Orthodox Women and Leadership: New York
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Meet the speakers
Rabbanit Dr. Adena Berkowitz
Rabbanit Dr. Adena K. Berkowitz is Scholar in Residence at Kol HaNeshamah NYC and Senior Educator at the Manhattan Jewish Experience. Her work includes reaching out to affiliated and not-yet-affiliated Jews and re-energizing their spiritual lives. With a background in law, Jewish Studies and Psychotherapy, Adena is a practicing therapist in NY and the author of the bestselling The Jewish Journey Haggadah and co-author of Shaarei Simcha: Gates of Joy, a mini prayerbook. (It is the first liturgical work in the modern era written by Orthodox women for use…
Dr. Jennie Rosenfeld
Dr. Jennie Rosenfeld serves as a Manhiga Ruchanit in Efrat, as she completes her studies towards a "heter hora'ah" in the Susi Bradfield Women's Institute for Halakhic Leadership. She also holds a doctorate in English from the CUNY Graduate Center and has co-authored "Et Le'ehov: The Newlywed's Guide to Physical Intimacy".
Maharat Ruth Balinsky Friedman
Maharat Ruth Friedman recently moved to Washington DC to serve as Maharat at Ohev Sholom: The National Synagogue. Ruth graduated from Barnard College in 2007, and then spent 2 years studying at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education in New York before attending Yeshivat Maharat, which is is the first institution to ordain Orthodox women as spiritual leaders and halakhic authorities. As a supporter of dialogue and pluralism, Ruth has participated in the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College's Retreat for Emerging Jewish…
Rachel Kraus
Rachel Kraus is the Director of Community Education at Kehilath Jeshurun, a Modern Orthodox synagogue on the Upper East Side of New York where she lectures, delivers sermons, teaches and facilitates informal educational programming together with her husband Daniel. Rachel also works full time as the Group Director of Global Brand Ventures for the Westfield Corporation where she leads strategy and brand partnerships for the World Trade Center redevelopment project as well as being on the leadership team for global…