SAVE THE DATE!
2027 SLBC International Conference
February 14-16, 2027

Dana Bederson is a dedicated and passionate student cantor at The Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College. A 2023 graduate of Guilford College with a Bachelor’s degree in Music, Dana has deep roots in the DC area, having grown up at Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, MD. She currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, with her partner, Noah.

Dana’s profound love for Jewish music was nurtured during her 13 formative years at URJ Camp Harlam, where she developed lasting friendships, created meaningful Jewish memories, and honed her songleading skills in a nurturing and supportive environment. Her camp experiences deeply influence her approach to leading services, where she seamlessly integrates the spirit of camp with synagogue life. Dana is committed to honoring both traditional and contemporary Jewish liturgical musical styles, bringing a unique vibrancy to her worship leadership.

An adopted Asian woman from Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan, Dana proudly identifies as a Jew of Color. She is deeply committed to celebrating her diverse background and sharing her experiences with her communities. By embracing her authentic self, Dana aims to inspire others, particularly Jews and Jews of Color, to explore and redefine what it means to be Jewish.

Outside of her academic pursuits, Dana volunteers at the Hebrew Union College soup kitchen, where she serves hot meals to the local homeless community in Greenwich Village. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball, baking, and discovering new places throughout New York City.

Shira Berkowitz is an artist and social impact designer, policy strategist, and entrepreneur with an MFA from Washington University in St. Louis. They have over a decade of experience leading civic and political strategy, from working within arts institutions, issues-based campaigns, and advocacy organizations. Currently, Shira is the Sr. Director of Policy and Advocacy for PROMO, Missouri’s statewide LGBTQ+ policy and advocacy organization. They are a co-founder of MaTovu, a Jewish cooperative neighborhood center in the City of St. Louis, serves on the Board of Directors for the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis, and founded Camp Indigo Point – a residential summer camp for LGBTQ+ youth rooted in the Midwest.

Originally from Louisville, KY, Miriam Bird is a dedicated songleader and Psychology student at the University of Cincinnati. Growing up as a South Korean Jew in Kentucky, Miriam brings a unique perspective to her work, using her diverse background to foster inclusive, meaningful experiences that celebrate connection and shared traditions. In Cincinnati, Miriam continues her impactful work as a songleader for Camp Livingston, BBYO, Cincinnati Hillel, Rockdale Temple, Rockwern Academy, and numerous other Jewish organizations across the Greater Cincinnati area, where she helps create spaces that strengthen Jewish identity and connection. She has spent the past 13 summers at Livingston and currently serves as the Music Director during the camp season. More nationally, she is also part of the Staff Advisory Council, an initiative with the Foundation for Jewish Camp to help improve staff wellbeing and health. Miriam has a gift for creating meaningful and engaging musical experiences that bring people together, spark joy, and celebrate shared traditions. Whether leading a song session or simply connecting with others, Miriam’s love for music and community shines through, leaving everyone with lasting memories and a smile.

Texas-born and southern raised, Joe Buchanan makes country music that is steeped in Torah and the trials of the human spirit. He grew up struggling with religion and his place in the world until one day outside of the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., and 13 years into their marriage, his wife revealed that she was Jewish. An exploration of faith led the way home for the whole family and ultimately led to Joe’s debut album, Unbroken. Since his conversion, he’s toured the country leading prayer, concerts, and workshops. Joe’s goal is to help drive connection to what connects us all and to hold the door for other seekers. A blend of Southern soul and country charm, his music is grounded in the belief that there is always more room at the table. His latest release is Back From Babylon and his website is www.joebuchananmusic.com.

Rachel Chang (she/her) is a Jewish musician, songleader, educator, and music therapist, living on Lenni Lenape land in Philadelphia, PA. Drawing from the many communities and identities that have shaped her, Rachel leads with expressive guitar, sensitive listening, and a deep intention to cultivate belonging. Her journey has been profoundly impacted by The LUNAR Collective, where she serves as Ritual Director. She is also director of A Queer Nigun Project, which uses nigunim as a collective healing practice for LGBTQIA+ people, Jews of Color, and incarcerated people in Jewish community. As a queer and multiracial Chinese-American Jew, Rachel has spent years grappling with what it means to belong, to take up space, and to be heard in Jewish community, and she has found music to be an invaluable resource.

