Rabbi Elan Babchuck is a rabbi and entrepreneur who spends much of his time exploring the rich intersections between these two traditions. He’s committed to leaving behind a world that is more compassionate, connected, and just than the one he found, and – in pursuit of that commitment – he is the Director of Innovation at Clal, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and the Founding Executive Director of Glean Network, an incubator and network for entrepreneurs who are building new models of faith in action, which partners with Columbia Business School.

He has incubated over 150 successful startups over the past 10 years, and built four of his own during his 20 years of entrepreneurship. A sought-after keynote speaker, he publishes regularly on The Wisdom Daily, creates content for Ritual (app), contributed to Meaning Making - 8 Values That Drive America’s Newest Generations (2020), and is the co-author of Renewable Energy (2023), a book exploring emergent leadership models for legacy religious organizations.

He serves as the founding board chair of Sympara - an organization that repurposes religious buildings into sacred/civic spaces, a founding board member of the Beloved Network - a network of startup, home-based Jewish communities, a member of the Research Advisory Board of Springtide Research Institute - which focuses on spirituality and Gen Z, and a member of the Board of Advisors of the Changemaker Initiative.

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I'm a data-driven creative that loves to explore the various avenues through which we create and share information. I come to Glean with the hopes of not only broadening my understanding of the intersection between innovation and faith, but also documenting our journey in a plethora of ways. I recently obtained a  BBA in Marketing and a minor in IT from The University of Massachusetts-Amherst, but my academic interests also include FinTech and Islamic Law. You can always find me talking world affairs, reading Emily Dickinson, or producing disruptive art - whatever that may look like. 

There are no current openings. We are always looking to meet with individuals who are passionate about spiritual entrepreneurship and motivated by our mission, vision, and values. Contact Us. 

Sandy Hong (he/they) is a facilitator and a strategic consultant, with a background in digital strategy & community organizing. Prior to joining Glean Network’s Core Team, he was a participant in Glean’s 2020 START program, focusing on developing offerings that center justice, belonging, liminality and spirituality within the Korean diaspora. 

Sandy is passionate about building resilient systems of care and accountability that shape organizations and their commitments from the inside out. A self-described "network nerd", Sandy is passionate about decentralized networks and their potential to create deep, broad, transformative change starting from the individual, their values, and their embodiment. 

Shelli Aderman comes to Clal from a varied and exciting background, where she started learning to code computers as a child. As an adult, Shelli continued her fascination with all things behind-the-scenes in a career of theatrical stage management and administration. As the Program Administrator for many of Clal’s varied projects, including Glean, Rabbis Without Borders, and Stand and See, she gets to use all of her backstage skills in the support of rabbis.

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Within the Jewish community, Shelli has been able to put her stage management training to use as an Administrator for Congregation Tehillah in Riverdale, and Emanuel Congregation in Chicago. Also in Chicago, Shelli was the Youth Advisor and Youth Service Leader for Anshe Emet Synagogue. Shelli also is a Religious School and Youth and Family Educator at Town and Village Synagogue.

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A graduate of Hofstra University and Young Judaea’s Year Course, Shelli is thrilled to be part of CLAL. Shelli is happily married to Narda E. Alcorn, with whom they share the joy of parenting Malka and Noah Matan.