On this Fourth of July weekend, as we celebrate and reflect on the idea of freedom — its promise, its cost, its meaning — we’re reminded that freedom isn’t just about symbols or celebrations. It’s about choices, responsibilities, journeys that shape who we are. Today, we’re sharing the story of Itay — someone whose path took him across borders, through challenges, and ultimately back home, where he realized that sometimes, the truest kind of freedom comes not from leaving, but from returning.

Since I was a kid, I’ve always had one core dream: freedom. Not the kind you stumble upon — the kind you earn. For me, freedom meant independence — the ability to choose my own path, live life on my terms, and stand on my own two feet.

Maybe that drive came early because of my story. My parents divorced when I was only eight months old, in what became a long and difficult process. As their only child, I felt the weight of that experience — and even as a young boy, I internalized one deep truth: I would do whatever it takes to shape a life of independence and meaning.

I served as a combat soldier in the Nahal Special Forces, and to this day I continue to serve in active reserve duty — including after October 7th. But even before the war, I was driven by something more: a hunger to grow, to explore the world, and to build something of my own.

During COVID, while studying Business Administration at Reichman University, I joined Segment-IT and worked side-by-side with the CEO to help launch a new fintech company. That company — RTMI — is now one of Israel’s fastest-growing non-bank lenders, moving millions of dollars every year. But I still felt like something was missing.

That’s when I made another bold move — I decided to live abroad.

I was accepted to the AWS Talent Program and relocated to Madrid. There, I rebuilt everything from scratch: new language, new culture, new home. I worked with startups and global organizations across Europe, representing AWS in high-level engagements and major events. I traveled, learned, failed, adapted, succeeded. I found myself speaking at Jewish fundraising events for Beit Halochem, helping Spanish Jews support Israel’s wounded veterans. Even far from home, my Israeli and Jewish identity stayed at the center of who I was.

And then, on October 7th, everything changed.

I had returned to Tel Aviv for a month-long holiday visit — and in one devastating morning, the entire course of my life shifted. I lost friends. My younger brother, a soldier in regular service, was sent to the front. I rejoined my unit and was called up for reserve duty in the special forces. I didn't hesitate.

There are moments in life when a mirror is placed in front of you — and you have no choice but to decide who you are and what truly matters. For me, that moment was crystal clear: I wasn’t going back to Madrid. I was staying. I was home.

In the following days, I used every international connection I had to raise donations and secure high-grade combat equipment for my unit. I did it while serving, while grieving, while adapting to a new chapter I hadn’t seen coming.

And yet, I don’t see it as a sacrifice — I see it as a return.

Today, thanks to AWS’s support, I continue to work in Israel, managing relationships with leading enterprise companies and helping them harness the power of the cloud to grow, innovate, and stay resilient — even in wartime. My work has a new sense of purpose now, grounded in something deeper.

Outside of AWS, I’m a real estate investor, a marathon runner, and someone who’s quietly been building real expertise in cybersecurity — spending my free time studying, experimenting, and staying ahead of the curve in a space that fascinates me both professionally and personally.

My story isn’t just about tech. It’s about identity, commitment, and believing in something greater than yourself. I left Israel to chase freedom — and I found it not in escape, but in return. In responsibility. In people. In home.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: freedom doesn’t mean being alone. It means standing tall in the place you choose to be — and doing the work to make it better.

We thank Itay for sharing his story, and wish us all freedom and a happy 4th of July. If you want to connect with Itay, here’s his email (itayroma@gmail.com) and LinkedIn.

👉 Itay’s unit, Gadsar 5 Recon Support Company, continues to serve on the front lines. If you’d like to support their efforts, you can donate here: https://givechak.co.il/Gadsar5 - every contribution makes a difference. Make sure to email Itay at itayroma@gmail.com to ensure the funds go directly to his team 👥

• If you are not a Jews In Tech member yet, you can request to join here

• Donate to our non-profit here

• Email us at community@jewsintech.org

Happy Shavuot, dear Jews In Tech!

Read more

“Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, I never imagined that at age 30 I’d pack up my life, move to Israel, and eventually start a clothing brand. But looking back, it’s clear that every decision and every step has led me to this point.”

Welcome to this month's Founder Spotlight! Each month, we take a deeper dive into the journey of inspiring creators.