Rabbi Noah Diamondstein joined the Temple Sinai, Washington D.C. clergy team in the summer of 2020. He has had wide ranging experiences as a scholar of Judaism — from handling primary source documents from early 20th Century rabbis who wrote about the Mourners’ Kaddish, to teaching the leadership of Jerusalem’s Women of the Wall movement to blow shofar, to serving as a rabbinic intern at a Jewish Social Justice non-profit organization. His rabbinic thesis is entitled “A Tale of Two Liturgies: Placing Liturgical Development in the Reform and Conservative Movements in Conversation,” and focused on the differences and similarities between the ways these two Liberal Jewish movements approach the work of creating new prayer books. This project was meaningful for him, given that he was raised simultaneously in both the Conservative and Reform Movements.

Noah is also a published Jewish musician. His first album, entitled “Ashira L’Adonai,” was released in January 2019 and produced by none other than Dan Nichols. His second album, “My Whole Heart,” was released in four “chambers” in 2022, again with engineering by Mark Niemec. He is a Featured Artist on Jewish Rock Radio, and spent much of his final year before coming to Temple Sinai as a guest service leader or artist-in-residence in Jewish communities across the country. His musical work has helped him to fine-tune his skills as a service leader, and has taught him the power of leaving your ego at the door for the sake of holding space for the group.

Noah is a multi-instrumentalist who plays almost every instrument on his records, from guitar, to bass, to drums, to mandolin, to trumpet to vocals and more! His music crosses genres from folk to pop to hard rock, and his textual influences span liturgy, TaNaKh, and rabbinic texts. He works to create intentional prayer practice with communities he gets to serve and with whom he gets to sing, and is constantly searching for new ways to inspire people to think and feel deeply about life and how Jewish tradition, stories and thought can imbue it with meaning.

Hazzan Joanna Dulkin is committed to innovative musical and spiritual leadership that inspires joy, connection and meaning at all ages and stages. She has taught and performed internationally as a Cantor-, Musician- and Scholar-in residence, and her music is sung in congregations and kehilot all over the world. Her background as a Jewish camp songleader, musician and educator led her to the Cantorate. She currently serves Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka, MN and is a proud mentor and teacher both within the walls of the congregation and beyond. She is a Vice President of the Cantors Assembly, was on the editorial committee for the Conservative movement’s Siddur Lev Shalem,

Joanna grew up in the Reform movement in Northern California, and was the first Head Songleader in the history of URJ Camp Newman. While studying at JTS’s H.L. Miller Cantorial School, Joanna spent four summers as the Rosh Shira of Ramah Darom. She has worked with Institute for Jewish Spirituality as a student and faculty member, and recently completed her Yoga teacher training.

Lisa Friedman is a seasoned Jewish Educator and Musician. She attends Hebrew Union College’s Rabbinical School in Los Angeles. Lisa’s passion for Judaism stems from her years of attending Jewish summer camp, involvement in youth groups, and leading services. Nothing fulfills Lisa more than creating community and bringing people together through education, music, and prayer. In her free time, Lisa enjoys writing Jewish music and working at several synagogues in LA. Lisa is a proud Jewish Star All-Star and is the Programs & Operations Associate of Judaism Alive. For more on Lisa and her work, please visit lisafriedmanmusic.com

Carla Friend is the Founder & Executive Director of Tkiya, an organization with the mission of creating joyful Jewish connection through participatory music experiences. Her team of 16 help thousands of families across the country find their unique connection with Jewish culture and community through Carla’s methodology. This year, Carla and Tkiya are opening up a training program which will allow educators everywhere to be trained in this unique approach. Carla is a 2018 recipient of the Young Pioneers Award from the Jewish Education Project, a 2019 recipient of 36 Under 36 from the Jewish Week, is on the board of JPro, and hosts a JKids Radio show called “Tkiya Town”. Check out her album of family-friendly Jewish music called “Challalalah”.

Rabbi Isaama Goldstein-Stoll (she/her) is the Director of the URJ’s Teen Jews of Color Fellowship and the Director of Programming and Operations for NFTY. A product of the Reform Movement, Rabbi Isaama grew up in NFTY and at URJ Camp Harlam, and is an ordinee of HUC-JIR (Cincinnati). After serving as the Senior Jewish Educator at the Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale University and as a Religious Life Consultant at Be’chol Lashon, Rabbi Isaama returned to work for the Reform Movement.  She brings an expertise in building Jewish community, a passion for life-long Jewish learning, and a commitment to affirming and celebrating Jewish diversity.

Creating community and building empathy through story and song. Zac Gondelman is an educator, song leader, activist, and do-er based in Boston, MA. A student at Brandeis University, Zac believes deeply in the power music has to create change. Zac works to create a warm, welcoming, uplifting, and youthful space for prayer and discussion. He feels fortunate to be a part of many tight-knit communities. Zac loves keeping his finger on the pulse of the music scene, exploring new places, baking french desserts, playing with his dog, and making music.

