Presenters
Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz is an international lecturer and author of note. He has written five highly acclaimed works on the deeper aspects of Judaism, some of which have been translated into Russian, French, Spanish and Portuguese. You can learn more about him online at akivatatz.com
Rabbi Avraham Arieh Trugman has over forty years of experience in the field of Jewish education. He was a founding family of Moshav Meor Modiim in 1976, where he served as the Director of the Center of Jewish Education, which successfully ran programs for over 5,000 participants from over 25 countries. In 1988, Rabbi Trugman and his wife took the position of Regional Directors of NCSY in Denver, Colorado. The Trugmans returned to Israel in 1995 and are now the Directors of Ohr Chadash: New Horizons in Jewish Experience, a dynamic program they created that has run programs for tens of thousands of participants. Their website, You-tube channel, SoundCloud, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook have gotten millions of visits. Rabbi Trugman has visited over 50 cities world-wide, leading Shabbatons, giving classes, performing music and serving as scholar-in-residence. Rabbi Trugman has written twenty books and produced nine music discs of original music. To see a full description of the books and music go to http://thetrugmans.com/bookstore/ and http://thetrugmans.com/musicstore/ To see the full gamut of Rabbi Trugman’s work go to: http://thetrugmans.com/
World-renowned Israeli vocalist, songwriter, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist Yonatan Razel released his first album, All in All, produced by Eviatar Banai. Three radio singles from the album were “All in all”, “Zion”, and “I am my prayer”. The album was followed by a solo tour. Razel won “Singer of the Year” and “Song of the Year” from Ynet in the fall of 2007. In 2009, Razel gained fame in the Orthodox Jewish community after a song he wrote and arranged for Yaakov Shwekey, “Vehi Sheamda“, was successful and won an award as “Song of the Decade” from the religious Israeli radio station “Kol Chai“.
Rabbi Yaakov Zalman Labinsky
Rabbi Yaakov Zalman Labinsky was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He holds an undergraduate Honors Degree in Psychology from the University of Manitoba and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from Wilfred Laurier University in Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada. After completing his Master’s Degree he was director of a substance abuse program for high-risk adolescents. He co-authored several publications on classical conditioning and psychoneuroimmunology and travelled extensively in Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, and Europe. His journey to discover meaning in Judaism brought him to Jerusalem, where he learned in Aish Hatorah for many years, and later received Smicha from Rav Kopshitz. He met his wife in Israel where they lived for 3 1/2 years before moving to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was a senior lecturer at Aish Hatorah for 13 years. Currently he has a rabbinic counseling practice working with individuals and couples to enhance the spiritual quality of their lives. In addition Rabbi and Rebbetzin Labinsky recently founded the international organization Becoming Divine to further their global outreach efforts. They presently live in Cleveland with their five children. becomingdivine.com
Miriam Leah is a performer, writer, scholar, director and founder of ATARA: The Arts & Torah Association, www.artsandtorah.org, supporting religiously observant women in the creative and performing arts. ATARA was a recent participant in the Orthodox Union’s Impact Accelerator. Miriam Leah holds a doctorate in Educational Innovation with research focused on the disposition of creatively gifted students and the overlap between creativity and spirituality. She has directed and produced theater, film, and extra-curricular arts programming, with a recent project selected for the OU Women’s Initiative Challenge Grant, and has performed and taught in the fields of voice, acting, and dance. She writes academic articles, scripts and children’s literature, holds master’s degrees in Jewish Studies and Library Science, and worked as a Jewish Studies Librarian prior to directing ATARA.
Sarah Goldstein (Prijs)
Sarah is a Torah teacher passionate about the depth of personal transformation and healing to be found under the surface of learning the sources inside and discovering the words of Torah within ourselves. She teaches in various Torah learning programs in Eretz Yisrael and online and guides learning and sharing groups for women as wells as providing women one on one learning of any sources or topics in Torah they wish to delve into deeper. The area of Tziur, inner spiritual creativity of the soul is an area that she has been intrigued by and discovering for a few years now, especially guided by the works of Rav Kook and the Piazecener Rebbe. She recently led a course on Creativity and Emunah where she became interested in the moment of unknowing silence that precedes and brings forth both creativity and emunah as well as a new exploration of Torah that turns the walls stopping us from going deeper in our lives, creativity and learning into gates of transformation, revelation and discovering our neshama and Hashem within. You can find her classes on Shiviti at https://shiviti.org.il/?course=intentions-and-meditations-for-elul-and-rosh-hashanah. To organize classes online or in person in Eretz Yisrael email prijssarah@gmail.com
Reva Emunah Seidel
Reva Emunah Seidel is a mystic, a seeker, a poet and a dreamer. Her passion is for intimacy and how to live authentically, vulnerably, and dynamically. She has worn many hats in this quest: Medical clown with Dream Doctors in Israel as an integral part of the pediatric and surgical staff of Ziv hospital in Tzfat, musician, writer, doula, childbirth educator, bodyworker and healer, nutritional counselor, Jewish meditation facilitator (Dimyon Novea), movement teacher, facilitator of Torah and psychology based healing workshops for women, and teacher from early childhood to college students. She studied Tanach and Early Childhood Education at HaMichlala in Bayit Ve’Gan, and holds a degree in Art from Michlelet Tzfat (a branch of Bar Ilan University). She first received her Teudat Horaa from Bnot Torah Institute and has tutored and taught formal Jewish Education in Bais Yacov Denver, YULA, Neve Yerushalayim, EYAHT, Machon Shayarah, HaUlpana L’Umaniyut and informal Jewish Education in many youth groups and workshops (She was Program Director and later Assistant Regional Director of NCSY). She is a student of all of the great Masters of all traditions, and especially aspires to live and to inspire others to live as true chassidim/chassidot – with open hearts, depth, truth, overflowing love, creativity, and with whole integration of bodies, hearts, minds and souls. Contact: shefa2u@yahoo.com, www.kavconnect.com/womenintanach
Sarah Yehudit Schneider is the founding director of A Still Small Voice, a correspondence school in classic Jewish wisdom that provides weekly teachings and holiday mailings to subscribers around the world. Sarah Yehudit’s most recent book is You Are What You Hate: A Spiritually Productive Approach to Enemies. She is also the author of Kabbalistic Writings on the Nature of Masculine and Feminine. In addition, she wrote Eating as Tikun, Purim Bursts I and II, and Evolutionary Creationism as well as essays published in a variety of journals and anthologies. She has also produced a series of Illustrated Video Teachings on Jewish Meditation, Paradox, and Choice vs Destiny which can be viewed on her Still Small Voice website. Sarah Yehudit has a BA in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Since 1981, she has lived in Jerusalem, followed an orthodox path of observance, and immersed herself in the study of mystical texts. In addition she completed the program for advanced study at Neve Yerushalayim Seminary for Women. Sarah Yehudit teaches a variety of weekly classes in Jerusalem, teleconference classes to the States, as well as offering private instruction to individuals seeking a more personal encounter with text.
