Rachel Margolis, RJE

Headshot of a smiling woman with curly brown hair and red glasses

Rachel Margolis, RJE (she/her) is the Director, NFTY Experiences & Strategy at the Union for Reform Judaism. She works to identify and activate leaders around the URJ so they can mobilize and organize others to action. Rachel is a graduate of Cornell University and has a joint masters in Jewish Education and Jewish Non-Profit Management from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. After serving as director of education for a congregation in Los Angeles, Rachel helped write curriculum and re-envisioned youth engagement and teen learning for family schools, religious schools, synagogue day camps, retreats at synagogues, and community programs around the country.

Rachel is past chair of the HUC-JIR Alumni Leadership Council, serves on the HUC-JIR Board of Governors Executive Committee, and was co-chair of HUC’s Teshuvah Working Group. In her free time, you can find Rachel knitting, braiding challah, or exploring local parks. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband, Rabbi Ari Margolis, their three daughters, and their very-beloved pandemic puppy.

A person holding a Torah

Strength, Stress, and Support: A Portrait of American Jewish Teen Well-Being

Beth Lipschutz, MSW
Rabbi Isaama Goldstein-Stoll
Rachel Margolis, RJE
How are teens really doing? In the spring of 2024, BeWell, the mental health and wellness initiative of the Jewish Federations of North American (JFNA), in partnership with the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (The Network), conducted the first national study of American Jewish teenagers to explore how their communal involvement, interpersonal connections, and perceptions of themselves as Jews relate to their overall wellbeing.

Israel: A Toolkit

Rachel Margolis, RJE
At the URJ, we aim to provide you with timely tools you can use in your congregations and communities. In this moment, we know that resources for discussing and understanding Israel are more important than ever.
The word antisemitism highlighted in yellow on a dictionary page

Responding to Antisemitism: A Toolkit

Rachel Margolis, RJE
Since the attacks on October 7, antisemitism has increased exponentially throughout the world. On North American college campuses, students are facing antisemitism at an alarming rate. Here are five tips designed to help you keep your community secure and support your families during this unprecedented time.
people hugging

Staying Connected with Our Loved Ones Even When we Disagree 

Rabbi Toby H. Manewith
Rachel Margolis, RJE
Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on October 7th and Israel’s ongoing response has stirred emotions both within and outside the Jewish community. Over the next weeks, as family and friends gather for holiday celebrations, there may be differences of opinion. Here are a few tips from Jewish sources to help maintain loving relationships while disagreeing.