Deborah Fishman is a network-weaver, chef, and the founder of FED, a platform for ideas built into an inclusive Jewish community. She is also a grassroots Igniter for the ROI Community. Professionally, Deborah serves as Director of Communications for The AVI CHAI Foundation. She previously was Editor & Publisher of PresenTense Magazine and Network Animator for PresenTense. She was named one of the "36 under 36" making a difference in the NYC Jewish Community, and was also a Fellow with the Union for Reform Judaism's JewVNation fellowship. She has two daughters, Ayelet and Merav. Her husband Brian Shelby is her partner in life, in FED, and most especially in the kitchen. Deborah's mission in life is making sure everyone is fed: intellectually, spiritually and on a basic human level.
Hadar is a spiritual leader and community organizer manifesting visions of feminism, soulful prayer, and communal care. She is currently the scholar in residence for At The Well, learning and creating content around Jewish time, Jewish relationship to the body and the divine feminine. She works for Moishe House as a Jewish Educator and Kenissa as a Program Associate. Hadar loves birthing her own projects including feminism all night - a communal all night learning immersive around feminism and spirituality. She is a graduate of Cooper Union, where she studied Electrical Engineering, and alt*div, a alternative divinity school centered the intersection of justice and spirituality. She is a lover of dance, song, and communal transformation. She is currently working on a book of personal prayers titled "every word is a prayer."
Darío was born in Buenos Aires and lived and studied in Argentina, France, Singapore, Spain and the US. He has a rich and multidisciplinary formation in Economics and Communications (U. San Andrés – INSEAD), and Psychology and Religion (University of Chicago).
Darío has led a pioneering creative agency in digital media for the past decade and has also worked and experimented with various therapeutic techniques for more than 15 years. He also has a committed Jewish practice.
Darío has Master in Religious Studies at the University of Chicago and his focus of study is the analysis of modern psychology and religious practice as systems of transformation.
Marques Hollie is an opera singer and emerging Jewish leader whose work focuses on centering Jewish liturgy around the experiences of people of color. He was named one of The Jewish Week’s 36 Under 36 for 2018 and was a fellow in the inaugural cohort of the Union for Reform Judaism’s JewV’Nation Fellowship. Marques is a member of the Guild of Temple Musicians, an affiliate organization of the American Conference of Cantors, and Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, NY.
Composer Mátti Kovler was born in Moscow, raised in Jerusalem, and is now based in Brooklyn. His music has been commissioned by Tanglewood, Carnegie Hall and Israel Festival. Recent highlights included the installation Seekers of Light, with a mixed Israeli-Iranian cast and projections by Theodor Tezhik (Cirque Du Soleil) at the Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, the production of “Drumf & the Rhinegold,” an operatic apocalypse at the Blue Building, NYC and premiere of Cokboy (A Jew Among the Indians) at Carnegie Hall. Mátti is now at work on a new musical, Gospel of Sabbatai, focusing on the rise and fall of Sabbatai Zvi, a cryptic Jewish Messiah of the 17th century. Kovler is the founder and artistic director of Floating Tower.
With a modular make-up of 27 multi-national actors/musicians, Floating Tower operates as a producer, creator and educator developing innovative content along new avenues of cross-cultural engagement. Since its founding in 2011, Floating Tower has created over thirty productions in the United States, Israel, China and Russia. Spanning from traditional to experimental, Floating Tower events have been staged at venues ranging from Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts to the Underground Collector, a 1000 sq. ft. art-loft in Moscow.
Pictured in photo: Parham Haghighi
Join us for a meaningful, spiritual experience led by Hadar Cohen followed by a Rosh Hashanah dinner replete with simanim - culinary omens for a sweet new year. See the menu here.
We will offer a creative Rosh Hashanah spiritual experience each morning led by Hadar Cohen. Open to all, no background knowledge of Hebrew required. Hadar will incorporate sound and movement as well as other interactive components to explore the themes and meaning of the rich Rosh Hashanah liturgy.
Join us for a delicious dinner marking the second night of Rosh Hashanah! Check out the menu here.
In a participatory music theatre take on the powerful opening prayer of Yom Kippur, Mátti Kovler and members of Floating Tower explore the parallels between different versions of this prayer, called Kol Nidre, from the Persian, Yemenite and Turkish traditions, and other magical incantations. Featuring Parham Haghighi, voice, Laura Derover, electronics, and others.
We will be treated to musical performances by Marques Hollie marking the concluding service of Yom Kippur, called Ne’ila, offering acceptance, atonement and renewal. We will also engage in therapeutic study in pairs led by Dario Helman - get ready to delve into the meaning of life, love, and relationships with a supportive peer! Followed by breaking the fast together as a community at 6:30pm.