About Fat Torah
OUR GOALS
Ending weight stigma in Jewish communal life and training Jewish professionals, lay leaders, and community members to confront fatphobia wherever they encounter it (including in themselves).
Equipping people who already work in fat activism, Health at Every Size, eating disorders recovery, and related weight neutral and body positive fields to recognize and attend to spiritual and religious needs in themselves and those they serve.
Propagating a methodology of connecting with sacred text, tradition, and spirituality that fosters body liberation for people of all sizes.
WHO WE ARE
Rabbi Minna Bromberg, PhD
Founder and President
Rabbi Dr. Minna Bromberg is passionate about bringing her three decades of experience in fat activism to writing and teaching and change-making at the nexus of Judaism and body liberation.
Rabbi Bromberg received her doctorate in sociology from Northwestern University in 2005, with a dissertation on identity formation in interfaith couples, and was ordained at Hebrew College in 2010. She’s also a proud "Rocker" (an alumna of Simon's Rock College).
Since becoming a rabbi, Minna has led a 250-family Conservative congregation in Reading, PA, released her fifth album of original music, made aliyah, and run the Year-in-Israel program for Hebrew College rabbinical students.
When she’s not working on Fat Torah, she’s a voice teacher who specializes in helping people use their voices in leading prayer (which she sees as beautifully connected with fat torah, but that's another story). She lives in Jerusalem with her husband, Rabbi Alan Abrams, and their two children.
Her forthcoming book is Every Body Beloved: a call for fat liberation in Jewish life
Rachel Figurasmith
Board Chair
A long-time Jewish educator, Rachel Figurasmith has trained hundreds of educators, supported over a dozen organizations in their disability inclusion journeys, and coached countless supervisors as they grow into strong leaders that she is proud to call her colleagues. Rachel has special expertise in working with nonprofits in periods of transition, and is proud to work with mission-driven organizations as they recalibrate.
A relationship builder and network weaver, Rachel has worked at national Jewish organizations, several NY-area JCCs, and public schools across NYC. She currently works as a consultant providing both interim executive leadership and disability training services. Rachel is a committed volunteer with the New York Abortion Access Fund, and finds her work in the reproductive justice space to be deeply connected to her passion for fat liberation. Rachel holds a BA from Hampshire College, an MA from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and Special Education certification from Hebrew College.
Rachel is a born & bred fifth generation New Yorker and lives with just outside New York City with her partner, Stephen, and their three children: Maisy, Tybee & Harper. Rachel's approach to all of her work is guided immensely by her (most difficult) work of mothering.
Emily P. Goodstein
Board Chair Emerita, 2021-2023
Founder and CEO of Greater Good Strategy, Emily brings over 20 years of nonprofit advocacy, fundraising, and marketing experience to her work helping organizations fulfill their missions. Before launching Greater Good Strategy, she served as a Client Success Manager for Blackbaud (previously Convio). Prior to her move to the private sector, Emily was Director of Student Outreach for the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), and the Tzedek Fellow at Hillel’s international offices in Washington, DC.
Emily is a graduate of Selah, the Rockwood Leadership Training Program’s collaboration with Bend the Arc, an active member of the Women’s Information Network, Sixth & I Synagogue, and the Jewish Democratic Council of America’s New Leaders Council. She also serves on the advisory board of the National Women’s Defense League.
An activist at heart, Emily’s interest in organizing and online outreach was sparked while she was a student at The George Washington University (GW). She earned a BA in human services at GW and started the university’s chapter of Planned Parenthood.
Emily lives in Washington, DC with her husband, Ron, and their daughter, Edie. Their books are arranged in rainbow order.