A native of Maine, Bracha has been part of the prestigious Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, trained under world renowned maestros at the Vienna State Opera, developed expertise in traditional Italian Bel Canto singing, and received advanced training in psychology and psychotherapy from the University of Vienna. She became a specialist in the music of Puccini and Verdi. As a professional opera singer in Europe, Bracha used to perform extensively as a concert soloist for grand balls in ancient castles. Bracha sings in English, Yiddish, Hebrew, Ladino, and Italian. She also composes her own music. Bracha and her husband reside in Los Angeles, CA, but is available for workshops and concerts nationally. After studying many forms of body/mind healing, Bracha had a successful practice of vocal therapy, specializing in assisting women in releasing their inner power and joy through deep voice/breath release and movement. http://vocalhealing.com/
Tamar Attias
Tamar Attias is originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her flute playing is an eclectic mix of Celtic, folk and jazz. She has done extensive performing and recording for various artists throughout the years. Her flute solos are a signature feature of Tofaah’s music. As a member of the band, she helped pioneer women-only performances in Israel and has helped inspire and nurture female Jewish performing artists for decades. Tamar lives in Jerusalem with her family.
Yehudis Barmatz-Harris
Yehudis Barmatz-Harris (b. Boston 1985) works from Southeast Israel (i. 2009), in new-media, assemblage, and installation. As a Hassidic Jew, with a BFA, Pratt Institute, MART Leslie College, Israel, Yehudis’ influences are multifaceted. Her methods are born out of American ecofeminist, process art movements. Inspired by mysticism in artists like Hilma of Klimt, Yehudis’ art embraces ethnicity as an asset to artistic expression. Influenced by her training, her site-specific projects dialogue with community, including her public work “Well of Living Waters” built with local children in a difficult neighborhood, “Triple Thread” memorial in conversation with community pioneers, and in 2019, organized the site-specific exhibition “Person Place and Thing” in an abandoned historical Yeshiva building. Yehudis’ first Solo exhibit, supported by a Mifal Hapayis Grant, was displayed in 2020 in Beita Gallery, and is working on an upcoming Solo exhibit for February 2023 supported by the Artist Grant of the ministry of culture. Yehudis has exhibited mostly in Israel and the United States. studio@yehudisbarmatz.com www.yehudisbarmatz.com
Bracha Bdil
Bracha Bdil, composer, conductor, and pianist’s repertoire span different mediums including orchestral music, chamber, vocal and electronic music. Bracha’s compositions have won several first prizes, among them: MaestrosVision Awards International Composition Competition, China (2022); The International Symphony Orchestra Composition Contest named after Michal Kleofas Oginski, Molodechno, Belarus; the Electo Silva International Choir Festival, Santiago de Cuba; Donne In Musica XVIII Composition Competition, Belgrade; the VIII and IX International Piano and Composition Competition, ULJUS, Smederevo, Serbia (2021); the Wolf Durmashkin Composition Award, Germany (2018) and the Yardena Alotin Composition Competition, Bar-Ilan University, Israel (2016). For her Symphonic Poem Genesis Bracha was awarded the ACUM Award, Israel (2019-20) ; She has won the Renee B. Fisher Composer Awards 2022-3, New Haven, Connecticut; the Carlos Guastavino International Composition Competition, SONUS-IMF, Argentine; the Hajibeyli International Composition Competition (2021); the Lala Awards competition held by Pleroma Records, Poland (2020) ;With her composition Yizkerem, for a-cappella choir, she was chosen as one of the composers in representing Israel at the Asian Composers League Festival, Taiwan (2018) ;Yizkerem was also awarded a prize in the III International Composer Competition “New Music Generation, Kazakhstan (2021) and in the International Choral Writing Competition named after A.D Kastalsky – Moscow (2018). http://brachabdil.blogspot.com/p/list-of-compositions.html
Braha Bender
Braha Bender, CLC, CNT, is the founder and director of 100 Fun Things, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping Jewish women have more fun. Prior to 100 Fun Things, Braha held senior positions in digital design and strategy, project management, and marketing at Mishpacha Magazine among other companies. She lives in Jerusalem with her husband, children, and growing community of fabulous female fellow adventurers.
Devora Gila Berkowitz is the creator of EaseandFlowSoul.com, helping high-achieving creatives, healers, coaches and others reach their next highest level of healing so they can make a bigger impact in their family, life and business. Her experience as a singer-songwriter and teacher of vocal workshops led her to produce a popular album for Jewish women called Hodu Lashem, named for her gratitude in being miraculously saved from a terror attack on the way to one of her recording sessions. The 20-year healing journey that followed, while training with some of the world’s masters, helped in her recovery from PTSD as well as multiple sclerosis. This led to her developing a unique healing method that addresses the underlying energetic root causes of stress-related physical and emotional conditions. Today, Devora Gila serves her clients as a Divine Energy Healer, Medical Intuitive, Emotional Wellness Coach and Spiritual Mentor. Her clients come from a wide range of fields including holistic healing and therapy, empowerment coaching, spiritual leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, theater production, real estate and finance. Above all, Devora Gila finds joy in helping her clients co-create miracles with their Divine Source for their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being so they can move forward with calm, clarity and confidence. www.easeandflowsoul.com
Rebbitzen Judy Brodt
Judy Brodt was born in Budapest, Hungary, during the Shoah. B”H, both her mother and her father, miraculously were still alive after this catastrophe. She with her family continued to live in Hungary, when in 1956, they escaped from Communist Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution and went to live in Miami, Florida. Even though life in Miami was beautiful their Yiddishkeit was still very injured by the tragedies remembered and the many relatives who were lost to this world. All this way of experiencing Yiddishkeit changed when Judy had the privilege of meeting Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, in 1977, who opened the doors to a joyful Jewish way of living. Judy in her growing up and young adult years was very much involved with dance, music and art. Now Judy run Shevach, a wondrous program combining Torah and the ARts for women of all ages, where Creative expression of Torah through the Arts is shining reflection of the inner harmony of the Torah and life that we look to realize. The infinite journey begins at: https://www.shevachtorah.org/ judybrodt18@gmail.com +972-545-3318-20
Nechama Sara GIla Burgeman
Nechama Sarah Gila is an author, teacher, spiritual therapist, artist and musician who has been living in Israel for the past 40 years. Her books are based on extensive research throughout the written and oral Torah, especially the Kabbalah of the Ari z”l and her meditations throughout the land of Israel. Nechama Sarah Gila holds Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi degrees in cultural Anthropology with a minor in Art History. Author and illustrator of three books The Twelve Dimensions of Israel, Israel and the Seventy Dimensions of the World and The Princess of Dan, Nechama’s scholarly research and feminine integration has brought Chassidut and Kabbalah into practical healing. Therapists have used her innovative methods. Single women have moved on to marriage and many women have moved through major life issues. She is currently offering a certification training program for The Twelve Dimensions Movement Therapy with the option for participating monthly. Nechama uses her paintings and original harp music to guide her meditations. An in depth personal processing follows in which one experiences a non cognitive shift towards an integrative wholeness. This deep inner work heals, enhances creativity, spiritual wellness, and clarifies one’s soul’s purpose in this world. Nechama Sarah Gila has given lectures based on her books and artwork and she has led therapeutic workshops throughout Israel and the U.S.. She currently teaches on zoom. To sign up for zoom workshops please contact :NSGaula@gmail.com, mobile 0547206779, whats app +972547206779. Websites www.kavconnect.com/books www.12-tribes.com/about-1 www.NechamaSarahGila.com
Tracy Carno
Tracy Carno lives in Johannesburg South Africa with her husband, children, and grandchildren BH. She is a social worker by profession, an informal Torah teacher, and ongoing student of Torah studies. Tracy has been dancing since she was 7 years old, and as she became a member of a professional dance company at the age of 20, she also began her teshuvah journey. This ended her dancing career which she resumed many years later with her being asked to choreograph the dancing for a women’s show. This inspired her to produce and dance in 3 other shows for women after that, all based on our tefillahs, taking us to greater heights of connection and expression BH. Tracy can be reached via email tcarno@gmail.com or on WhatsApp +27 828256439
Shelly Michal Dembe
Shelly Dembe inspires others toward optimum physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Her book, Wrestling with Yoga, Journey of a Jewish Soul, helps others navigate the controversial elements of yoga while developing a practice that is safe for the Jewish soul. Shelly travels worldwide to communities as the founder and facilitator of Soulstir, a form of movement that awakens the soul. Based on the Kabbalistic sefirot, this dance form welcomes all women into the circle of dance, creating community, joy, and well-being. In addition to leading her own Soulstir Women’s retreats, she can be found assisting other Jewish visionaries at their retreats, awakening the body to release and receive Torah and health. She offers Soulstir training and certification and brings women together virtually for weekly yoga and Soulstir classes. With 40 years of life and professional experience as a Registered Nurse and health coach, Dembe is most passionate about empowering others to heal and connect to their Creator with joy. Shelly lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, children and grandchildren.
