Atara Lakritz
LEADERSHIP TEAM
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 an hour before sundown, 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: Hanukkah in the Heights!
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 other 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
Shalhevet Cahana
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Shalhevet loves Torah - teaching middle school girls at Manhattan Day School; gen Zers on Birthright trips; and adults in Beth Jacob Congregation in Oakland, CA as Community Scholar. Her favorite spot in the Heights are the benches by the flagpole in Ft Tryon Park!
Rachel Chabin
LEADERSHIP TEAM
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
LEADERSHIP TEAM
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.
Jacob Klein
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Providence-born Jacob Klein has been involved with the Beis since 2017. A rabbinical student and gay man, Jacob finds a lot of value in building LGBT-inclusive Jewish community and is always open to sharing Torah and pastries.
Eliyahu Spivack
LEADERSHIP TEAM, ADMINISTRATOR
Eliyahu has been living in the Heights for over 6 years. He is passionate about mental health and inclusion in the Jewish community and beyond.
Anat Coleman
Board Secretary
Anat Coleman (she/her/hers) has enjoyed calling the Heights her home since 2002, when she moved from London. Anat is the Director of Strategic & Community Initiatives at the Jewish Community Council of WaHi, and has been part of the Beis community since its inception.
Miriam Kersey
Board member
Miriam is new to Washington Heights, but is thrilled to be serving on the Beis board. Miriam works at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, and enjoys creative writing, cooking, and hosting friends.
Yael Brodsky Levine
board president
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).
Yoni Oppenheim
Board Treasurer
Yoni Oppenheim is a director, dramaturg, translator and teaching artist. He is also the artistic director of 24/6: A Jewish Theater company.
Tanya Farber
Spiritual Leader
Rabbanit/Reb Tanya taught Torah to high school and then elementary school students for many years and is currently on the faculty of Yeshivat Maharat, where she teaches gemara and serves as mashgicha ruchanit (spiritual advisor) at Yeshivat Maharat. Until 2020, she worked with adult Jewish women with developmental disabilities for a decade. R. Tanya is so grateful for the Beis as a community and spiritual home that reflects the dynamic values of inclusivity, meaning-making, and intentional Judaism.
Hart Levine
Spiritual Leader
Hart works to bring Jews together, starting in college with Heart to Heart, with OU, Mizrachi, now with OpenDor Media, and with the Beis - where he plays the role of spiritual leader. Hart loves inviting new people for Shabbat, and creating data visualizations.
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