We're thrilled to share the story behind Tel A'vive, a clothing brand that's all about resilience, lifestyle, and culture. We’ll share the story of how a passion for crafting, creativity, and connection led Caroline (Founder of Tel A’vive) to the birth of a unique brand that blends the spirit and vibrancy of Tel Aviv and connects people back to Israel from near or far.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how it led to the creation of Tel A'vive?

“Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago in a reform household, I never in a million years imagined I’d pack up my life, move to Israel at 30, and eventually launch a clothing brand that feels so identifiably Jewish and meaningful. After October 7th, the need to connect with fellow Jews, strengthen ties to Israel, and be part of something bigger became essential. This experience inspired me and catapulted me onto the path to create Tel A’vive.”

How did your childhood shape your creative journey?

"As a young girl, I was obsessed with taking and collecting photos, crafting, and curating. My childhood was filled with photo albums, handmade collages for just about every occasion, and frequent trips to Michael's Arts & Crafts. Creativity has always been in my blood whether related to fashion, home, travel or lifestyle. Those early experiences shaped the way I see and express my creativity today."

You’ve had a diverse career in sales, but it sounds like you always had a creative side. What led to the shift toward pursuing creativity full-time?

"While I was working in various sales jobs in New York City ranging from event sales, experiential marketing, styling, and software, I always felt like there was a creative side to me that I wasn’t able to fully express. It wasn’t until I moved to Israel that my friends started encouraging me to follow my eye for aesthetics. My passion for travel, lifestyle, and fashion all started to come together, but I still couldn’t find something that fully blended those passions. It was a gradual journey, but Tel A'vive is the result."

Can you explain the moment that sparked the idea for Tel A'vive?

"To say I love shopping is an understatement…addiction might be more accurate. My closet is full of cozy sweatshirts, many printed with the names of my favorite cities like New York, Chicago, Brooklyn, and Sydney, but I could never find any brands that represented Tel Aviv, a city that so many of us hold close to our hearts. When I first moved to Israel in 2020, the idea sparked—but it took years before I actually acted on it. After October 7th, that idea evolved into endless vision boards and a much bigger purpose. That’s when I truly began shaping what would become Tel A’vive."

What was the turning point that finally pushed you to bring Tel A'vive to life?

"October 7, 2023, was a pivotal moment. The impact of that day and the suffering we've endured since is still hard to fully grasp. In the chaos, I realized I needed to channel my energy into something positive and meaningful. I wanted to give back to this country that so many of us love and find a way to connect both locals, expats and those that have a deep love for this country back to Israel.

What is the essence of Tel A'vive?

"Tel A'vive isn’t just about clothing; it’s about lifestyle, culture, and resilience and a celebration of chayim (life). It merges my two worlds—the one I grew up in and the one I’ve chosen to build a life in. The brand embodies the spirit of Tel Aviv: the sea (yam), the sun (shemesh), the light (or), the strength (koach), and the chill/flow (zorem). My goal is to build something that resonates with both locals and the international community both in Israel and abroad in a fun, meaningful, and connective way."

How do you see Tel A'vive impacting the community?

"Through every sale, a portion of proceeds will be donated to Israel’s rebuilding efforts. In 2025, donations will support the families of those held hostage in Gaza. Beyond giving back, I wanted to create a brand that connects people to Israel, to their local communities, and to each other. Whether it’s attending a Tel A’vive pop-up, recognizing a Tel A’vive sweatshirt in your neighborhood cafe or resonating with the messaging on a garment, the goal is to spark connection. Tel A’vive is about living boldly, creatively, and fully wherever you are, while carrying the spirit of Tel Aviv with you."

Outside of Tel A'vive, what keeps you busy?

"When I'm not working on Tel A’vive, you can find me at functional training classes, doing yoga, running along the tayelet, or hanging with my dog, Shuka (short for shakshuka ). I’m a bit of a wanderlust spirit, so I’m often at Ben Gurion boarding a flight to somewhere new, discovering the latest restaurants in whichever city I land, and always on a constant quest for natural wine bars and sampling every bottle I can get my hands on."

What’s next for Tel A'vive?

"I’m excited to keep growing and evolving Tel A’vive with the support of my community, the people who inspire me daily and who have been essential in bringing this vision to life. While I’m not sure exactly where the journey will lead, one thing’s for sure: there are plenty of fun collections ahead."

We’re so excited to continue sharing this journey with you and to keep building something meaningful together. Don’t forget to check out our latest collection and be part of the Tel A’vive community we’re creating. As a thank you, enjoy 10% off your first order with the code JEWSINTECH10.

