Samantha Carlin Willis
Samantha believes that when we welcome and pursue opportunities for depth and connection, they help us make our way through the wilds of life.
Samantha’s favorite early Jewish experience was at sleep away camp, where she loved to retreat into the woods to wander, learn, reflect, and sing with the nature counselors. As Shabbat ended, she’d steal a few magical moments of Havdalah under the trees before rushing out to revel in Saturday night activities. Later, she was struck by the practice of leaving written notes in the crevices of sacred walls and mournful places, and got chills discovering familial roots in early Karliner Hasidism and its fiery brand. Born of two parents who dedicated their careers to public service in mental health and education, Samantha absorbed the drive that going to work ought to be purposeful. These threads braid through Samantha’s work at Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah, where she sees how Jewish wisdom can be a candle flame in the dark woods, a voice bringing us together, a soft place to rest, a hill that brings us to a new view, or a push toward making the world better.
As grants and partnerships manager, she is grateful for the daily opportunity to support the organizations and leaders who bring that vision to life. Prior to the Foundation, Samantha worked in the Kanfer family office managing projects across the family’s multifaceted interests. Before that, she was an executive assistant at The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, and even before that, worked in theater of all kinds. She holds a BA in American Studies from Barnard College. Her favorite job title of all time is Mommy.