I believe in the infinite possibilities for Romemu. Having served on many boards, I know myself to be a team player who enjoys listening to ideas and leads with a sense of purpose and passion. I am a social worker with experience as a facilitator, trainer and advocate.
I am interested in building a spiritual and learning community that is compassionate, integrated and inclusive. I seek to empower people to find their passion and express it for the good of the community. I am excited to continue to contribute to the creation of systems, governance and structure to contain the vibrant ideas and future vision of Romemu. I am proud to be an ambassador of Romemu and a representative of the community.
I have enjoyed serving as the Chair of the Romemu Board during the last two years. I have learned much along the way and continue to grow as Romemu grows. I am honored to help Romemu grow to the next stage of our communal life and work collaboratively with the clergy, staff, board and communal leaders.
Romemu is my spiritual home where I have deepened my spiritual practices. Through my daily mussar practice, weekly classes and Torah study, I strive to bring the sacred into the present to help guide me in my professional and personal relationships.
The medieval poet Judah Halevi said: “When I go forth looking for You, I find You seeking me.” In the process of looking for G-d, we also find ourselves.
Even as I am writing this I am filling up with gratitude for all that Romemu has brought into my life and my family's life. It is still amazing to me that I have a spiritual home where I feel safe and where I truly belong. Like so many of you, I find great joy in working to make Romemu stronger in whatever capacity I can.
My family discovered Romemu when we were in the basement of the church on Broadway and 114th. When I closed my eyes and let the Rome'rhythms move me, I was instantly transported to a tent in the Middle East and I knew I was home. For me, Rabbi David is a direct line to the ancient voices of my ancestors.
I have been blessed to serve on the Board for the past two years — currently as a member of the Nominating Committee, and the PR/Media Committee. My 20 years as a television producer and senior manager have given me strong people skills and a solid understanding of organizational development. I offer these skills as we continue to grow and shape our community.
Because our family is multi-cultural, I know how rare it is to find a community as embracing as Romemu. To look out over our congregation and see the diversity we represent is especially rewarding for me. It is a gift I will try to share with anyone who visits, as everyone should feel as welcomed as we were on our first Shabbat.
Romemu is my spiritual home. Its deep torah, contemplation, joy, musicality and community speak to my inner Jewish voice and awaken my soul. It is my honor to aid in the development, growth and realization of Rabbi David's vision, and to share with those I love and admire. Our community has grown so beautifully over these last few short years. Having spent the last two years as Romemu's treasurer, I helped structure many of the inner-workings of our sacred community. With my new responsibilities of Romemu marketing, I am now excited to work towards exposing Romemu to the world!
I am thrilled to be part of the most open, creative, heart-warming, real Jewish spiritual community I know. I am even more honored to have the opportunity to help drive the direction of Romemu's future by taking an active role on the Board of Directors. I have 14 years experience helping to run non-profit organizations and in working with boards of directors of small and mid level ventures. I pursued a graduate degree in business in order to understand how to marry the social and business sectors, and currently consult to corporations and non-profits on how best to make that happen. However, my favorite full-time job so far is Ima to my sons, Baer Leib and Tal Shaya.
For two years I've been working on building Romemu's family programs and transforming Romemu into a center for families in addition to couples, singles and empty nesters. Through our programs Sha'Baby and Sha'Boker Tov I get to meet new parents like myself, and watch them find a home for their growing family at Romemu. Nothing better!
I wish to be considered for election to the Board of Directors of Romemu. For over two and a half years I have had the honor to serve as the de facto chairman of the Board. During this period I have witnessed and helped with the birthing of a full-time congregation and assist with laying the foundations for the management of the organization. I am deeply indebted to Rabbi David for showing the light of non-denominational meaningful Jewish spiritual practice and whole heartedly share the long-term vision and aspiration of the Romemu/ABIA project. I bring to the Board, among other things, experience, commitment, clear-thinking and visioning.
Jeff has been passionate about Renewal Judaism for over 15 years, serving on the board of Aleph (The Alliance for Jewish Renewal) and becoming a founding member of two Jewish Renewal congregations, including Romemu. Jeff believes that Romemu is on its way to becoming a world class center for Renewal Judaism, and plans to do whatever he can to help make that happen.
Jeff has 30 years of experience managing non-profit and for-profit organizations of all sizes. Most recently, he was a Development Director at UJA-Federation of New York, the world’s largest local philanthropy. Previously, while living in the Bay Area for 15 years, he founded, grew and sold the high tech Internet company, Netpulse. He has also worked at Intel, AT&T Bell Labs, and the Israeli telecom company, Telrad, while living in Israel for two years. Jeff also produced and sold an independent feature film with his wife, Lili, while residing in Vancouver, BC.
For the last few years, Jeff has been a full-time family man and home-schooler for his young kids. He lives in New York’s Hudson Valley, where he loves to meander around his property and tend his orchard. He frequently visits New York City for both work and play, and sits on the Jewish Community Development task force at UJA-Federation of New York. He is currently studying for ordination in the Aleph Rabbinical Program.
I am an energetic, creative artist born to Jewish parents in the 60’s. My spiritual studies formally began at age 14 when I started to study Buddhism and Meditation. Since then my studies have included Tai-Chi, Yoga, Reiki and Kabbalah. I am presently certified in 4 energy healing modalities: Integrated Energy Therapy, Magnified Healing, Quick Pulse technique and Advanced Pendulum clearing technique used to transform energy. In 2001 I began to study Jewish Mysticism and found a very deep love for Torah. My love for Torah coupled with my love for music and the non-traditional have placed me perfectly in the midst of Romemu and Jewish Renewal. I have been expanding my heart thru prayer, song and dance at Romemu for over three years and am deeply committed to the growth of the community. I had been searching for quite some time for a community that held similar values to my “Utopian World Vision” A world view where success is measured by how fully a person held love in their body, mind and spirit. I feel quite honored to serve as a Board member, to be able to use my vitality, organizational and creative skills to further the vision of Romemu.
