Rachael Fried

Executive Director

Rachael (she/her) joined JQY in 2013 and became its Executive Director in 2019. Under her leadership, the formerly volunteer-run organization has grown to a professional one with a team of eight salaried employees, a Drop-in Center in Times Square, and an operating budget of $2.1 million. She is committed to ensuring that the voices of queer Jewish individuals are heard and celebrated. Rachael received her MSW in Community Organizing from Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University, an MFA from Parsons in Transdisciplinary Design, and a BA in Studio Art from Stern College, where she served as president of the Stern student body and a Presidential Fellow. A lifelong Jewish camper, she was Division Head, Program Director, and Director of Operations at Camp Nesher. Rachael is a Wexner Field Fellow, the 2022 JPro Young Professionals Award recipient, and one of The Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36″. She lives in Washington Heights with her wife and their dog.

David Newman

Director of Finance & Operations

David (he/him) has worked in the Jewish communal sector for more than 20 years in a variety of roles. David is passionate about building inclusive, vibrant Jewish communities. He is also a self-proclaimed systems and operations guru. David loves creating efficiencies so that organizations can best achieve their mission and goals. He loves Orangetheory Fitness and spending time in nature. David is married to his wife, Kerry and they have two boys. They enjoy rooting for Boston sports teams and travelling together. 

Dr. Jeremy Novich

Clinical Director

Dr. Novich (he/him) has years of experience practicing in different clinical settings and with different populations and has also worked in the queer space as an author and advocate. He looks forward to helping JQY members improve their mental health by promoting awareness and teaching skills, all with a good dose of humor.

Gila Romanoff

Teen & Community Program Manager

Shifra Shine

Communications Manager

Shifra (she/her) is thrilled to join the JQY team. This is her first position in the nonprofit sector after working in the fashion industry for 8 years. Shifra has a B.A. in Communications and Television & Radio Production from Brooklyn College. In her free time, Shifra enjoys reading classic poetry, listening to pop music and picnicking with her husband, daughter and dog in local parks. 

Maris Krauss

Expansion and College Program Manager

Maris Krauss (she/her) is the Expansion and College Program Manager at JQY, where she manages inter-organizational partnerships, volunteer engagement, and JQY’s college program, JQYU. She has worked at several Jewish nonprofits and synagogues in membership and operations, and led initiatives to increase LGBTQ+ inclusion in Jewish life cycle rituals. Maris completed the UJA Ruskay Institute for Jewish Professional Leadership in the summer of 2024, where she learned with a cohort of other experienced Jewish nonprofit professionals. She is also a graduate of the Avodah Justice Fellowship and the JDC Entwine Community Representative leadership program. Maris holds a B.A. in Psychology from Ithaca College and enjoys traveling, baking, and poetry.

Tali Benkoe

Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Support & Volunteer Coordinator

Tali Benkoe (they/them) is an LCSW with a dual focus on the aging population and queer youth. Tali began their career in Israel, running groups for Israeli queer teens in Jerusalem and serving as a rehabilitation counselor for adults with severe mental illness. While in graduate school, Tali recognized their passion for end of life issues and completed an internship at Memorial Sloan Kettering. At the same time Tali continued to deepen their involvement at JQY, running programming, working at the Drop-in Center and staffing the Warmline. Before joining JQY full time, Tali worked as a Palliative Care social worker with Landmark Health. Tali identifies as trans, non-binary and is in the process of completing a short film about the period leading up to their transition. 

Tali completed their B.A. in Business Administration at Machon Tal (Jerusalem) and their MSW at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.

Sara Glass, Ph.D., LCSW

Clinical Supervisor

Sara Glass, Ph.D., LCSW, is the clinical director of Soul Wellness NYC in Midtown West, Manhattan, where she leads a team of clinicians who work together to implement cutting-edge therapeutic treatment in a warm and supportive environment. She completed her Ph.D. in psychology at Capella University, where she published research on the objectification of women in popular media. She has also authored a book chapter on treating the conflict between religion and LGBTQ identities as it presents in the psychotherapy arena. Glass has completed post-graduate training in EMDR, Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Collaborative Divorce. Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS), Art Therapy, and Sand Play Therapy. She has supervised graduate students, along with treating children and families for more than 15 years. For more info, visit drsaraglass.com.

Denah Emerson, MFA

Designer & Drop-in Center Admin

Denah Emerson is a Drop-in Center admin and a graphic designer here at JQY. She received her B.A. in Art and English Communications from Yeshiva University, where she worked as the canvassing committee, ensuring fair and entertaining election processes for all. She subsequently earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Design and Technology from Parsons The New School for Design, focusing her research on digital immortality. Denah works as an artist, graphic designer, editor, and research and marketing specialist. She also works in informal education, running programs for high school students every summer. Denah embraces millennial digital nomadism as a wandering writer, performer, dance fitness instructor, financial advisor, life coach, and certified bartender. Denah is clearly a jack of all trades, master of none. 

Ari Weitz

Teen Outreach Coordinator

Ari Shane Weitz is a graduate of Lander College for Men with a B.A. in psychology. Ari has worked in education, advertising and marketing, talent and management, and currently in operations and event production. He started working with JQY in 2015 helping with the start of the drop-in center. After getting engaged in 2018, harsh criticism from the Orthodox Jewish community led him to write “Is Our Happiness Not Worth A ‘Mazal Tov’?” for the Jewish Week, as well as a follow-up article “One Year ‘Out’: Finding Acceptance, Encouraging Support.” He is active on social media with his husband, promoting a positive look into a same-sex Jewish marriage as well as LGBTQ activism. He works for the Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center as the operations and event manager. 

Josh Zimmerman, LCSW

Intake Social Worker

Josh Zimmerman obtained his Master in Social Work from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, with a concentration in Group Work. Josh is passionate about supporting and counseling families and youth, through which he utilizes a Strength Based Approach, advocacy and problem solving skills. Through assessments and engagement, Josh focuses on useful relationship-building techniques, coping mechanisms and self-discovery. As an active member of JQY’s Young Adult programs and living in the NYC queer community, Josh joined the Drop-in Center team with the hope of giving back to the next generation of LGBTQ youth and young adults. Josh currently serves as a medical social worker in Rogosin Institute West Side Dialysis. 

Ari Wes

Digital Content Creator

Ari Wes (they/them) has been a part of the JQY team since 2021 and is excited to tap into their creative skills as the JQY Content Creator. Ari holds a BA in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Educational Theatre. They have previously been involved in queer advocacy efforts at Yeshiva University and was a member of the founding YU Pride Alliance board in 2019.