Yael Dworkin
Yael Dworkin made aliya from Montreal 3 years ago, where she was a Jewish Educator for close to 30 years. Since her aliya, Yael has been teaching at Midreshet Shiviti, Midreshet Rachel vChaya and is now also the program and Educational Director of Shevach- Women’s Torah and Art Program, the woman’s branch of Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo.
Dina Etigson teaches Chassidut, Spirituality and Halacha in various seminaries. Her passion lies in experiential education. At the workshops she develops together with Michal Oshman, they create open and safe spaces for women to heal and renew themselves based on the Torah’s ancient wisdom, through various creative modalities.
Rachel Factor
Born in Honolulu Hawaii and of Japanese descent, Rachel Factor became a professional commercial dancer – in Hollywood, on Broadway and as a World Famous Radio City Rockette. Her search for purpose and meaning led her to Yerusahlayim, Ir HaKodesh where she now shares her passion for dance and connection with BY girls and women and lives her life as a Torah Observant Jew!! Rachel is a single mom of 5 amazing teens and now resides in Ramat Beit Shemesh. website: rachel-factor.com
email: rfdance18@gmail.com
Rachel Ferency
Rachel Ferency – from Bat Ayin – Gush Etzion is a mother (11) and grandmother (more than 20). A professional musician, mainly piano, she is a graduate of the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem. Teaching, performing, and recording: (1 Cd with her band, 17 of Rav Yitzchak Ginsburgh’s music), piano solo, with the Alei Assor band, or the Or Chaya choir, that she leads). Rachel has composed and arranged for many projects, including Chassidic men’s choirs or Chazanim. She wrote a book for learning piano in a holy way – with Jewish music. The first one is out already, and she is working on her next. While classically trained, after Rachel got to know how deep and exciting old Chassidic Niggunim are, classical music lost its flavor for her. “Music is the language of the Neshama – our soul. Each soul had its own unique song before coming down to this world. We forgot it – and are searching and yearning for it throughout our life. The more delicate the song – the closer it is to our song from Gan Eden. Let’s search for it together! It’s my pleasure to share my love and knowledge with other women, and inspire them through Niggun.” niggunim@gmail.com Phone\WhatsApp +972-54-4534426 neggina.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJNBIy16DmTuJ0xil_OZYMw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NiggunRachel/ Instagram @niggun_rachel
You can hear many of of Rachel’s classes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwgpDFMk4eHcgkZ5QuWEA8GmeCjjTFZpl`
Dannielle Fritch (Rothman)
Dannielle was born in South Africa where she started dancing at the age of three! When she was ten, her family moved to Israel. She continued her dancing and later on served in the Israeli Army. At the age of twenty she moved to London to study Dance and choreography on a professional level and worked as a professional dancer in: London, throughout Europe, India, China and many other locations around the world. In between shows, she discovered her Judaism on a deeper level. This caused Dannielle to face many challenges, inner conflicts and choices, which she speaks about in her presentations. Today B’H’, Dannielle lives in Har Nof and spends her time raising her children, teaching Kodesh in seminaries and teaching Dance.
Lisa Aronson Friedman
Kol Zimrah Baltimore Women’s Choir was founded in 2019 by Lisa Aronson Friedman. Lisa’s love of music and desire to inspire other Jewish women with spiritual Jewish themes led her to co-found the band Ayelet HaShachar (www.ayeletmusic.org) in 2001. Singing together and making music with others somehow speaks to Hashem in a way that a lone voice cannot, so Lisa began Kol Zimrah to give a larger group of Jewish women in Baltimore a chance to sing together. Kol Zimrah includes women of ages 20+ to 70+, and of various backgrounds. Lisa is a classically-trained pianist, composer and arranger, and vocalist, so Kol Zimrah sings many of Lisa’s original songs. Since it is very difficult to obtain choral music arranged for three-women’s voices, Lisa arranges almost all of the music for the choir. Kol Zimrah is very happy to share its music with female audiences.
Chana Gamliel
Chana Gamliel enhances shuls and yeshivas worldwide with her bespoke parochets and Torah mantels. Taking the time to truly understand each individual community’s mission statement, she translates these values into rich symbolism, color, thread and fabric. The resulting parochets speak the language of their beholders and inspire them to unimaginable heights of devekus. Be inspired by her varied body of work here: www.MyParochet.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chana-gamliel/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chanagamliel/ E-mail: myparochet@gmail.com
Rebbetzin Judith Gerzi
Rebbetzin Judith Gerzi is an international soul-singer/songwriter. With the voice of an angel, she has been called ‘the Jewish Adele’ and ‘the white Whitney Houston’. She’ll take you from joy, to tears, to laughter… all in one show! Judith was born in London, England and made aliya with her family in 2004. Growing up religious and very shy, She never imagined her dreams of becoming a professional singer/songwriter for all female audiences could ever become a reality. After making Aliya, she was encouraged by her wonderful husband to pursue her dreams and after winning a singing competition and having an article write up, she was thrown into the deep end and assumed to be a “professional singer”. Taking years of working on her self confidence and self teaching voice technique, she now also teaches others one on one and on group settings, leading the vocal department in RBS Dance & Music Academy. Judith lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with her large growing family, is the rebbetzin of their shul, owns a sheitle salon, and is also a therapist. Her passion is to bring Achdut and self awareness and inspiration through her music.