Hannah is a songleader, Jewish educator, and composer based in Manhattan. She holds a BFA in Music Theatre from The Hartt School, and has ten years of songleading experience across a wide variety of synagogues, youth groups, Jewish preschools, community centers, and summer camps. Hannah is thrilled to currently serve as the Education Director of Tkiya Music, integrating her skills and experience with Tkiya’s award-winning methodology to help build curriculum, support the teaching team, and maintain relationships with 80+ partner organizations. Her role allows her to bring Jewish music and education into the lives of so many young people while also empowering others to do the same! In her free time, you can find Hannah spending time with friends and writing original music. You can listen to her indie-pop music on all streaming platforms, and she hopes to one day record an album focused on Jewish compositions as well.

Alex (she/her) is a songleader, educator, and aspiring songwriter who is currently a member at Temple Emanu-El in North Andover, MA. For 12 years, Alex has worked in many different synagogues in the Massachusetts and New Hampshire area including Congregation Shirat Hayam and Temple Adath Yeshurun. At eighteen months old, Alex was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism, a social disorder that affects her interactions with other people. However, Alex always found comfort in Jewish music, and has been sharing her joyous lessons and songs with her students. For Alex, one of the greatest joys is watching and observing her students learn and grow with each other through music and singing, and enjoys the euphoric feeling of passing down her Jewish music to the next generation. She holds a BA in Theatre with a minor in Educational Studies from Salem State University and a Masters in Education from Merrimack College. If Alex isn’t strumming along to her favorite artists, you can find her working on her latest painting project or dabbling in cooking vintage recipes.

Director of Jewish Engagement & Adult Programs at the Ruth & Harold Sher Center of Jewish Life

Rabbi Brad Horwitz began his current position at the St. Louis Jewish Community Center in 2005 where he directs the JCC Ruth & Harold Sher Center of Jewish Life and supervises all JCC Jewish adult, cultural, senior services, community and family education programming. He graduated from the Jewish Theological Seminary (New York) in 2000 but is originally from Los Angeles, CA. In addition to his rabbinic ordination, he earned a Master’s in Jewish Education (MJE) and has leadership experience at many Jewish camps and day schools. As a graduate of the Day School Leadership Training Institute, Rabbi Brad is well versed in Jewish educational leadership both in formal and informal settings. He has particular expertise in prayer education and is the author of With All Your Heart: A Weekday Siddur that is currently in use at over fifty Jewish schools and religious institutions worldwide. Brad is a loving husband and proud father of three boys who has a penchant for cycling.

Founder/Spiritual Leader, Romenu

Rabbi Ingber was named by Newsweek as one of 2013’s top 50 most influential rabbis in the United States as well as by The Forward as one of the 50 most newsworthy and notable Jews in America, Rabbi David promotes a renewed Jewish mysticism that integrates meditative mindfulness and physical awareness into mainstream, post-modern Judaism. A major 21st Century Jewish thinker and educator, his rich perspective, open heart and mind, and full-bodied approach to Jewish learning has brought him to speak throughout the United States and worldwide throughout Canada, Europe and Israel.

Rabbi David’s distinct approach to Torah, rabbinical teaching, and ritualistic practice is informed by his own personal seeking and learning from a wide cross-section of sacred traditions and faiths. He is enlightened by Jewish mysticism and Chassidut, fusing these beliefs with those of other ancient philosophies and world views. Particular influences include 18th Century Kabbalist and Founder of Chassidut, Rabbi Yisrael Ba’al Shem Tov; the great 19th Century Ishbitzer Rebbe, R. Mordechai Leiner; and leading 20th Century thinkers from Kabbalist, Rav Abraham Isaac Kook to psychologist, Carl Jung and integral philosopher, Ken Wilber.

Rabbi David has taught at such eminent institutions as the Academy for Jewish Religion, Columbia University, CUNY, Jewish Theological Seminary, Limmud LA, New York University, the 92nd Street Y, Pardes, The Skirball Center at Temple Emmanuel, and Yeshivat HADAR. He sits on the Board of Directors of Aleph and Synagogue 3000 Next Dor’s Working Group of Sacred Emergent Communities where he continues to teach.

Raised Modern Orthodox in New York, Rabbi David studied at several distinguished yeshivot in Jerusalem and New York including Yeshiva University, Beit Midrash L’Torah, Yeshivat Chaim Berlin, and Yeshivat Chovovei Torah Rabbinical School. He also studied philosophy, psychology and religion at New York University. Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder of Renewal Judaism, ordained Rabbi David in 2004. Prior to founding Romemu, Rabbi David was Rabbi-in-Residence at Elat Chayyim Retreat Center.

