Our Team

Judith Sydney

Judith (Jude) Sydney is co-founder and chief executive of TribeTalk, overseeing the organization’s fundraising and external relations. She previously worked in real estate development and management for her family business.

Jude is a community connector, dedicated volunteer, and fundraiser. She has been involved with the Boston Jewish community for over 30 years, serving on the development committees of local schools, synagogues, and Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP). Jude has also served as a leader in national Jewish organizations, including the Jewish Federation of North America and Jewish National Fund. She currently serves on the JFNA National Women’s Philanthropy Board and is the Public Affairs Advocacy chair.

Jude is also an alum of the Leon and Cynthia Shulman Acharai Leadership Program and received a Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism from the Spertus Institute. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Robin Friedman

Robin Friedman is co-founder and Chief Content Officer of TribeTalk, overseeing the organization’s curriculum and training.
An attorney and community volunteer, her law practice focused on employment law, dealing with civil rights issues including age, gender, race, religious and national origin discrimination. A skilled and sought-out trainer and antisemitism expert, Robin has spoken in front of numerous Jewish organizations, appeared on podcasts, and has been published and quoted in the Boston Globe, Boston Business Journal, and eJewish Philanthropy.
In addition to TribeTalk, Robin volunteers with various local Jewish and pro-Israel organizations and practices as a pro bono attorney representing victims of domestic violence.
Robin received a Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism from the Spertus Institute, as well as a law degree from New York University and an undergrad degree from Boston University.

Michelle Black

Michelle Black is co-founder of TribeTalk and oversees the organization’s marketing and communications efforts. She has been an active leader in the Boston Jewish community for more than 20 years. She is Board Chair Emeritus at Gann Academy and also serves as a Trustee at Jewish Family & Children’s Services (JF&CS) and The Hebrew College. In addition, she is an active member of Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
Michelle earned her MBA from Harvard Business School and worked as an organization and change management consultant, with a focus on leadership development, change management, corporate strategy, and organizational design. She now applies her business skills and experience to strengthen and support the local Jewish, non-profit community serving as a strategic advisor, fundraiser, and community builder within every organization in which she belongs.

Zoe Calahorra-Wood

Zoe Calahorra-Wood is Director of Development for TribeTalk, overseeing the organization’s fundraising and philanthropic partnerships. Before joining TribeTalk, Zoe served as Director of Community Impact at the United Jewish Federation of Utah, where she led local community initiatives and fundraising. Prior, she served on its Board of Trustees for four years. Zoe has spent more than a decade in Jewish education and community leadership, teaching Hebrew, Jewish studies, and Holocaust education, and developing programs that strengthen Jewish identity.

Born and raised in Israel, Zoe brings both personal and professional experience to TribeTalk’s mission, which she is extremely passionate about: equipping Jewish individuals and their allies with the knowledge, confidence, and practical tools to recognize and respond to antisemitism.

Zoe holds a Master’s degree in Teaching Hebrew from Middlebury College and a B.Ed.from Bar-Ilan University in Israel, with studies in leadership and management of educational systems, comparative literature, and Jewish art.

Abby Kaufman

Abby Kaufman is a Program and Development Officer at TribeTalk, focused on program oversight, development support, and organizational efficiency. A recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, she holds dual degrees in Political Science and Legal Studies and a certificate in Education Policy. Abby has held leadership roles in Jewish campus organizations and summer camps and is based in Chicago.