Bracha Goetz is the Harvard-educated author of 40 books that help children’s souls shine and a candid memoir for adults about her transformative journey to joy in Judaism. She is the author of 41 books that help souls shine: www.goetzbookshop.com
Elisheva Golani
Elisheva Golani (Nee Raichman) grew up dancing in Houston, TX. At 9 years old she decided on her own to stop performing in front of mixed audiences. This was difficult for Elisheva as she was often the odd girl out, learning recital dances on the side but never performing with the class. She set out on a journey to find other frum dancers at the age of 15 and connected with Rachel Factor, Miriam Leah Gamliel and Rivkah Nahari, 3 women who inspire her daily. Today, Elisheva owns a dance studio called MHLV Dance (MeHaLev) in Houston, Tx for frum girls and women and offers all dance genres in addition to circus classes such as aerial silks and lyra. She just started her 3rd year open with over 130 students. As a note, Elisheva is grateful to the ATARA community for existing when she needed it the most as a teenager and now happy to also partner on this Nexus event! https://www.mhlvdance.com/
Aviva Gottlieb
Aviva Gottlieb made aliyah from Brooklyn, NY 4 years ago to Ramat Beit Shemesh with her husband and five children. After taking a 15 year break from dance, Hashem informed her that it’s time to return. Aviva has a love of all types of African dance with over 15 years of African dance experience in styles and rhythms from West Africa, Haiti, and Brazil. The power of dancing to African drums lifts the spirit , and she loves teaching women and performing these unique, exuberant, and soulful dances. Aviva teaches a beginner weekly African dance class and sometimes a more contemporary Afrobeats style as well. Aviva will be performing a dance she choreographed to the kabbalistic Zemer “El Mistater” made popular by the gorgeous musical arrangement and singing of Yonaton Razel. It’s an interpretation of God’ concealment in this world, the Jewish soul’s journey deep in galus and its inborn desire to crown Him wherever it finds itself, incorporating mostly Afro-Haitian dance.
Toby Klein Greenwald
Toby Klein Greenwald is an award-winning theater director who has founded, co-founded or directed more than 12 theater companies or educational theater projects. She is the artistic director of Raise Your Spirits Theatre (www.raiseyourspirits.org), in which capacity she has co-authored (lyrics) and directed musicals on Esther, Noah, Ruth, Deborah, the daughters of Tzelofchad (as sole lyricist) and Rebecca. She is the co-creator and director of Mikva the Musical, Music and Monologues from the Deep. She is the co-founder and producing director of the Dor L’Dor Interactive Theater Troupe which grew out of the award-winning psychology website WholeFamily.com, of which she is co-founder and editor-in-chief. She founded and directs Na’na Playback Dance Theater and Playback Hamra. She taught Playback in Ramat Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem, and lectured in Playback Theater in the Institute for Expressive Therapists in Jerusalem College for Women. She created a new method called Biblio-Playback (Playback Midrash) on which she gives workshops in Israel and abroad, and in which she will be giving a workshop at this summit, and lectures also on Cinema Midrash. Toby directed theater programs for youth at risk and those who suffered trauma, including high school girls from Gush Katif following the destruction of their communities and students who had dropped out of school in other places. She advised students of Sderot, in a theater project called Children of the Kassams. In earlier years she taught drama to students in Sfat who were survivors of the Ma’alot terror attack and directed a youth theater project on the Russian former Prisoner of Zion Ari Volvovsky. She is an award-winning journalist, a poet, and a teacher of Tanach, Creative Writing and English Literature, the translator of In the Land of Prayer, the editor of The Golden Pens of Gush Etzion, and the initiator and editor of Listening to God, by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin. She is a graduate of Jerusalem College for Women, of Hebrew University and of Bar Ilan (M.A.). She lives in Efrat with her husband, and her children and grandchildren live throughout the land of Israel. Heather Dean Interviews Toby In Her Own Words – Toby on Talk 17. Meet Ruth and Naomi (and ourselves) through an interactive experience of Theater Midrash, using the method of Biblio-Playback (headshot credit: Rebecca Kowalsky)
is a former Off Broadway Actress, a director and a filmmaker. She was the first ever theatre major at Stern College, Yeshiva University, went on to a masters level in acting and has studied with actress and renowned teacher Uta Hagen, the director Mike Nichols and the founder of improv theatre, Paul Sills.
Amy was a member of Actors Equity, and worked as a professional actress until she returned to Torah Observant life.
Since then Amy has been the co founder and Artistic Director of Kol Isha Theatre, a women’s theatre group in Pittsburgh that created original theatre based on the group’s unity and disunity as diverse Jewish women.
She was a long time member of Pittsburgh Playback Theatre, reflecting back audience’s stories and feelings through improvisation. Amy was a founding board member of ATARA, and as a filmmaker, Amy created the award winning film “Becoming Rachel”.
She is the founder and Artistic Director of Tzohar Seminary, a gap year post High School program for young Jewish women now in its twelfth year. Tzohar students have the opportunity to explore all of the arts alongside the study of Torah and Chassidus, growing all parts of themselves, as Jewish women, as individuals and as emerging artists. Most recently, Amy has moved into the arena of the healing arts, working as an Emotion Code practitioner. She is grateful to be a part of bringing healing, creativity and the arts together to help individuals move toward their most Geuladik selves! www.Tzoharseminary.com www.tzohararts.com
Rebbitzen Ruthie Halberstadt
Rebbetzin Ruthie Halberstadt was born in South Africa and grew up in Israel. She is a student of Rabbi Mordechai Miller zt”l (Gateshead seminary) and her father Rabbi Akiva Tatz. She is an inspirational speaker, and has taught in high schools in England and seminaries in Jerusalem. She teaches a wide range of Torah topics, her speciality being deep and relevant Torah for women. She is the Women’s Educational Director for TAL London and together with her husband, Rabbi Ilan Halberstadt they lead the Machzikei Hadas community in Golders Green.
Jezliah
Jezliah is a Singer/Songwriter/Choreographer and Performer. Jezliah was born into a Christian family where her father was the Pastor of a Spanish speaking church and where her whole family was heavily involved in the ministry in Mexico and the United States. She has been performing since the young age of eight and dreamed of pursuing a career in missionary and outreach through the performing arts. In 2006, Jezliah and her family left the church in search for truth in Judaism. She and her husband, who was an upcoming Christian Artist who was signing onto a Prestigious Christian Record Label, converted in 2010 and made aliyah. Since then, Jezliah has been involved in her community and is the Co-Founding Creative Director of the world-renowned RBS Dance and Music Academy, along with Shaked Sebag, in Ramat Beit Shemesh, up until the summer of 2019. She has performed all over Israel, and produced shows for women. Her story and journey to Judaism has inspired women and girls from all hashkafas. Jezliah currently lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh, with her husband, Yosef Daniel, who is also an established Singer and Musician, and her seven children. She has recently pursued her singing career in the growing industry of Female Jewish Entertainment and is releasing her own original music which can be found on all digital platforms. Apart from that, she is currently collaborating on the THANK YOU HASHEM (TYH) all women’s album with other female singers and working on a tour schedule for this upcoming year. Jezliah aspires to be a vessel for Hashem to inspire women and girls all over the world. You can find more information about Jezliah and contact her for booking at www.jezliahmusic.com.
Miriam Katz
Miriam Katz, as a young secular Jew growing up in Boston, used to dream of becoming a marine biologist. Then about 30 years of other things happened, during which time she learned how to speak Italian and got a degree in education from a college that used to be a barn. Currently, she lives in Jerusalem, where she is a mother, writer, and soul-searcher. She spends her days raising her family, helping her husband with his educational revolution, and trying to figure out what to make for dinner.
Sari Kopitnikoff
Sari Kopitnikoff is an experiential educator, digital artist, educational performer, and content creator. She is passionate about creating books, games, activities, shows, and virtual challenges that bring Judaism to life. In 2014, Sari began That Jewish Moment: a colorful, meaningful, and heartfelt collection of programs, materials, and artwork that showcase the spirit and beauty of Jewish life. She’s the author of That Jewish Moment, My Davening Diary, Jewmagine That!, and My Escape from Egypt and the creator of tens of downloadable packets, virtual challenges, printable games, and original stickers: all of which can be found on thatjewishmoment.com. You can find her on social media, @thatjewishmoment.
