Julia Umansky

Julia Umansky joined the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley team as the Director of Gift Planning and EITC in November of 2021.

Prior to coming on board with the Federation, Julia had been involved in the nonprofit world of animal welfare working for such agencies as the ASPCA, ACCT Philly, and Animal Care Centers of NYC. During her time in animal welfare, Julia oversaw volunteer programs, built and led departments serving the community, and helped to bridge the gap between community needs and organizational knowledge and resources. Julia has special interest in practicing empathetic community engagement and has worked to implement programs and approaches to meet the needs of every community she has served.

While this is Julia’s first professional role within the Jewish community, she has long standing roots from growing up within the Cleveland Jewish community. From tutoring students for b’nai mitzvah, participating in National Bible Contest, reading Torah and Megillah from a young age, and participating in her synagogue’s youth choir, Julia’s formative years have shaped her desire to now reinvest herself in building and growing the Jewish community around her as an adult.

A graduate of Boston University, Julia holds a B.A. in biology with a focus on animal behavior and vertebrate zoology. Julia and her husband, Jonathan Markson, recently moved from Brooklyn to the Lehigh Valley with their dog and three cats to be closer to Jonathan’s family and set up roots in his hometown of Allentown. In her spare time, Julia enjoys researching Jewish myths and mysticism, exploring nature, and creating acrylic and resin works of art.

Julia can be reached at 610-821-5500 x 331.