Meet founders of three start-up nonprofits in Israel and the United States funded by the Hadassah Foundation. Hear about their experiences creating and growing initiatives that are filling vital gaps to advance gender equity. And learn about the unique challenges start-up efforts face, and the kind of support they need in order to thrive.
Thursday, November 19, 2026
1:00–2:00 p.m. ET
via Zoom
Registration is free and is required for each participant. A Zoom link will be shared in a confirmation email.
Speakers
Dr. Aimee Baron
Founder and Executive Director
I Was Supposed to Have a Baby
Dr. Aimee Baron is a pediatrician, advocate, speaker, and the founder and executive director of I Was Supposed To Have A Baby (IWSTHAB), a nonprofit that supports individuals and families navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, and family-building. Drawing on her medical background and personal experience with infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss, Dr. Baron works to reduce isolation, improve emotional support, and build more inclusive Jewish communities where people experiencing these challenges feel seen and supported.
Through IWSTHAB, she partners with Jewish communal leaders, healthcare professionals, and organizations to foster greater understanding and create meaningful change in how infertility, loss, and nontraditional paths to parenthood are understood and addressed. She also hosts Talking Away the Taboo, a podcast exploring infertility, pregnancy loss, mental health, and family-building within the Jewish community. Dr. Baron lives in New York with her husband and children.
Since 2019, I Was Supposed to Have a Baby has provided hope, community, and vital information to Jewish individuals and families navigating fertility challenges.
Naama Feilchenfeld
Founding Director
Ma’at
Naama Feilchenfeld is the founder and director of Ma’at, Israel’s foremost civil organization dedicated to exposing perpetrators of online sex crimes. With 14+ years of intelligence and cyber experience, her OSINT expertise was forged in Israel’s intelligence community: Unit 8200, the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel, and by leading data analytics teams in different start-ups.
Naama holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Business from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and completed an entrepreneurship fellowship powered by MIT and Brandeis University, with startup incubation at MassChallenge Boston. She is a regular speaker at technology panels and conferences on WEBINT and digital investigations, and leads lectures and hands-on workshops in the field. Naama is married and lives in Tel Aviv.
Founded in 2023, Ma’at is the only Israeli organization that helps victims of web-based sex crimes by assisting them in identifying their offenders and pursuing appropriate legal action.
Yael Yechieli
Founding Director
The 5050 Initiative of Tzedek Centers
Yael Yechieli is the founder and director of The 5050 Initiative, dedicated towards 50% female representation in Israeli leadership. An activist, feminist, and proud Jerusalemite, she has been working for social change for over 20 years, promoting human rights, religious freedom, and gender equality.
Yael holds a Master’s degree in Jewish/Judaic Studies from Schechter Institute for Jewish Studies, and a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy and sociology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She has worked as the director of the Religious Freedom and Democracy Department of New Israel Fund, where she spearheaded public advocacy and coalition building efforts on issues such as marriage rights and women’s equity, and as the manager of Oshman Family JCC’s Community Building Department. She lives in Jerusalem with her husband and their two children.
Established in 2022 and housed within Tzedek Centers, the 5050 Initiative presses Israel’s political parties and other institutions to commit to having women equally represented at all levels.
Facilitator
Tracey Spiegelman
Former Hadassah Foundation Board Member
Inaugural Spark Grant Committee Co-Chair
Tracey Spiegelman is a Miami native whose leadership spans philanthropy, nonprofit governance, and luxury real estate. Throughout her career, she has been deeply committed to strengthening both the South Florida community and the global Jewish community through strategic leadership, volunteer service, and impactful grant allocations. She currently serves as Treasurer of United Israel Appeal (UIA), a member of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency and is a member of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) Board of Trustees. She previously served on the JFNA Israel & Overseas Committee and is an alumna of The Hadassah Foundation Executive Committee.
In recognition of her service, Tracey received the Stanley C. Myers Presidents’ Leadership Award from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation in 2013 and the Robert Russell Fellowship Award in 2018 for distinguished leadership and service to both the local Jewish community and Israel. Tracey lives in Coral Gables with her husband, Larry. They have two adult children, Lindsay and AJ.
This program is made possible by the Bernice S. Tannenbaum z”l Fund for Education, which enables the Hadassah Foundation to invest in a broad variety of educational opportunities. Bernice was a trailblazer who valued learning and re-invention. Among her numerous accomplishments, Bernice was instrumental in establishing the Hadassah Foundation, served as President of Hadassah: Women’s Zionist Organization of America, and founded Hadassah International. Learn more about Bernice S. Tannenbaum here.