MEET OUR TEAM

SARAH OSBORNE, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR

Sarah Osborne founded A Mitzvah to Eat in 2021, based on her own experiences of being unable to safely fast. After years of shame, feeling alone, and feeling unable to safely connect to Jewish practice, Sarah searched for community. She discovered many people who felt exactly as she had.

Sarah comes to A Mitzvah to Eat with experience as a Jewish educator. Her writing has been published in The Lehrhaus and EJewish Philanthropy. Additionally, Sarah has written prayers and poetry for A Mitzvah to Eat.

Through A Mitzvah to Eat, Sarah has connected with Jews around the world. She is proud of her collaborations and partnerships with Jewish leaders and community members with diverse Jewish identities. She lives in the Washington DC area.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

JONATHAN KAHAN, ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR

Jonathan Kahan had a long career in senior financial roles in various media companies. In 2016, his life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with Acromegaly, a very rare, chronic, neuroendocrine condition. In addition to collecting other rare diagnoses, he volunteers for Acromegaly Community to help raise awareness and support those with the disease.

LEORA BOTNICK

Leora Botnick is a Social Work Supervisor at NYC Health + Hospitals, serving those who cannot access health care elsewhere. She is also a clinical ethics consultant in her hospital and has a private consulting business for advance care planning and medical decision making. Leora has a background in Oncology and Palliative Care and specializes in serious and chronic illnesses. She graduated from Brandeis University and received a BA in Psychology as well as in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. She received her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania. Leora’s passion is mental health awareness and addressing mental health stigma. On the Upper West Side of Manhattan, she founded a group of local Jewish mental health professionals, GALIM or Grab A Lifeline in Manhattan. Leora believes strongly in the mission of A Mitzvah to Eat and is very excited to spread its message to the Jewish community.

RABBA ALIZA LIBMAN BARONOFSKY

Rabba Aliza Libman Baronofsky is a teacher of Jewish text with over two decades of experience working with preteens and teens. A graduate of York University and Harvard University, Rabba Aliza was ordained by Yeshivat Maharat in 2022. Her graduation responsa focused on halachic (Jewish legal) issues faced by non-binary Jews. Rabba Aliza’s podcast Mishna Accomplished is designed for parents who want to study Jewish texts with their children. A native of Toronto, Canada, Rabba Aliza lives in Rockville, Maryland with her husband and children.

TOBY SCHWARTZ

Toby Schwartz is a licensed clinical social worker with over 17 years of clinical practice. After receiving her master’s degree from New York University she worked in a community based mental health clinic for 6 and a half years. In 2013, she opened a private practice, which serves all genders and populations between the ages of 18 and 50. Toby has received training in trauma studies from the National Institute of Psychotherapy and completed the Eating Disorders, Compulsions, and Addictions Studies program and The William Allanson White Institute. Toby is a certified intuitive eating counselor and practices from a Health at Every Size Lens. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate at Wurzweiler School of Social Work’s DSW
program where she is researching mental health implications from growing up in a weight focused and/or diet culture environment.