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Jewish Education
"Whoever saves a single life is considered to have saved the world" (Sanhedrin 37a)
I am an aspiring rabbi, current rabbinical student, and emerging Jewish educator focusing deeply on social justice, community organizing, inclusivity/accessibility, educational innovation, and trauma-informed care. I am a passionate leader, researcher, and long-time educator who is always learning something new.
I live by the motto, "all of me is holy" because I believe that the inner-most part of who we are (considered our soul, being, or inner-person) is the part of us closest to God and holiness. Getting more in sync with that part of us allows us to see ourselves as God does and connect with holiness on a deeper, purer level.
I want people to see themselves as reflections of God's divine complexities instead of apologizing for taking up space. As a survivor of both religious and childhood trauma, I am a firm believer in using a liberatory Torah learning to heal wounds and mend hearts, allowing people to see themselves in the texts. I believe in Torah as a sacred call to divine revolution, rebellion, and going against the grain for the sake of changing the world and ourselves for the better.
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As an educator, I pride myself on pulling from my background in both early childhood and unconventional K12 and adult education to create learning experiences that center on personalization, community, and joy. Intentional care and inclusion are critical to my work.
Mission
I know from first-hand experience what it's like to have a non-linear Jewish journey, be multiply-disabled, be on a deconstruction path, and/or struggle with chronic illnesses. ​I'm also autistic with ADHD, OCD, and PTSD, so I know what it's like to live life with challenges and take every day one step at a time to heal. I believe in helping people connect deeply with their own stories and find joy again (AKA "living confident").
My work centers these experiences, and the voices often pushed to the margins of Jewish life. I am a mentor, coach, and educator for the unaffiliated, the trauma-survivors, the neurodivergent, and the deconstructionists.
Art, Torah, and Food
I am an avid educator, working often within local and global communities to foster discussions, connections, and Torah enthusiasm (which I call getting "Torah-hype"). One of my favorite programs I've run is Mekor RVA, which is a local Torah + Art study group that meets monthly around Richmond, VA. It is intentionally accessible and inclusive, and focuses deeply on honoring divine complexities and intersectionality.
I am inspired by the sounds, flavors, and experiences os of the Jewish diaspora
I am unapologetically Black, queer, Jewish, and multiply-disabled, and I believe in intersectionality and the importance of honoring sacred complexities. I hope to foster community locally and across the globe that reflects this, including eventually having a synagogue that is inspired by the cultural diversity of the Jewish diaspora. Wherever I go, I bring my ancestral strength with me from all parts of who I am.
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Want to work with me? Email weliveconfident@gmail.com!