I found my way to Romemu in the fall of 2007 and for the first time in my life I felt that my spiritual journey was connected to my Jewish roots. While I had never even considered becoming a member of another shul, a few months later I was co-chairing Romemu’s Membership Committee. Two years ago, I joined the board and transitioned to Technology chair. We have overhauled Romemu's member management system and are now beginning to overhaul the website. It is an honor to serve on the board and co-vision our future. I am deeply grateful to those who created a place for me to land and I am glad to be able to help do the same for others.
I have served on the board of Romemu for the past 15-months, and look forward to continuing as a co-chair of the PR/Media committee. We came to Romemu in the Spring of 2007 and have felt a strong connection to the community and its mission. As an inter-faith family, we believe one of the strengths of the Romemu community is the universal nature of the shared spiritual experience. As a Christian, I believe my faith and my understanding of greater-than–human forces in our world are enhanced when I “Romemu.” As an African American, I also bring a different cultural perspective to Romemu’s board, and I am grateful that I am accepted and valued both for my humanity and for my slightly different experience and outlook.
I am a father to a wonderful 16-year-old daughter, Olivia. I am a husband to my wife and best friend, Evey. I am a brother, a nephew, an uncle and a friend to many.
I am a journalist, producer, and co-founder of Mezclado — an independent television production partnership. My 28 years as a reporter, producer, and senior manager for ABC News have provided me with a set of communication skills that I offer to Romemu.
Currently, I serve as a board member of several organizations that bridge journalism and education including the Overseas Press Club Foundation, and the News Literacy Project. I am also a trustee of the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in Riverdale, New York; and a trustee of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.
Elana Shneyer
My husband Adam and I came to Romemu seeking a more intimate synagogue experience. We wanted a place where we could get to know the Rabbi and he could get to know us. We wanted a community where we could grow and also help to shape the community as it grows. Romemu has proven to be all of that and more for us.
My community organizing background helped me lead Romemu’s social justice initiative, and I look forward to continuing that effort with the social justice committee, the board and the entire Romemu congregation.
As Chief Program Officer at the Pratt Area Community Council, a community development corporation, I happily bring my non profit management skills to the Romemu board. I grew up on the Upper West Side and am excited to be active in a new Jewish center in my old neighborhood. Adam and I look forward to raising our son, Jaron, in this nurturing, dynamic community.
Hali WeissBio coming soon.
Felice WinogradBio coming soon.
Jonathan BickoffBio coming soon.
Marla AltBio coming soon.
Romemu has been a big part of my life since my first Shabbat service two years ago. I was introduced to Romemu by my now wife, Marla Alt, and we were blessed to be married by Rabbi David this past November 2011. I also love Romemu’s all-inclusive nature of prayer, as it feels like a destination and not a denomination of Judaism to me.
I am currently the co-chairperson of the Romemu membership committee and I am looking forward to co-chairing the Special Events committee and also being on the Finance committee.
My background as a Certified Public Accountant in New York coupled with my MBA in Finance will assist me in helping Romemu grow and thrive. I also serve on the board of a children’s brain tumor charitable organization where I have expanded my experience in nonprofit finance and accounting. I began my career as an auditor at Deloitte and have worked at CBS Television Network for the past 19 years in several financial roles.
Shari and I visited Romemu for the first time more than three years ago at the behest of our lovely friends Caren and Arthur Fried. We were both impressed by the passion of energy of Rabbi Ingber and the spirit of the congregation. Regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, political persuasion or economic status, all were welcome.
After joining, we both felt that there was a unique opportunity in helping grow one of the pillars of the Romemu community and that was the music. It has been quite gratifying to witness the enormous growth of Romemusic and the impact it has had on both the Romemu community as well as all our visitors. In fact, our experience with Romemu has stimulated us to create a charitable foundation to help bridge spirituality and religion across multiple platforms. What better way to coalesce this than with music?
My interest in joining the board stems from the commitment to continue to help steer the growth of Romemu.In particular, I hope to see the continued evolution of our music program under the tutelage of Shir Yaakov. Moreover, my hope is that Romemu become the premier musical spiritual center in the country. As both a physician and scientist who has witnessed how many ways there are to heal and as a successful entrepreneur who recognizes how financial resources can help bridge the dreams and hopes of our community with “how to do it”, I hope to bring a sense of vision and pragmatism to the board. It will be both an honor and privilege to serve.
Presently studying at a yeshiva in Jerusalem, Jorian normally splits his time between Brooklyn, New York and Boulder, Colorado. A writer, yogi, and publisher, Jorian recently released his first book, Varitan's Illustrated Greek Myths, a beautifully illustrated, socially and spiritually conscious contemporization of twenty-two ancient legends. Jorian is a graduate of Harvard University ('06), a contributor to Cabinet Magazine, and a sort of independent researcher. He has lived abroad in Argentina and Holland, speaks Spanish and French as well as a bit of German and Russian, and is presently studying Hebrew. He is strongly interested in new visions for sacred culture, particularly the fusion of biological and mystical perspectives, the re-harnessing of the critical tradition, and the use of illustration and animation to illuminate sacred texts.