Atara Lakritz
Programs Team Member
Atara works in communications at a Jewish nonprofit. She is passionate about fighting voter suppression, creating inclusive communities, and dogs.
What We Do
How we gather, celebrate, and form community together
Shabbat Prayers and Torah Study
Join us every Friday night at sundown (times in the calendar below) as we welcome in Shabbat, and new people, as a community. We also pray and study Shabbat/Saturday at 9:30am, and have Torah learning at 6:30pm, followed by an intimate gathering to usher out Shabbat. We pray with a lot of spirit, singing, intentions, sharing, and dancing, and with a mechitza.
Holiday Celebrations
Meaningful High Holyday prayers and meals, Hanukkah celebrations in the streets, rocking Passover Seders — you definitely want to spend Jewish holidays with us, especially if you’re new, or looking for something new. It's traditional, but hopefully will also feel alive and welcoming in all the right ways. Next up: Rosh Hashanah - with prayers in the streets, picnics in the park, and more!
Personal Support
New to the neighborhood? Going through a tough time? Feeling alone in the big city? We aim to support people through Shabbat meals, chicken soup deliveries, and basic community support. We would also love to go out for coffee and get to know you better and how the Beis could support you - or vice versa! Best way to do that is contact any of the fine, friendly folks listed below!
WHAT WE’RE ABOUT: The Beis is an intentional, inclusive, innovative Orthodox Jewish community that provides a home for people looking to explore their Judaism, to connect with others, and to be inspired.
The Beis Community was started in 2013 when a bunch of Jews living in a big city felt like their neighborhood should feel more like home. Maybe something with a little intimacy, intention, and spirit, more diversity, welcomeness, and inclusion, and values that reflected their own and would speak to a broader audience. And when people started coming, they realized they were onto something, that lots of people were also looking for that. Join us and find your home at the Beis Community!
Meet Our Leadership
Rebecca Kerzner
Programs Team Member
Rebecca is passionate about making Judaism accessible to all. She is an editorial assistant at My Jewish Learning and loves to illustrate moments and feelings and produce her podcast about taboo topics.
Rachel Chabin
Programs Team Member
Rachel values expanding Jewish accessibility in her personal and professional lives, and her commitment to inclusive Jewish spaces is what brought her to the Beis. She currently works with a number of Jewish non-profits to provide closed captioning, and hopes to pursue a career in the rabbinate.
Moty Raven
Programs Team Member
Moty cares deeply about the inclusion of marginalized voices into religious Jewish spaces and this is why they are proud to call the Beis home. They currently work in customer service and spend their off time volunteering for other causes they believe in.
Eliyahu Spivack
Programs Team Member
Eliyahu strives to promote mental wellness and inclusion in the Jewish community and beyond. He graduated from Yeshiva University, teaches at a special ed school, loves to write, and is an aspiring therapist.
Hart Levine
Spiritual Leader
Hart works to bring Jews together, starting in college with Heart to Heart, with Mizrachi, and with the Beis - where he plays the role of spiritual leader & community organizer. Hart loves inviting new people for Shabbat, and creating data visualizations.
Naima Hirsch
Board Memer
Naima cares deeply about creating radically inclusive communities and bringing Jews of all stripes together to laugh, sing, and learn. She is a rabbinical student and sometimes-poet who also teaches Hebrew school.
Shimmy Feintuch
Board member
Shimmy enjoys speaking about spirituality, mindfulness, and mental health. He is a psychotherapist, public speaker, writer, and adjunct professor at YU’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Although Shimmy wears many hats, none of them is a Borsalino.
Yael Brodsky Levine
board member
Yael has lived in Washington Heights for over 10 years. She loves dreaming up new ideas to make people feel seen, Torah feel accessible, and community feel like a home. She would love to host you for a Shabbat meal (if you're vaccinated).
Nathaniel Moldoff
board member
Nathaniel’s values of welcoming and inclusion inform his work in the Jewish nonprofit world and as a leader at the Beis. When he isn’t managing grants at the Snider Foundation, Nathaniel is either hiking or practicing new recipes for once it’s safe to host Shabbat meals.
Get in Touch
Best way to get in touch would be by filling out this contact form, or messaging one of the people listed above. You could also just show up to something -- see the JOIN US tab on the top!
The Beis Space
587 Fort Washington, right side doorNew York, NY 10033