Thank you for reading this month's Founder Spotlight! Stay tuned for next month’s edition, where we’ll continue to spotlight founders like Caroline and new brands like Tel A'vive. Reach out to community@jewsintech.org if you’d like to be included in the next round.

Setting the Table (Literally)

I wrapped up the plastic tablecloth, folding it tactfully to prevent any leftover champagne or rosé spill from within the loose seams. The boxes that arrived full—with plasticware, snacks and plenty of napkins—now sat empty. Schlepping a dozen shopping bags to the 10th floor was tiring, but I was grateful for the 4 volunteers that arrived early and stayed late to help with the first official JIT mixer on New York's Upper West Side.

Just 30 minutes prior, the library on the synagogue’s penthouse level was filled with 55 Jewish professionals, students, entrepreneurs, investors and community members. Now it was spotless.

The event was over—a true success!

The last 2 hours were electric!

So many Jews in Tech! Who knew? From 7 to 9pm on a weeknight, a room full of strangers became a burst of new connections: networking, icebreakers, socializing, LinkedIn swaps, WhatsApp intros, unrealized communal potential.

As the early-20th-century elevator descended, scenes of tonight’s highlights rushed through my mind. The smiles, the hugs, the photos, the food, the wine!

What We Felt in That Room

JIT’s first in-person NYC meetup of 2024 was a display of strength—in numbers and in spirit. There was something tangible in the room that evening. It was a sense of desire among the attendees to reach their potential and to explore the possibilities of what being part of a community meant. It was a room full of Jews bringing their individuality, uniqueness, and personal flair simultaneously wrapped in 3,000 years of shared identity.

For some it was their 3rd event of the week. Others hadn’t been to a professional event since before the pandemic. Yet for whatever reason, those 55 souls took a gamble—on a $10 ticket and mere possibilities. Imagine if each JIT member in attendance left the event just 1% better, stronger, and more proud to be a Jew in Tech? What a world to live in! That in itself, is what JIT is all about.

What a world to live in!

Jews in Tech is more than a Whatsapp group, a job board, or a newsletter. We are a family. We are a place to find a job, raise a round of investment capital, find an adviser for your startup, get invited to a shabbat meal, feel a sense of belonging, and be proud to be a Jew.

We are a network without borders that spans states, time zones, countries, languages and continents. With over 3,000 members and growing, we are volunteer-driven and our community is a reflection of our commitment to one another. We are a proclamation that our time, dollars and emotions are worth investing.

This Is Just the Beginning

The elevator bell rang, the 1st floor lit up, and the doors opened to a sea of dozens of JIT members still gathered in the lobby—deep in their conversations, refusing to let their night end. I glanced over at the security guard, half-expecting a warning. Instead, he just smiled and shook his head in disbelief.

It hit me then; our event wasn’t over. The spark we lit on the rooftop was still glowing downstairs—and would keep glowing, in Slack threads, DMs, new jobs, new ventures, and Shabbat invites. This is what we’re building: a community that lifts each of us higher as we chase what’s possible—together—in this wild, complicated, inspiring world of tech.

Want to co-host or bring JIT to your city?

DM us or reply to this post. We’re building this together!

Jews in Tech just turned 4, and since October 7th, 2023, we’ve seen a beautiful surge of new members joining us.

Many of you have been a part of our WhatsApp community groups, and we’ve seen everything from full-time jobs, romances, and startup funding from the group. Effective today, we’re converting our email campaigns to a Substack community, bringing even more of you into the heart of what we’re building.

Right now, more than ever, the Jewish people need each other.

No matter where you are in life, we’re asking for two things from you:

• Support each other — Help fellow Jews, in any industry or stage of life, find their place, their purpose, and their strength in both career and life.

• Ask for what you need — with kindness, passion, and focus. Don't be shy to lean on this community.

Our community includes Jews at every stage — from students to junior professionals, to executives and exited founders. We’re doing everything we can to create spaces that feel inclusive, while offering room for everyone to connect meaningfully.

On Substack, we’ll highlight:

• Inspiring companies and individuals from our community

• Member asks — opportunities to support or collaborate

• Offerings from within the community

Finally, Jews In Tech runs entirely on donations. Right now, we're raising funds to grow our community to 30,000 members through new technology and social initiatives. If you’re able to support us, please donate here or email us if you can offer larger contributions.

We’re also looking for volunteers to lead local groups in their cities or run online initiatives. If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out!

