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Our Esteemed Speakers
The Honorable Jill Beck, Pennsylvania Superior Court
Raised in Pittsburgh, Judge Jill Beck knew from a young age that she wanted to work to ensure that everyone had access to justice. While pursuing her undergraduate degree in criminal justice from The George Washington University, she served as a counselor at a residential facility for adjudicated delinquent girls and later as an assistant forensic interviewer at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Child Advocacy Center. After graduating with honors, she served as an AmeriCorps Fellow working with adolescents on probation.
These experiences fueled her passion for protecting vulnerable members of our community and drew her to the practice of law. After graduating at the top of her class from Duquesne University School of Law, Judge Beck chose to work for the nonprofit organization KidsVoice, where she represented abused and neglected children in court proceedings and beyond. Judge Beck’s service at KidsVoice involved not only ensuring that the legal rights of her young clients were protected at trial and on appeal, but that their basic human needs were met — food, clothing, shelter, medical treatment, education, and a safe and loving family.
Judge Beck’s experience advocating for children in the Superior Court led her to want to serve from the other side of the bench in Pennsylvania’s appellate courts. She spent the next 10 years in public service as a law clerk under the Honorable Christine Donohue on the Superior and Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania. Judge Beck drafted decisions for criminal, civil, family, juvenile, and orphans’ court cases that were grounded in the law and achieved substantial justice for individuals, families, and businesses across the Commonwealth.
In 2019 Judge Beck became a civil litigator at Blank Rome, a law firm she selected because of its commitment to providing free legal services to those who cannot afford them. In addition to her busy litigation and appellate practice in state and federal courts across the country, she served as chair of Blank Rome Pittsburgh’s Pro Bono Coordinating Committee.
Judge Beck was elected to the Superior Court in November 2023. She resides with her husband, two children, and rescue dog in Pittsburgh.
Jackie Perlow (she/her)
As supervising staff attorney at the Women’s Law Project, Jackie provides legal representation and supervision across WLP’s program areas, including reproductive rights, pregnancy/caretaking discrimination, LGBTQIA+ equality, Title IX, athletic equity, and workplace justice.
Before joining the Women’s Law Project, Jackie was a staff attorney at the Community Justice Project where her practice focused on impact litigation, primarily in the areas of education, fair housing, and employment. Jackie worked for the Education Law Center as an Equal Justice Works fellow. During her time at the Education Law Center, Jackie used direct representation, systemic advocacy, and community engagement to improve academic achievement and reduce educational barriers for students across Pennsylvania. Jackie clerked for the Honorable Joy Flowers Conti, Chief United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Jackie earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Jackie holds a Master’s in Education from American University and a B.A. from Carleton College. Prior to law school, Jackie worked as a middle school English teacher in Washington, D.C.
Cantor Kalix Jacobson (they/them)
Cantor Kalix Jacobson (they/them) was ordained with the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion cantorial class of 2023. They are now Temple Emanuel of South Hills’ first cantor in over 50 years. They have worked in the cantorial space for a decade, and are a songwriter of 20 years.
Cantor Kalix has been recognized by multiple institutions for their scholarship regarding the Hazentes, orthodox Jewish women who performed cantorial music in male regalia for non-religious consumption during the 20th century, and specifically for their discovery of the forgotten Cantoress Susan Mandell, who worked as Cantor of Temple Emanu-El of Edison, NJ from 1964-1978, who is understood to be the third woman cantor that worked in a synagogue role.
Cantor Kalix was in the first class at any Jewish seminary that ordained nonbinary or transgender cantors, and they were the first nonbinary cantor to formally accept a position as cantor of a synagogue.
While they are not at Temple, you will find them exploring the vegetarian food scene in Pittsburgh, spending the day with their partner Mickey, or on a walk through their neighborhood.
Professor Kathleen Blee (she/her)
Professor Kathleen Blee is currently serving on the Jewish Women and Religious Freedom in Pittsburgh project steering committee. She is a Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh and has written extensively on political movements of extremist white supremacy and antisemitism. Her most recent book, coauthored with Robert Futrell and Pete Simi is Out of Hiding: Extremist White Supremacism and How It Can Be Stopped.
Carrie Wardzinski (she/her)
Carrie is also serving on the Jewish Women and Religious Freedom in Pittsburgh steering committee. She is a regional organizer for the Greater Pittsburgh area for Red Wine & Blue, a position she has held for over two years. Prior to becoming an organizer, she was research librarian for over a decade. In fact, it was the resurgence of censorship and book banning that prompted her to become more involved in activism and advocacy work.
Carrie lives in the Greater Pittsburgh area with her partner Mike, her son Logan, and her two cats Scotty and Stella. She has an undergraduate degree in theology from Westminster College and a master’s degree in library and information science from University of Pittsburgh. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and exploring local history haunts.