Hi! I’m Blake Ziegler.

My Jewish Lithuanian great-grandparents took in a young Louis Armstrong in New Orleans and helped him buy his first cornet. Armstrong honored that kindness for the rest of his life by wearing a Star of David. From my family’s example and growing up as one of the only Jews in a multifaith environment, I learned firsthand that religious freedom is essential to a pluralistic democracy where everyone can thrive. That tradition of solidarity across lines of difference is what I carry into my work.

I’m a Jewish advocate, community organizer, and public speaking consultant. As Field Organizer for Texas and National Campaigns at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, I lead organizing to advance democracy across Texas and national campaigns on Israel for the largest, most inclusive Jewish movement in North America. For more than five years, I have helped Jewish organizations and communities turn moral commitments into concrete change, advocating before the U.S. government, European Union, United Nations, and Vatican.

I’m also an award-winning high school debate coach, a former high school social studies teacher, and writer with 70+ articles on Jewish identity, antisemitism, and multifaith engagement.

I graduated with honors in political science and philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, where I researched religion and politics, antisemitism, Jewish political behavior, and philosophy of education.

Photo Credit: WJC/Dina Kapica