Cheryl Cook

Cheryl Cook is the Chief Executive Officer of Avodah.

With close to 30 years of experience working across the Jewish community, Cheryl is passionate about developing the next generation of Jewish social justice leaders. Cheryl has overseen some of the organization’s most successful national growth strategies, including the expansion of leadership programs to new cities, the creation of innovative models to elevate Jewish justice voices, and bringing educational resources and conversations into the Jewish community to strengthen Avodah’s work on poverty and social justice in the United States.

Prior to coming to Avodah, Cheryl served for nine years as Chief Operating Officer of Hazon, where she played a vital role in guiding the organization through an era of significant growth. She has worked across the Jewish community for her career, at JESNA, New Israel Fund, Hillel of Greater Philadelphia, and at the 92nd Street. She has participated in the Selah Leadership program, Advancing Women Professionals Action Learning Team, and the Institute for Jewish Executive Leadership.

Cheryl is an active member of her congregation, Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE), and serves on the board of JPRO and the Leadership Team of the Jewish Social Justice Roundtable. She holds an M.A. from Jewish Theological Seminary, an M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University, and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin. Cheryl lives in Brooklyn, New York with her spouse and their two children. In her free time, she can be found cycling around Prospect Park or playing board games with her family.