JFRG Jewish Faculty Resilience Group

08/28/2026

An evening of community, learning, and resilience.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Conversation & Cocktails — an evening bringing together faculty, leaders, and supporters around a shared commitment to Jewish life in higher education.

JFRG Executive Director Matthew Davidson opened the evening by sharing the mission behind our work and the growing need to support Jewish faculty across North American campuses. Rick Richman and Rabbi Abraham Cooper joined us for a candid conversation on the rise of antisemitism and antizionism, and how we move forward — and Rick generously signed and gifted copies of his book, And None Shall Make Them Afraid, to attendees.

Our host, UCLA cardiologist Dr. Kamran Shamsa, shared his own experience of being assaulted on campus during the encampments, a reminder of what's at stake in this work. The evening closed on a moving note, with the world-renowned Dr. Judea Pearl leading a musical medley, and JFRG's Kira Stein joining host Mahsa Shamsa as the room stood together to sing Hatikvah.

Conversations like these strengthen the community behind JFRG's work. Building the network starts with connection — and we're grateful to everyone who showed up.

Strengthening Jewish faculty & staff. Protecting students. Shaping the next generation.

08/21/2026

Shabbat Shalom from your JFRG family. 💙

Wishing Jewish faculty, staff, postdocs, students, and communities across North America a peaceful and restorative Shabbat.

Wherever you are, know that you are part of a growing community — and that we are here for Jewish faculty.

08/18/2026

Criticizing Israeli policy is legitimate. Vilifying people for visiting Israel, engaging with Israelis, or being Zionists is not.

That is not criticism of a government. It is the stigmatization and exclusion of people because of their associations and identity.

This response is in reference to the post by FJP at UCLA, criticizing the recent UCLA student delegation to Israel.

08/07/2026

The standing ovations at Beth Jacob were more than an enthusiastic response to a compelling speaker. They expressed solidarity with Jewish faculty and staff confronting discrimination in higher education.

JFRG is grateful to the Beth Jacob community for listening, caring, and standing with them.

Interested in learning more about hosting a JFRG educational briefing? Contact [email protected].

08/07/2026

We are proud to introduce Howard Waldow, Director of the Jewish Faculty Resilience Group.

An accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, Howard is the Founder and CEO of Michael Howard Furniture Inc. and Katapult, LLC. Throughout his career, he has combined business leadership with a deep commitment to philanthropy and strengthening Jewish communities.

Howard also serves on the boards of Strive LA, StandWithUs, and Israel Christian Nexus, where he helps expand educational opportunities, combat antisemitism, and build meaningful partnerships with Israel and Jewish communities worldwide.

As a member of JFRG's National Board of Directors, Howard brings decades of leadership, strategic insight, and an unwavering commitment to protecting Jewish faculty and advancing academic integrity.

We are grateful to have him helping guide JFRG's continued growth and impact.

Learn more at www.JFRG.org

08/07/2026

We are pleased to introduce Michel Stein, Director & Treasurer of the Jewish Faculty Resilience Group.

A Principal at Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C., Michel is a nationally recognized tax attorney with nearly 30 years of experience in tax controversy, litigation, and planning. As a Certified Specialist in Taxation Law by the State Bar of California, he is widely respected for helping individuals, businesses, and corporations navigate complex tax matters.

As Director and Treasurer of JFRG, Michel provides strategic financial leadership that supports our organization's continued growth from a grassroots initiative into a national coalition serving Jewish and Zionist faculty and academic staff.

We are honored to have his expertise guiding JFRG's future.

Learn more at www.JFRG.org

08/06/2026

We are proud to introduce Dr. Kira Stein, Founding Director & Chair of the Jewish Faculty Resilience Group.

A board-certified psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist, Dr. Stein has spent her career advancing mental health care while serving as a respected clinician and educator at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine.

Recognizing the growing challenges facing Jewish faculty in higher education, she founded JFRG—transforming a grassroots effort at UCLA into a national coalition committed to protecting Jewish faculty, promoting academic freedom, and strengthening Jewish life on campuses across the United States.

Her leadership, compassion, and determination have laid the foundation for JFRG's continued growth and impact.

Thank you, Dr. Stein, for your vision and leadership.

Learn more at www.JFRG.org

08/05/2026

Led by visionaries, the Jewish Faculty Resilience Group is taking its grassroots activism in support of Jewish faculty and staff in higher ed, while mobilizing to push back against antizionist hate. Learn more and join our community website at https://www.JFRG.org

Formerly JFRG at UCLA.
Defending Zionist and Jewish faculty, staff & postdocs across North American campuses. ✡️ 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇮🇱
Truth. Safety. Resilience.

08/05/2026

We are honored to introduce Dr. Judea Pearl as Senior Advisor to the Jewish Faculty Resilience Group.

Dr. Pearl is Chancellor's Professor of Computer Science and Statistics at UCLA and one of the world's most influential scholars in artificial intelligence. His pioneering work in causal reasoning earned him the 2011 ACM A.M. Turing Award, often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of Computing."

Following the tragic murder of his son, Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl, Dr. Pearl co-founded the Daniel Pearl Foundation, dedicating his efforts to fostering dialogue, mutual understanding, and education across cultures while standing firmly against antisemitism.

As JFRG continues building a national coalition of Jewish and Zionist faculty and academic staff, we are deeply grateful for Dr. Pearl's guidance and leadership.

Welcome to the JFRG National Board of Directors, Dr. Pearl.

Learn more: www.JFRG.org

Formerly JFRG at UCLA.
Defending Zionist and Jewish faculty, staff & postdocs across North American campuses. ✡️ 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇮🇱
Truth. Safety. Resilience.

08/01/2026

Introducing Dr. Yael Halaas

We are honored to welcome Dr. Yael Halaas as a Director of the Jewish Faculty Resilience Group National Board of Directors.

Dr. Halaas is the Founder and President of the American Jewish Medical Association and a nationally recognized facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Following the events of October 7, she established AJMA to bring together Jewish healthcare professionals worldwide, strengthen collaboration, and combat antisemitism within the medical community.

A graduate of Columbia University and Cornell University Medical College, Dr. Halaas also serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she continues to educate future physicians while advancing excellence in patient care.

Her dedication to leadership, education, and advocacy will be instrumental as JFRG continues to build a strong national coalition supporting Jewish faculty, staff, and postdoctoral scholars.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Yael Halaas.

Our Mission The Jewish Faculty Resilience Group (JFRG) is a non-partisan coalition of Zionist Jewish and allied faculty, researchers, and staff committed to combating all forms of anti-Jewish hate, including antizionism, classical antisemitism, and religious antijudaism, as well as defending