Jared Lazarus
Jared Lazarus is a musician, a businessman and educator. Spending most of his life in Sydney, Australia, Jared became a Ba’al teshuva at 18 years old and subsequently went on to study in Yeshivas Ohr Somayach and Mir for around 5 years. Although spending much of his time in the business world, Jared’s passion lies deeply in the creative realm and has immersed himself for many years in the world of chassidus, kabbalah and music. He is a music composer, arranger and producer and is most notably known for his compositions for his band Derech Achim. In particular, his composition of the Piaseczna Niggun has touched the hearts of thousands worldwide. Jared lives with his wife and children in Johannesburg South Africa.
Chana Levitan
Educator, marriage therapist and author, Chana Levitan splits her professional life between teaching at Neve, various other seminaries/ learning programs, giving workshops, training therapists…and counseling couples. Her books, “I Only Want to Get Married Once” and, “That’s Why I Married You!” have assisted thousands of people to date successfully and to create profound, lasting marriages. On a different “note”, in her free time, Mrs. Levitan enjoys expressing her musical side. Her conservatory training took place at Manhattan School of Music prep. She continued on to several years of professional music experience in her teenage years. You can visit her website at: www.chanalevitan.com
Esther Leah (Aviva) Marchette
Esther Leah (Aviva) Marchette is co-director of ATARA: the Arts and Torah Association. She is passionate about fostering spiritual growth, healing and transformation through learning, creative expression, and prayer. She has been involved in music since early childhood and is a singer, songwriter and former cantor, before becoming a baalat teshuva in her early 20’s. She has a B.A. in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music in Boston and plays piano and guitar (and a little percussion). Professionally, she has been working in the software industry for 20 years as a manager and technical program manager. After becoming observant Esther Leah transitioned from leading public prayer to diving deeply into the transformational power of personal prayer, hisbodedus, which she has practiced and shared for over 30 years. Esther Leah lives with her husband in Boston where she also runs the Boston Breslov Connection, organizing classes and events relating to the teaching of Rebbe Nachman. Her husband DovBer Marchette is an internationally-exhibiting contemporary visual artist and former art teacher in Jewish day schools. Contact Esther Leah at estherleah.marchette@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/avivamarchette/
Rochelle Martin
Rochelle Tehila Martin is an Integrative Psychotherapist, Group Facilitator by profession; Dance Teacher and artist on the side; Mommy, wife, and seeking neshama at the core. Graduate of UNT (MSC) and Neve Family Institute, she has studied and worked with adults and children in the fields of Emotional Therapy, for over 15 years. She is also a certified Israeli Chaplain, specializing in spiritual and emotional support for the Elderly and those struggling with serious illness. She’s explored working with and developing a language with the body, as a powerful tool to promote healing and well-being. Rochelle has always held a personal passion for the creative arts, as well as a deep sense of mission in helping women to claim and reclaim their personal wellsprings of vitality and joy. After many years of working with people from the various vantage points of the human experience, she began to develop sister circles, predicated upon the principles of T’nuat Halev, a unique approach to well-being, which emphasizes integration of movement, between the heart, the body, the mind, and spirit, as a potent catalyst for health, balance, and joy. In these circles, women engage with themselves and with one another, through music and movement, in a rich multi-faceted way, digesting relevant themes and torah concepts using our minds, hearts, bodies, and spirit. Classes also draw upon principles and techniques of Somatic Mindfulness, Contact Improvisation, Biodanza, Mind-Body Psychotherapy, and Playback Theater through Movement. Her vision is to redefine and broaden the concept of “Jewish Art and Creativity”, to include each and every woman; to hold a mirror to each woman, through which she will recognize the beauty and potential that’s there, regardless of age, background, professional titles or lack-of. It is to develop a motivation to learn a new language, one of authentic Curiosity, Openness, Acceptance, and Love (acronym COAL), and practice moving through the world (quite literally, through Expressive Movement exercises), incorporating Godly qualities and faith, within the fabric of spiritual-emotional-physical being as one.
Orit Martin
Orit Martin affords us entry into a new world, synthesizing contemporary visual language with abstract spiritual elements. In a unique, powerful way, her paintings connect opposites: the temporary and the eternal, the spiritual and the physical, the lower and the upper realms. The connection between man and G-d, childhood and old age are also reflected in Orit’s art, expressing her longing to connect with the upper worlds and Jewish values. OritMartins’ artwork expresses her deep desire to touch the untouchable- the abstract and spiritual world – in hopes of transcending the visible realm of reality and expand our spiritual tools. The artist produces digital art and uses the computer and various graphics softwares as painting tools. The final painting is a digital file that can be printed on a thick, high-quality canvas in variable dimensions. Orit’s artworks are exhibited in galleries and public spaces worldwide. You can see her paintings on the website –www.oritmartin.com or on Facebook and Instagram e-mail:orit-26@netvision.net.il
Tzirel Liba Mitzmann
Tzirel Liba is a singer and composer who has written over 100 original songs. She was born into a musical family. Her parents both performed in the Yiddish theater, sister Judy Winegard is a singer and actress and brother Seth Glass is a musician and song writer. “My music is like a memoir of my life‘s journey through challenges with the resounding theme of faith and trust in The One Above!” Tzirel’s friendly, easy approach, her performing talent and her inspirational messages make The Shabbos Queen Project events and daily lessons so powerful. She consistently captivates her audiences as she shares Emunah tools to help guide Jewish women through her beautiful enchanting music! Prepare to let her music and message lift your soul.JOIN The Shabbos Queen Project: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KolvIfHX3eZ79szilSb2Tf Theshabbosqueenproject@gmail.com
Rivka Nahari
Rivka Nahari has had many years of training and performing experience in both music and dance. She studied at Nevada Dance Theater and University of Nevada Las Vegas. In addition to ballet, she has been trained in tap (under the legendary hoofer Henry LeTang), jazz, character, flamenco, contemporary, and hip hop. She is also an accomplished harpist and opera singer with copious credits include Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and Villa Favard, Italy. She won a full harp scholarship and a voice major at the Mannes College of Music in Manhattan as well as extension piano studies and performances at Juilliard, Her operatic roles include Oscar (Un ballo in maschera), Mimi (La Boheme), Musetta (La Boheme), Gilda (Rigoletto), Gianetta (L’elisir d’amore), and the High Priestess (Aida). She appeared with the Flute Choir of New York and sang with Barry Manilow, Michael Jackson, and the Jackson Family. Some of her performance venues include Carnegie Hall (piano), Merkin Concert Hall (piano and voice), and Villa Favard (piano, flute, harp, and voice) in Florence, Italy. Rivka opened the Jewish Center for the Performing Arts with the goal of providing a safe space for kids of all ages to learn to express themselves through the arts through structured classes and technique in a frum environment. www.jewishperformingarts.com IG: @jewish_performing_arts. 718-513-6257
Tzippora Nussbaum
Tzippora Nussbaum is a painter, cultural researcher, and lecturer living in Jerusalem. Tzippora has a B.Ed. in Art and specializes in painting portraits and Jewish scenes. Institutions form a significant part of her clientele, using her creations to provide a unique gift to veteran and potential donors. Individuals also have commissioned her to memorialize their loved ones or their rabbis and mentors with unique portraits mounted on the walls of their homes. Tzippora has been teaching drawing for over twenty years and has trained a number of talented students, who have gone on to become successful professional artists. In recent years, she has also started teaching English-speaking art students overseas by telecommunication. She became a cultural researcher through her paintings. Her occupation with drawing authentic figures and Jewish scenes has led to explore and research the Charedi wardrobe, and to document it in various art forms. She gives lectures on the subject, accompanied by presentations of her authentic art work. From the perspective of an artist and researcher she appeared on Ted Talk. Tzippora’s work has been presented in various exhibitions including: the Israel Knesset, the President’s Residence, the Jerusalem Municipality, the Heichal Shlomo Museum and the Jerusalem Theater. artporttn@gmail.com / https://artporttn.wixsite.com/artport
Annie Orenstein
Annie Orenstein is the co-founder of Spotlight On Women, an initiative that helps provide opportunities for women to discover, develop and define who they are both on stage and off. She has been privileged to work with women in the arts for the last 15 years, and is passionate about bringing light and truth into the world through expression. Originally from Brooklyn, Annie made Aliyah 19 years ago, and lives in Maaleh Adumim with her husband and 3 children.
