Rabbi Schmelkin was an Associate Rabbi and Rabbi Educator with Congregation Beth Israel in Charlottesville, VA 2016 – 2020. She led songs at demonstrations, and joined Standing Up for Justice and Black Lives Matter. After the violence by armed white supremacists during peaceful protests in Charlottesville, she was selected to receive the “Action Under Fire” award by T’ruah, the rabbinic call for human rights. Rabbi Schmelkin is a graduate of Indiana University and Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion.