Meet our Team

Ann is passionate about serving and supporting our community. In her current role, she oversees outreach, support and education in our Chicago area Jewish community, with a focus on abuse prevention, addiction & recovery, adoption, grief, mental health and pastoral care. She also chairs JCERT, the Jewish Community Emergency Response Team. Ann is an alumna of both the Wexner Foundation’s Graduate Fellowship Program and Wexner Heritage Program. She has presented at local, national and international conferences, has published both in print and online formats, and has served on the Board of Trustees of multiple Jewish organizations.  

Mental Health Support and Educator  

Daniel Bahner joins JCFS after completing a master’s in counseling psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2024. In addition to his work at JCFS, Daniel practices therapy with a private practice based in Evanston. Prior to joining JCFS, Daniel worked at Keshet for five years as National Director of Education and Training. While there, he helped Jewish communal organizations become more inclusive and welcoming of LGBTQ+ Jews. He currently lives in Andersonville with his dog, Athena. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Daniel moved to Chicago in 2018 after spending much of the previous decade on the East Coast - including Pennsylvania, New York City and Boston. In addition to his mental health work, Daniel is passionate about social justice.  

In addition to her role with JCFS’ Community Services, Aliza Becker is an Associate Fellow at Bard College. Since 2014, she has led two oral history projects at Bard, plus directed a podcast that explores the Pittsburgh Jewish community after the Tree of Life shooting, as well as five decades of Jewish peace activism. Aliza began her career as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, later directing amnesty education programs at Heartland Alliance for over 10,000 students. Aliza also held various leadership roles at the Illinois Coalition for Refugee and Immigrant Rights and wrote and co-authored seven books on naturalization-related topics. In 2002, she co-founded Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, a national Jewish two-state grassroots peace group, and helped integrate it into J Street.  

Dr. Beth Fishman has worked with those impacted by substance use disorders and other addictive behaviors for over 30 years. She is widely recognized as a thought leader in the Jewish addiction/recovery space. In her current role, Dr. Fishman trains Jewish communal professionals on addiction/recovery and how to create welcoming organizations for those at risk and in recovery; teaches mental health professionals about the needs of Jews in recovery; facilitates Jewish spiritual practice groups; and assists national Jewish communities in developing new addiction/recovery programs. Dr. Fishman is licensed as a Clinical Psychologist in Illinois and New Mexico. 

Bracha Jakofsky is dedicated to safeguarding the Jewish community. She holds a master's degree in social work from UIC and has over a decade of experience in mental health and community services. As a leader of the SMART Kids program, she has reached thousands of students and trained professionals in child safety and abuse prevention. Bracha works closely with the Orthodox community and excels at building strong community partnerships and delivering impactful prevention education. A former employment specialist at JCFS, Bracha understands the diverse needs within the community. She also serves on the board of Nefesh Chicago. 

Rabbi Dr. Joseph S. Ozarowski served as president of the Chicago Board of Rabbis from 2015-2017 and President of Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) from 2022-2024. An engaging, nationally known teacher and speaker, Rabbi Joe (as he is affectionately called) has served congregations in Pennsylvania, California, Minnesota and the New York area. He is a Board-Certified Chaplain and a published author. His first book, To Walk in God’s Ways - Jewish Pastoral Perspectives on Illness and Bereavement, is considered a standard in the field of Judaism and Pastoral Care. Within the community services department and agency, Rabbi Joe is a Judaic resource, supporting many programs including the bereavement program. He spends most of his time managing Jewish Community Chaplaincy Services, which he helped create. He is married to Ashira (nee Rapoport), has four children and 20 grandchildren. Rabbi Joe meets with people in his Skokie office, as well as in the community, often at senior sites. 

Leah facilitates grief support groups, develops community programming around grief and loss, and coordinates the Jewish Community Chaplaincy program. Previously, Leah worked as an Access clinician on JCFS's central intake team. She earned her MSW from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois Chicago and is a proud alum of Avodah's Jewish Service Corps. Leah was recently named a JUF 36 under 36 honoree. She finds joy in her silly dog and community connection. 

Aliza provides consultation to clergy, staff, and lay leaders, connects congregants to resources, and coordinates speakers and educational opportunities on vital social-emotional topics. She works closely with synagogue leadership teams to strengthen the communities they are building, offering guidance rooted in compassion, hope, and respect. For the past ten years, Aliza has also served as weekend staff for Libenu, a Jewish women’s group home. Aliza holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Northeastern Illinois University and has over a decade of experience working in the Jewish community, supporting individuals and families during important and challenging moments.