Shirley Perry
Shirley Perry is an educator and therapist living in Jerusalem. Originally trained in music-therapy at NYU. She uses mindfulness and IFS in therapy with children and women of all ages. Shirley leads small groups for women, combining IFS-informed therapy and the creative arts, to invite expression and sharing of protective and exiled parts in a gentle and safe forum. She loves learning Torah!
Riva Pomerantz
Riva Pomerantz is the renowned author of fourteen best-selling books, a celebrated writing coach and an internationally-acclaimed motivational speaker. She is the founder and moderator of the only kosher, nurturing writing community for frum women, at www.rivapomerantz.com/masterpiece and an exclusive space for talented frum teen girls at www.rivapomerantz.com/teenswrite. Riva is also the founder of www.jewishwomenwrite.com, where Jewish women around the world celebrate, empower, and heal themselves by writing their life stories, start to finish. Learn more about Riva and her work at www.rivapomerantz.com.
Gitty Porgesz
Gitty Porgesz, (39) is a creative chassidic mother of 6 sweet children ke”h. She Lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh B in Israel. She is a Choreographer, dancer, multi-disciplinary creative artist, that uses many forms of art to express inner movement of body and soul, also : Spoken word, video-art photography and songwriting/soulsinging. She has been performing with her multidisciplinary dance works for a decade on professional stages and conducting ‘meet the artist showcases’ all over the country. Gitty teaches professional courses for actresses and dancers and gives workshops in movement/ dance and choreography to girls and women even to seniors! using her ‘InsightOut’ method. Gitty strongly believes that everyone has an unique inner movement and can express it from the Inside Out … no matter the stories and limitations she has in her life and mind. Gitty loves working for Tikvah 4 Parkinsons helping ladies struggling with Parkinson’s disease. Her program כיצד מרקדין’ ‘ is a different kind of a wedding dance workshop. The workshop helps mothers-in-law, brides and any woman who wants to feel free at weddings to express inner joy and dance happily and freely. Gitty loves to delve into movement of life. She explores movement and expresses it in all kinds of creative and artistic ways. Movement as an experience and a language that forms the basis for cross-border dialogue and connection between women of Israel and the world. Gitty is so grateful to הקב”ה for all her blessings in life, the special time she spends with her family and the זכות to be a partner in creation. Wishing just to be a messenger to god’s abundance, movement and depth in this world. To contact Gitty Porgesz: Gittyporgesz4@gmail.com ++972527160983
Keri Roth
Keri Roth trained as a competitive dancer, and performed for over 15 years before returning to a Torah observant lifestyle. She received her degrees in Communications and Education, and with the support of the Toronto community, she continued her work in Education and the Creative Arts. In 2008 she founded the NeshamaDance studio and in 2012, she Co-Founded Jewish Creative Kidz Summer Camp and Programs (www.jckcamps.com) which she directed until 2019. During COVID, Keri explored a deeper connection between dance and spirituality. She founded Ker2Dance (@ker2dance) as a platform to provide girls and women with opportunities to experience the joy of dance, and to connect to dance as an outlet and modality for spiritual self-expression. She continues to offer classes, community events, and workshops. Keri has been a member of ATARA since 2006, and the Nexus School since 2020. She is honored and humbled to be sharing her creative work at this year’s Rise! Summit alongside so many of her mentors, and creative trailblazers. Keri lives in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada with her husband and four very energetic children.
Chava Rachel Saban
Chava Rachel Saban is a life-performance artist who spent the Shmitta year focusing on music and prayer. Playing the violin since age four, she began a career as a classical violinist, branched out to jazz, fiddle and improvisation, and eventually toured internationally with a solo stage performance of voice, violin, storytelling, and low-flying trapeze. All this time she felt a great lack, and sought a spiritual path. Coming to Israel at age 28 she found it! Thanks to Berot Bat Ayin, an alternative Midrasha, she discovered the world of Torah and Rebbe Nachman, got married and… 7 albums and many home births later she is now living in a small Yeshuv in the Judean desert,raising free range children, grandchildren, and goats. Recent projects include playing violin/trance music for dance events, including the annual Tambourine Dream Festival, and making videos for her YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/HavaRahel Chava has recently made a full circle return to classical music, and is thrilled to be playing with the only all women’s professional orchestra in the world, Zamora. She is obsessed with Rebbe Nachman, Rebbe Yisrael Ber Odesser(the Saba), and everything to do with the song of redemption. She would be so happy if you check out her page on FB, subscribe to her You Tube channel, purchase cds (available on https://havarahel.bandcamp.com or by contacting the artist) and become her friend! Feel free to reach out at: Chava@nanach.name.
Yaara Sandock
Vocalist and Songwriter Yaara Sandock has taken personal challenges and turned them into songs of healing and uplift. Read her personal story in her own words by clicking on her ABOUT page here https://yaaramusic.com/ Album: Taamini תאמיני
The full album is now available to buy on: www.yaaramusic.com To connect with me on social media: FB: https://www.facebook.com/yaaramusic IG: https://www.instagram.com/yaaramusic/ To book a concert or event please email: info@yaaramusic.com Hear my full album on: Spotify:https://sptfy.com/yaaramusic
Shaked Sebag
Born in Israel and raised in Arizona, Shaked has been dancing since she was 3 years old and has never stopped. After becoming baalat teshuva while studying at the University of Arizona and completing her BFA in Arts Education, she made aliyah with her husband and family and soon after opened the RBSDMA in Ramat Bet Shemesh together with Jezliah Villarreal in 2010. She is so honored to serve the community in such a special way and finds great purpose in providing a place for girls and women to grow artistically, emotionally, and spiritually. In addition to running the academy and it’s classes and curriculum, she has performed to international audiences, produced high caliber concerts for women and girls, choreographed for some of the biggest names in the Jewish music industry, directed and was featured in top music videos permeating the Jewish music scene, and still of course LOVES teaching and spending time in the studio with students of all ages. Running the academy together with Jezliah for its first 8 years was a tremendous honor and Shaked is so thankful to have such a brilliant and inspiring friend to have started out the journey with. While directing the academy solo over the past 3 years, Shaked is thankful to continue to work closely with Jezliah on various projects and is looking forward to new projects together on the horizon. Continuing to spread the love of dance and music and inspiring girls and women through the arts is her joy, and Shaked prays that she will continue to do so for years to come.
