Andrew Afflerbach

he/him

Andrew is a nationally recognized expert in broadband and telecommunications, with more than 25 years of experience advising cities, states, utilities, and nonprofits on wired and wireless communications strategy. His work has helped connect millions of people who lacked broadband access, including underserved and rural communities across the United States and internationally.

Andrew holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a B.A. in Physics from Swarthmore College. He and his wife, Joanne, relocated to Florida during the pandemic to be close to family and have made it their home, while spending time each summer in Bethesda, Maryland. They are active members both of Congregation Shaarei Kodesh in Boca Raton and Tifereth Israel in Washington. Andrew’s Jewish identity and community ties are central to his life and values. He serves on the MAZON Board of Directors.

Andrew and Joanne met through the Ofek Shalom cooperative in Madison, Wisconsin and both are active UW alumni. They have two adult children. Andrew is an avid runner and cyclist, an experienced hiker, and is working toward a pilot’s license.

Is Perlman

they/them

Is (pronounced like “Iz”) Perlman is a trans and Asian-Jewish American theatre director, arts administrator, community facilitator, and Yiddishist living in Brooklyn. They are passionate about building community and joy-driven ritual experiences that center those on the margins, and have held roles in both the Jews of Color and Youth Programs departments at Keshet. In addition to Keshet, their work in Jewish communal spaces has spanned organizations such as The LUNAR Collective and The Workers Circle. They have also been featured in projects such as the Dreaming the World to Come/Olam Haba Planner and the book “What Jewish Looks Like” by Liz Kleinrock and Caroline Kusin Pritchard.