
2025 Fellow
Board of Directors
Kimberly Decker
Rabbi Isabel De Koninck
Rachel Dukeman
Rabbi Bonnie Goldberg
Ariella Werden Greenfield
Matt Handel
Carolyn Hochstadter
Frank Lindy
Jacob Lindy
Rachel Lindy
Matt Pincus
Ed Rivkin
Jill Rosen
Gulienne Rollins Rishon
Heather Shafter
Mindy Shapiro
Sam Sittenfield
Gavin Studner
Stefanie Tapper
Carly Zimmerman
Emeritus Board
Annabel Lindy, Tribe 12 Founder*
Philip Lindy, Tribe 12 Founding President*
Rabbi Howard Alpert*
Michael Belman
Judge Harold Berger
Irving Borowsky*
Richard Lee
Sherrie Savett
Laurie Wagman *Deceased
Fellows explore their vision and strategic environment to identify the “why” behind their venture.
Fellows develop a sound social business model and test it through prototyping.
Fellows gain the tools to plan and manage operations, finances, and fundraising.
SEMINARS
Classes taught by experts ensure the transfer of core design thinking and business development skills.
CLUSTERS
Bring peer groups of Fellows together to workshop challenges.
VENTURE
MILESTONES
Push Fellows to practice business elements.
PITCH NIGHT
Allow Fellows to deliver their pitches to stakeholders, friends, and community members in order to get feedback.
MENTORSHIP
Coaches, peers, and subject matter experts provide guidance, feedback, and make network connections.
LAUNCH NIGHT
Teaches
networking and pitching skills and introduces the venture to the public.
Kol hakavod
Mazel tov to Tribe 12 on 15 years of inspiring the next generation of Jewish entrepreneurs through mentorship, connection and professional development.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia proudly supports Tribe 12’s mission to connect young adults in the Greater Philadelphia area as a way to build a strong, diverse and welcoming Jewish community for today and generations to come.
jewishphilly.org
CONGRATULATiONS
to all of the Fellows
The Pincus Family
Max and Elyse
BERGER PENNCO
Automatic Pool Covers
RABBiBONNiEGOLDBERG and BOBVOGEL
HILARIE and MITCHELL MORGAN
CONGRATULATIONS
LIEBGOLDMAN FAMILY
Sharon W. &
Peter Kestenbaum
Trailblazing Sponsors
Sam Sittenfield
Steve and Robin Katz
Ed and Stacey Rivkin
Carolyn Hochstadter
Pocono Rentals
Acrisure
Ned Borowsky
Duffco
Community Sponsors
Rabbi Megan and Paige GoldMarche
Rabbi Isabel De Koninck
Carly Zimmerman
Bill and Paula Glazer
Heather Shafter
Tribe 12 connects people in their 20s/30s to Jewish life and community in Philadelphia today so they will choose to stay connected tomorrow.
Tribe 12 is here to engage 20s and 30s who have a Jewish connection in our city.
We are here to enrich their Jewish experiences, build community and help them sustain a Jewish life long into the future.
We are a community for those who are Jewish, whose partner is Jewish, or who are exploring Judaism in their life. We seek to include all individuals regardless of gender or identity expression, religious history and practice, health and disability whether visible or invisible, and financial circumstances.
yo@tribe12.org tribe12.org @tribe12phl @tribe12philly