Robyn Shrater Seemann
Robyn founded Artists Circle (www.artists-circle.com) to create opportunities and break down barriers for observant Jewish women by providing professional performing arts opportunities for artists across all genres. Robyn is a multi-hyphenated theatre artist: writer-performer-producer. Selected credits include performing as a featured storyteller at Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts, The Deborah Lerner Gross Jewish Cultural Arts Center, Kehillat Pardes Open Mic, Here Happenings for Jewish Women, Olney Theatre Center’s “Share Your Story” project, and Artists Circle. She is the host and writer of the Shattering The Single Story podcast, sharing stories of beauty, light, love, laughter, frolics and foibles of life as an observant Jewish woman. Playwriting credits include The Cookbook, which ranked among the top winners of the DMV Q-Fest playwriting festival; Uri and Ora Light the Menorah, which most recently was produced as part of Adventure Theatre’s Winterfest; and Living Waters, which has been chosen to be presented in the upcoming season of the Baltimore Playwrights Festival. Robyn spent seven years as a columnist for “Capital Schmoozing” at the Washington Jewish Week. Robyn holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Brandeis University.
Lizzi Serling
Lizzi has worked professionally in performance for 20+ years, and is also a vocal coach and songwriter. She has 2 kids and recently relocated to Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Sheva Chaya
Renowned glass blower and painter Sheva Chaya enlivens her beautiful and popular gallery in Tzfat’s Artist Quarter, where she shares her story, artistic process, and unique insights with thousands of visitors from around the world each year. After receiving her degree in Visual Arts and Art History from Princeton University in 1997, Sheva Chaya made Aliya to Tsfat, Israel where the land, people, and the rich tradition of spiritual teachings infused a greater depth into her work. Sheva Chaya works in the medium of borosilicate glass and watercolor paint. Her art touches the themes of the Land of Israel, Jewish women, Torah and Kaballah, great mystics, and inner light. She leads various workshops and retreats, and teaches both painting and glassblowing. www.shevachaya.com 7alive@gmail.com Sheva Chaya (@shevachaya) • Instagram photos and videos https://www.facebook.com/safedglass
Rae Shagalov
Rae Shagalov is a master calligrapher, author & founder of the Passion Projects Mastermind for Jewish Women. Rae has a passion for helping Jewish women and children develop their gifts and talents to bring out the greatness of who they are, and bring Geulah faster. With the help of G-d, she has coached more than 4,000 women and children to fully develop their creativity and launch their fabulous creative ideas into the world! In Rae’s Passion Projects Mastermind program, she guides a warm community of creative Jewish women, showing how to use our 11 kabbalistic Soul Powers (according to Chassidus) to balance our lives and/or business, achieve success with time, and get the loving support and accountability we need to shine our light and develop our special life-nurturing passion projects. Find out more at: www.creativeJewishsoul.com Rae’s publishing company, Holy Sparks, specializes in Jewish education through creative expression, and integrates deep Torah learning and beautiful calligraphy in coloring books and art journals in her Joyfully Jewish series. Rae’s books are available on Amazon and include: The Secret Art of Talking to G-d, Create Your Joyfully Jewish Life, Living in Geulah, and many more. Choose your free printable gift at: https://holysparks.com/freebies
Sarah Shapiro
Sarah Shapiro made aliyah to Jerusalem in 1976. She has served as a columnist and editor for a variety of publications, and has been teaching writing to women since 1991. Her books include Growing With My Children: A Jewish Mother’s Diary (published in 1990,) A Gift Passed Along (2005). Wish I Were Here (2007) and most recently, An Audience of One and Other Stories, published last year. She is the editor of the Our Lives Anthology series, of which a fifth volume, The Stories of Our Lives, is now being collected. Yona also helped introduce music therapy in Israel and has trained hundreds of music therapists now working in Israeli programs and hospitals. Her passion is to share the light of Torah through the healing powers of music.
Chana Bracha Siegelbaum
Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum, a native of Denmark. She is founder and director of Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin: Holistic Torah for Women on the Land is for women who seek to delve deeply into their soul through intensive textual study and creative expression. We engage women of all ages and nationalities in intense Torah study and sustainable living. Drawing on creativity and life experience, students participate in art & drama workshops, authentic movement, organic gardening and take turns cooking wholesome meals for each other. Our Holistic Torah involves connecting to Torah of the land, to our Creator and to personal growth. In addition to classes in Chumash (Bible), Women in Tanach (Bible), Halacha (Jewish Law), Tefilah (Prayer), Hebrew Language, and the teachings of Chassidut, Midreshet B’erot also offers workshops in visual arts and music, authentic movement, Jewish meditation, health and nutrition, herbology and gardening. Dormitory facilities are available in the peaceful, rural setting of Bat Ayin, nestled in the Judean Hills and located just 20 minutes south of Jerusalem. WEBSITE: www.berotbatayin.org. For more information and to apply to our long term and shorter programs info@berotbatayin.org | https://www.berotbatayin.org/elul-thishei-program/
Aviva Speigel
Aviva Spiegel is an artist, dancer, and free-style “poet prophetess” living in Tsfat, Israel. She trained extensively as a gymnast and coach for the first half of her life and in contact improvisation dance during her years at Stanford, where she received her degree in Human Biology (which qualified her to marry a rabbi and have 6 kids ;). In her 20’s she came to Israel and began her Torah journey. Since then, she has developed her own unique style of fusing Chassidus with art. She is passionate about facilitating heart-centered and playful circles and gatherings for women and girls. She is the founder of the Annual Tambourine Dream Festival on the Kinneret, “Hakafot” dance parties and numerous open mic nights. www.tambourinedream.com avivajodi@gmail.com She developed and teaches “makom B”Maagal”, a method that builds a toolbox of creative expression skills for everyone to be an Artist! She is adamant that it’s our birthright to enjoy connecting to each other through ecstatic, improvisational circle with song, dance and drum and that this natural, harmonious union is one of God’s greatest gifts to us for healing ourselves and our relationships.
