Tova Birnbaum is a faculty member in the Mandel Educational Leadership Program at the Mandel Institute for Nonprofit Leadership. She was the Director of Jewish Content at the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto and a Senior Jewish Education Specialist at the JCC Association. Tova was born in B’nai B’rak, Israel, in an Ultra-Orthodox home, and was one of the founders of the BINA Secular Yeshiva in Tel Aviv, where she was a faculty member for many years. She also served as the Central Shlicha (emissary), Director of the North America Region of the World Zionist Organization. Tova is a Judaic studies teacher, Theater Midrash workshop facilitator, and a Secular Jewish Life Cycle ceremonies officiant. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School in Palo Alto and on the Birthright Israel International Education Committee. Tova holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Jewish Philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a master’s degree in Theater from Tel Aviv University. Tova and her husband live in Palo Alto, California, and are proud parents of two daughters.