Job opportunities

Read more

Here’s what’s new in our growing network:

✨ New Platforms & Communities

Tara Charne just joined a new platform for women in tech called Theanna and wanted to share it with others!

Check it out: vrlps.co/7ix2ksv

Connect with Tara → LinkedIn

Dean Kroker just launched a site for vibe coders and career seekers to speak with experts called Outpost.

Check it out: outpost.chat

Connect with Dean → LinkedIn or Outpost

💻 Engineers on the Move

Debbie Cohen is a frontend engineer from Venezuela, now based in NYC, and looking for her next role. She’s strong in React, TypeScript, Next.js, Tailwind, and GraphQL. She needs H-1B visa sponsorship, so if your company supports that—reach out!

GitHub: github.com/debbiecohen

Mendel Ben Shmuel just moved from Israel to the Miami–Fort Lauderdale area and is exploring Systems or Software Engineering roles. He’s a Technion grad with experience at KLA and Israel’s R&D Quantum Center.

Connect → LinkedIn

📣 Open to Work

Lynn Hazan is a seasoned digital marketer and storyteller who built a 50K+ following. After standing proudly with the Jewish community, she’s exploring new roles—especially with Jewish-friendly tech companies.

Let’s connect → LinkedIn

🎟️ Jewish Dating Event (NYC)

Elize Simon and her husband are hosting a Jewish-only night at their dating and authentic relating event in Chelsea on Monday, 3/24.

Expect communication tools, real connection, and a little bit of magic.

Tickets → Jewish Sincere Singles Social

Follow Elize on IG → @elize.simon

🚀 We’re Hiring

Sammy Cole at Beam is hiring a Partnerships Associate (US-based) to help expand Magic Notes, their AI-powered tool for social sector workers.

Apply: send your resume + LinkedIn to usa@beam.org

More info → beam.org

Dori Yona is hiring an experienced SDR (remote, US only) at SimpleClosure, a startup helping founders shut down companies.📍 Remote (U.S. only) | 💼 Full-time | ⏱ Start Immediately

Apply → simpleclosure.com

Connect with Dori → dori@simpleclosure.com

🌍 British Founder in NYC Needs Intros

Alex Stephany, founder of Magic Notes, just moved to NYC. The product’s been huge in the UK—and now he’s looking to grow US traction. Know social workers, community orgs, gov agencies, or others in the social services world?

Connect with Alex: alex@beam.org

LinkedIn → Alex Stephany

Want to be included in the next update?

Post here

Have a great week!

🌀 Team Jews in Tech

Our WhatsApp groups are powerful, high-signal spaces for meaningful connection. To keep them helpful and respectful, please follow these guidelines when posting:

1. Be Specific

State what you want. Whether it’s feedback, intros, or eyes on something—help others help you by being clear.

2. Add Context

No link drops. If you’re sharing a link, include a short explanation of what it is and why you’re sharing it.

3. Know When to DM

If a conversation only applies to one person or goes deep, take it to direct messages. These groups are 1,000+ people strong—keep it relevant to the room. Don’t cold DM people—only reach out if someone has posted or expressed interest first.

4. Give Before You Ask

New here? Start by helping others. Sharing your services or promoting your work is fine—but not as your first post. Build trust first.

5. No Cross-Posting

Each group is intentional. Don’t post the same message in multiple groups.

If your message is relevant to the whole community, use the Global Posting Form instead. We bundle and share those across all groups periodically.

6. Keep Politics in the Right Room

No political content in any group except the Jewish Activism group.

New York City:

• March 2nd, Startup Friends - Coffee & Chill - Satori & SeedLegals

• March 3rd, Consumer Founders Bowling | Growth & Partnerships

• March 3rd, Virtual Fireside: AI Trends in FoW and the Current State of the Pre-Seed Landscape

• March 5th, The AI Diagnosis: How Tech is Transforming Healthcare

• March 5th, Digital Health NY * IL (Event held in Hebrew)

• March 20th, Third Thursday Tech Schmooze

• March 25-26, Mind the Tech Conference - by Calcalist

Florida:

• March 3rd - 5th, 2025 Florida Venture Capital Conference | Florida Venture Forum, Miami, FL

• March 25- April 3rd, Israel Tech Week 2025; Information & Insights Hub, Miami, FL

California:

• March 1st, Gen AI Mixer w/ Qualcomm, Los Angeles, CA

• March 3rd, The AI Hustle: Happy Hour for Startup Founders & VCs, San Francisco, CA