Elena Tal
Elena Tal is a professional singer and voice teacher. She is highly regarded as one of the foremost voice teachers in the Jewish world today. She is an official member and awardee of the prestigious National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), which certifies her as teaching the “highest standards of the vocal art.” Her professional vocal education and experience set her apart and allow her to share her expertise nationally and worldwide. With a Master’s degree in Voice, Elena heads the Tal Voice Studio of Baltimore, where she not only teaches students in-person, but also online in different states and countries. Elena studied with top professors from The Juilliard School (NY), in Germany, and Italy. She has dazzled audiences in concerts throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and aboard England’s QE2. Before becoming frum, she performed on television and was in a Hollywood film. Now only singing for female audiences, Elena performs concerts – most recently for Regesh of NY, Artists’ Circle, Project Light, Eitz Chaim of Toronto, the Shidduch Center of Baltimore, and in the worldwide broadcasts of both A Time For Talent and Miriam Handler’s One Voice Theatrical Fest. One of her programs she performs that sets her apart (most recently for the Yeshiva of Greater Washington) is singing and speaking about her journey of leaving a professional singing career in the secular world and discovering the beauty of Torah. She also teaches the first-ever professional Voice classes at Bais Yaakov High School! For more info, visit www.elenatal.net
Rachel Trugman
Rachel Trugman, along with her work for Ohr Chadash, is also a family therapist with a private practice and an artist who has published a coloring book with poetry entitled Tales of the Talmud. In 1988, the Trugmans took the position of Regional Directors of NCSY in Denver, Colorado. They returned to Israel in 1995 and are now the Directors of Ohr Chadash: New Horizons in Jewish Experience, a dynamic program they created that has run programs for tens of thousands of participants. Their website, you-tube channel, Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud, and Facebook pages have gotten millions of visits over the years. The Trugmans have visited over 50 cities worldwide, leading Shabbatons, giving classes, performing music, and serving as scholars-in-residence. https://thetrugmans.com/
Orly Whaba
Orly Wahba is an educator, social entrepreneur, award winning filmmaker, international speaker and best selling author of Kindness Boomerang: How to save the world (and yourself) through 365 daily acts. Orly began her career as an educator and in 2010, created the short film “Kindness Boomerang” which went on to become a viral phenomenon, amassing 100 million+ views and seeping into the kindness vocabulary worldwide. Inspired by the massive international success of her film, Orly founded Life Vest Inside, a global non-profit that aims to empower and unite the world through the power of kindness. In 2012, Orly launched Dance for Kindness, the largest annual worldwide flashmob. Dance for Kindness has since grown to become a phenomenal leadership training program with 100,000+ participants from over 65 countries. Through her work over the past decade, Orly has created a dynamic kindness network that fosters dialogue with people across the globe, including parts of the world torn apart by conflict. Along with her multiple TED and TEDx talks, her book, and flashmobs, she now champions what is popularly known as the “Kindness Revolution”. Orly is also the co-creator of Project Hope Exchange – a digital online repository of messages of hope, and the creator of Abraham’s Legacy – a one-of-a-kind social network for prayer and spiritual growth. Orly and her work have been featured in numerous media outlets including NBC, CBS, The Today Show, TED, Forbes, Huffpost, Parade Magazine, International Business Times, Adweek, Psychology Today and Good Life Project.
Rochel Leah Weiman
Rochel Leah Weiman is the Director of KavConnect Events Intl., (kavconnect.com) which coordinates events with the goal of supporting women to discover their own unique gifts by learning Pnimius Torah combined with experiential practice, with a focus on the Torah from Eretz Yisrael. Through these retreats (ie. ElevateShabbos.com), shabbatons and seminars, she facilitates group bonding and authentic connection which leaves the participants with lasting friendship and growth beyond the time and space of the event. She is the Director of the Elevation Project’s Teacher Training for Jewish Meditation (teachelevation.com). Rochel Leah integrates her knowledge of Torah into her art background and nurtures the creative mind. She established EmunahArt: Trusting Our Creative Self to develop an awareness and appreciation for our emunah-inspired creativity, encouraging women to discover and express their own unique sparks and mission (yeud) in this world. Rochel Leah received her BFA in Graphic Design & Photography from The Cooper Union. Her photographs have been exhibited in galleries in New York City. She served as Art Director and UX Design Director for companies in NYC, including the Orthodox Union and BHPhoto. She made aliya in 2021. Contact: kavconnect@gmail.com
Rabbi Levi Winberg
Rabbi Levi Wineberg, Shlita, was born in New York and moved to South Africa in 1983, where he headed the Yeshiva Gedolah and Machon L’Hora’ah. He serves as Rosh Kollel at Beit Mordechai Kollel Mizrachi, Rosh Yeshiva at the Rabbinical College of South Africa, and as Rabbi at Ha Ma’or Centre. Rabbi Wineberg served as a translator into English the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s z”l talks; simultaneous oral translation and, later, in writing. For a number of years, he founded and served the organization Sichos in English. He also translated and edited the series of shiurim in Tanya. Rabbi Wineberg is a great-great grandchild of the holy Rebbe of Dinov, Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Shapiro z”l — himself a nephew of the Noam Elimelech (Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk, z”l). Rabbi and his Rebbetzin Shterna Wineberg have, B”H, seven children — most of whom are on shlichus around the world.
Yona T. Yakobovitz
Yona T. Yakobovitz is the founder of Tofaah, Israel’s first all-woman Jewish band. She writes, arranges, and produces most of the band’s contemporary Jewish music, spanning a wide variety of styles, from folk to rock, jazz to Latin. Tofaah has released eight albums to date. A native of Saratoga Springs, NY, where she studied piano, drums, percussion, and performance with some of the world’s leading musical artists, including Elvin Jones, Mel Lewis, and Max Roach, she made aliya in 1981. Since then, she and her band, Tofaah, pioneered women-only performances in Israel and have devoted themselves to supporting Jewish women in the performing arts. Tofaah’s legendary massive Simchos Beis Hashoeva evenings for women have been drawing thousands of women from all over the country to Jerusalem to praise Hashem in achus with song and dance for almost forty years. Yona also helped introduce music therapy in Israel and has trained hundreds of music therapists now working in Israeli programs and hospitals. Her passion is to share the light of Torah through the healing powers of music.
Miriam Yerushalmi
Bio to come.
Zmora Women’s Orchestra
The Zmora Orchestra is an orthodox women’s orchestra in Jerusalem, one of the activities of the Ron Shulamit Conservatory, supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Jerusalem Municipality. The orchestra was first established in 2002 under the direction of Rina Schaefer and has since performed dozens concerts and cultural events for women in a wide variety of programs in Jerusalem and throughout the country. The Zmora Orchestra produced the CD “KeNagan Hamenagen” which presents a new artistic arrangement of classical Jewish music. One of Zmora’s unique features is the eclectic range of musical programs it offers: light classical works, artistic arrangements of popular, folk and ethnic Jewish music, and new contemporary works. The orchestra is dedicated to making artistic music accessible to the female community of music lovers; for this reason, the concert is accompanied by explanations and preceded by short excerpts before the performances. From season 2018-9 to 2020-21 Bracha Bdil was the artistic director and chief conductor of the Zmora Women’s Orchestra. Starting from season 2021-22 Simha Shvilli is the chief conductor of the Zmora Women’s Orchestra. The Ron Shulamit Conservatory is an institution with over 100 years of experience and one of its most important activities is the development of education, culture and art in the religious community. To order the orchestra \ for concert updates & joining the Zmora mailing list: Phone: 02-6528531 Ext. 9 Mobile: +972 527589009 E-mail: zmora@ronshulamit.org.il The Zmora Orchestra receives invitations to perform in women’s communities outside of Israel. For more details you can contact us by email.
Linda Zulberg
Linda Zulberg lives in South Afric. Drama is one of the vehicles through which Linda participates in the Johannesburg Jewish Community. For over 35 years, she has channeled some of her efforts into Jewish productions – first at a Primary School then High School level. Now she created the “Jo’burg Jewish Women’s Theatre” and they are busy preparing for their third production. This is primarily for adult observant women; especially trained actresses, dancers and singers who have the chance to perform in a Torah-true environment. They are joined by Rebbetzins, teachers, professionals, moms, students and scholars where appropriate. They all join together to express their G-d Given talents.