“I am living on two parallel tracks of responsibility. Professionally, I work in the political sphere, helping thoughtful and principled people I believe in step into leadership, because who holds office truly shapes the world our children and grandchildren will inherit. Spiritually, my work is about something deeper: helping create a world with more inner strength, more faith, and more refined character.” ~ Linda Sadacka
Ellen Geller Kamaras
Please meet Linda Argalgi Sadacka, who was interviewed for this column (formerly Woman to Woman) back in 2017. She was featured as the founder of Moms on a Mitzvah, a grassroots hesed initiative she launched in 2013. Clearly, she possessed incredible energy and a sense of responsibility to the community. Today, that work continues. Linda is a writer, political activist, and community leader. She is the CEO of the New York Jewish Council and is the founder of Chasdei David, Inc., a public non-profit hesed organization based in Brooklyn that focuses on education services and educational exchanges.
Raised in Montreal in a traditional home, Linda’s spiritual path deepened in her youth and shaped the course of her life. Linda was deeply affected by the murder of her brother’s close friend, IDF soldier Jason Friedberg by Hamas, which profoundly strengthened her lifelong commitment to Jewish responsibility and to Israel. In the years that followed, Linda became active in communal advocacy and writing on behalf of Jewish causes.
One widely-known campaign that drew national attention mobilized more than 100,000 signatures to secure a compassionate-use FDA exemption for a terminally ill young man. This exemption allows patients with serious or life-threatening diseases to access medical treatment that is not yet FDA approved. After marrying and settling in Brooklyn, Linda’s focus shifted toward structured communal hesed alongside broader advocacy. That early activism laid the groundwork for her current multifaceted role.
Linda Evolves
Today, more than eight years later, Linda is still deeply involved in hesed and communal advocacy, and has expanded her work to include political strategy, writing, teaching, and producing her podcast “The Silent Revolution,” which focuses on culture, leadership, faith, and public discourse.
Linda, now a grandmother, describes herself as purpose-driven, principled, compassionate, grounded, and resilient. “I am more intentional than I was years ago.”
Linda clearly articulates that her life is guided by Torah and her decisions are reached through employing her strong emunah. “Whether I am in a classroom or a room with public officials and world leaders, people know exactly who I am.”
Writing, Teaching, and Advocacy
Alongside her hesed and advocacy, Linda continued to write and began teaching. Her articles have appeared in The Jerusalem Post, Jewish News Syndicate, Jewish Image Magazine, and local publications. “Writing is another form of education,” Linda explains. “It helps people think more clearly, stay informed, and make better decisions in an increasingly complicated world.”
Professionally, however, Linda is most proud of her teaching. She teaches classes on the laws of lashon hara – proper speech – a subject she feels deeply passionate about.
Advocacy
Communal advocacy, outreach, and using her voice are Linda’s other tools to achieve her goal of creating a robust future for our community.
Linda currently serves as a political strategist, actively advising and helping elect candidates whose values align with hers and the community’s.
Linda considers her work as a modern form of kiruv, done carefully, within boundaries and with accountability. Linda has worked behind the scenes in helping thoughtful, principled people step into public leadership roles. She moves through many different spaces, in rooms of influence, in government, in areas of communal leadership, and in other arenas that shape real outcomes, opening doors where possible.
Much of her political work is done quietly, behind the scenes, protecting her family’s privacy.
Linda attended this past year’s White House Hanukah evening reception, which included major donors, such as Miriam Adelson, and senior administrative officials including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, lawmakers from both parties, ambassadors, and figures shaping both the present and future political landscape. Given the exclusivity of the party, Linda recognized that this was not a casual social gathering.
President Donald Trump spoke about rising anti-Semitism and the cultural pressures facing the Jewish community. At one point, Linda observed that for every person in the room many more had wanted to attend and could not. Linda commented, “I was aware that I was the sole representative from my community present, and I carried that responsibility consciously.” Her conversations that evening were purposeful and allowed her to reinforce significant relationships.
Family and Balance
“Learning how to hold spiritual growth, public responsibility, creative work, and family life with steadiness and intention,” is how Linda maintains her balance.
Family remains Linda’s top priority, and everything she does reflects her commitment to her family. The pride she takes in her children’s derech eretz and yirat Shamayim surpasses everything else. She is deeply grateful for her husband, Dr. Jack Sadacka, whose steadiness and values are the foundation of their home. “Any good I have been able to do publicly is rooted in that quiet strength.”
Time is Linda’s greatest challenge. She gets off to a very early start, allowing her to move through her day with clarity and calm. Downtime is rare, but when it comes, Linda tries to be intentional: unhurried conversations, shared meals, and time with children and grandchildren. “That kind of quiet time, even in small doses, restores me more than anything else.” Linda’s home remains her anchor.
Mentors
Since Linda’s seminary days in Canada, Rebbetzin Feldbrand, a renowned educator and author, has been a constant source of clarity and strength for many years. Linda also became close to Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen, a mekubal who spent time in the community for medical treatment. She values his spiritual guidance.
Linda was deeply moved to receive encouragement and blessings for her classes from Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman, known as the “Disco Rabbi,” for his entrance into the Friday night discos to connect with young Jews in Migdal HaEmek in the north of Israel. He is the founder and dean of Migdal Ohr educational institutions, established in 1972 to provide education and social guidance to children from underprivileged and troubled homes in Israel.
Parting Words
Linda is actively recruiting more volunteers, as the need is real and ongoing.
“In many ways,” Linda reflects, “everything I do publicly is my hishtadlut to leave behind a world that is steadier, kinder, and more rooted than the one I entered and to protect the future. Spiritually, my work is about something deeper: helping create a world with more inner strength, more faith, and more refined character.”Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach. Ellen can be contacted at ellen.kamaras@gmail.com (www.lifecoachellen.com).