• March 6th, AGI Builders Meetup SF with Entrepreneur First, San Francisco, CA

• March 15th, The AI Hardware Ecosystem: AI Factories of the Future, Pasadena, CA

Israel:

• March 5th, Space Accelerator Rally | Founders & Investors Rally, Tel Aviv, IL

• March 6th, Talking about Biotech | Live Panel, Tel Aviv, IL

• March 11th, Health2Tech Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, IL

Here’s what’s on the agenda this month:

1. Inside the Whatsapp Chat - Updates from our WhatsApp community!

2. Community Events - Check out February’s events - and don’t miss out on next month's events

3. Startups You Should Know - Here is what our community founders have been up to

4. Job Opportunities - Our network is hiring!

5. Community Member Spotlight

But first, a quick JIT NYC Whatsapp Chat reminder.

If you are looking/asking for an intro at a specific company, please provide details such as:

WHO & WHERE: What type of person/department at which company do you want to get in touch with?

WHAT: What are you looking to discuss?

WHY?: Why are you interested in getting in touch with said company

Example: " Looking to connect with a senior product marketing member at Google to discuss GTM strategy because I'm looking to improve my team's current strategy."

If you’d like to be featured in the next blast, click below or join one of our subgroups and share directly.

Click Here To Be Featured

1. Inside the WhatsApp Chat

Our WhatsApp has been buzzing with exciting news, big wins, and new opportunities! Here’s a roundup of what’s been happening in our space.

Have something to share next time? Post in WhatsApp or Email Community@Jewsintech.org!

• PharmaTrack Closes Pre-Seed Round

  • Max Saltzman and the team at PharmaTrack just secured funding to revolutionize pharmaceutical supply chains. If you're interested in healthcare innovation or investing in early-stage ventures, reach out to learn more.

• Pets52 Fundraising for the Future of Pet Care

  • David Braunstein is scaling Pets52, a personalized pet wellness company, and is actively raising funds. If you're passionate about the booming pet industry, now’s the time to connect!

• Skincare Meets AI

  • Michal Kaul is launching a tech-powered skincare startup, Aura Skin, and is looking for product experts and collaborators. If you're in the beauty or AI space, reach out!

2. Community Events

We had several exciting NYC events this month!

Our New York Hub Lead Ari Sohn organized an amazing community event! Here are some pictures so you can see how awesome it was.

We also had JIT community member Ariel host an AI & Machine Learning Meetup.

Do you want to host an event, or have your event featured in next month’s newsletter? Email community@Jewsintech.org to submit!

3. Job Opportunities

So you realized that your early-stage startup isn’t the next Deel. Don’t worry, our community is hiring!

• Elizabeth at Sword Health, a fast-growing Series E health tech company, is looking for a Growth Marketing Manager to work on her team. The position is fully remote and based in the US or Portugal.

• App Central, a technology-driven mobile game publisher specializing in hyper and hybrid causal games, hiring for several positions. All positions are based in Israel.

  • Team Lead, User Acquisition, to oversee user acquisition strategies focusing on attracting and retaining players while maximizing revenue.

  • Senior Data Analyst, oversee impactful projects and influence decision-making through smart analytics and data insights.

  • Senior Developer, 5+ years of experience in software development

  • Junior Developer, 2+ years of experience in software development

• Dave DellaPelle at Dune Security is hiring for Engeineer and Product several roles. Positions are based in New York City.

• Jeff Cohen at Modality is looking to hire an Analytics Engineer to join his team. This position is based in the US.

• Comeet is looking to hire a Product Marketing Manager for Firefly. This position is in person in Tel Aviv.

• Atera, the leading Agentic AI-powered IT management platform, is expanding its NY team and is looking to hire a Customer Success Manager and a Business Development Representative. Reach out to Leetal if you are interested.

• Shira is hiring a Sales Manager at a fast-growing prop-tech startup revolutionizing services in residential living environments. To apply, please send your CV to craig@sapientsearchgroup.com.

• MoonShot AI, AI-powered, fully-automated website optimization for eCommerce stores, is hiring a Technical Account Manager. This position is based in NYC.

Lastly, here are some helpful links:

• ⁠If you’d like to get involved or help Jews in Tech grow, tell us how and share feedback: community@jewsintech.org.

• We’re raising money for events and community development! Please donate — we are a 501(c)3.

If you’re reading this, thank you for staying until the end! We appreciate your support and love having you as part of the JIT community!

See you next month,

Jews In Tech Team