Touring Artist/Educator, Asheville, NC

Billy Jonas is “Bridging Divides,” through rhythm and song, to heal divisions within ourselves, families, communities, and the world. Ask him about “Songs for Bridging Divides 2020 and Beyond!” Billy has captivated audiences worldwide since 1987, using voice, guitar and “industrial re-percussion” (instruments made from found objects). He currently tours with “The Billy Jonas Band,” and with the Muslim/Christian/Jewish super-trio, “Abraham Jam.” When home, Billy is a cantorial soloist at Congregation Beth HaTephila in Asheville NC. From the White House to the Middle East and beyond, each concert is a soul-spelunking, heart healing, joy-filled journey.

Shira Kline is a queer performance and ritual artist recognized as a revolutionary educator and named one of the re-engineers of Jewish life today. Known in the sanctuary as a spiritual adventurist, Shira practices in the field of sacred play where she weaves radical imagination, expansive heart and collective soul. In 2024, Shira received the Covenant Foundation Award for her profound impact on the field of Jewish Education. She is a frequent presenter at leadership and training conferences, seminaries and synogogues, with her series of vibrant professional development and musical invitations to connect, for a new and realized conscious world. Visit her in her primary playground, artist driven Lab/Shul, where she is a Co-Founder and serves as Spiritual Leader.

Jordan Lawrence serves as the Cantorial Soloist of Congregation Gates of Prayer in Metairie, LA. She has created and implemented original Shabbat experiences like “Broadway Shabbat” and “Swifty Shabbat,” setting the words of our liturgy to melodies that fit these respective themes to create a unique and festive Shabbat atmosphere. Originally from New Jersey, Jordan has made NOLA her home after receiving a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Tulane University, where she also founded, ran and music directed Tulane’s first and only Jewish a cappella group, the NJBeats. She grew up in Young Judaea, and was the Rikkud specialist at CYJ Sprout Lake for 5 years, where she energetically brought her passion for Israeli dancing and bringing people joy to the entire camp. Through Jordan’s encouragement to confidently sing or dance, you’re sure to find the pure joy in expressing your love of Judaism through music!

Rabbi Sandra Lawson (she/her) is a nationally recognized leader, visionary strategist, and community builder working at the intersection of Judaism, justice, and community transformation. As the Executive Director of Carolina Jews for Justice (CJJ), she brings her passion for equity, her commitment to grassroots organizing, and her visionary leadership to Jewish communities across North Carolina. Under her leadership, CJJ is expanding its reach and deepening its impact in North Carolina.

Eliana Light is cultivating a more connected world by making the urgent spiritual wisdom of Jewish liturgy and prayer practice (t’fillah) accessible and meaningful through her prayer leadership, consulting, teaching, and the Light Lab, a center for t’fillah education. Eliana has shared her unique “t’fillahsophy” as faculty at national Jewish education and songleading conferences, as a guest teacher at Hebrew Union College, the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Academy for Jewish Religion, and Limmud, and at synagogues, day schools, camps, and communities across North America. Eliana Rhymes (About Jewish Times!), her fifth album of playful, thoughtful original Jewish music, was released this fall. In 2023, she was awarded the Covenant Foundation’s Pomegranate Prize, and is this year’s Covenant Jewish Family Education Fellow. Eliana earned her Masters in Jewish Experiential Education from the JTS in 2016 and is based in Durham, NC.

Chava Mirel is a unique being in the world of music and spirit, defying classifications of style or genre. A multi-award-winning musician and composer whose voice was recently featured on a Grammy award-winning album, Chava is highly sought-after for collaborations and recordings.

Celebrated for her rich, luxurious vocals, lush harmonies, and rhythmic phrasing, Chava is also known for her loving and compassionate presence. Regardless of setting – spiritual gathering, concert hall, classroom, or jazz club – she imbues her music and teachings with the universal themes of hope, caring, connection, and inclusion.

Chava exhibits ease and fluency in an expansive array of musical styles. Celebrated as a singer-songwriter, World Music and Jazz artist, Chava is a featured vocalist for global Jazz Fusion band Duende Libre, who were recently recipients of the prestigious Golden Ear Award for Best Acoustic Jazz Ensemble in the Northwest.

Informal Education Expert, SLBC Program Director

Elisa Heiligman Recht is a Jewish community leader and educator with extensive experience in Jewish youth programming, camping, and teaching. Elisa regularly serves as a consultant for Jewish organizations throughout the US helping to develop powerful and effective strategies for creating exciting youth engagement experiences in Jewish settings. Elisa creates Jewish educational curricula and sprearheads the educational programming of the Songleader Boot Camp. Elisa holds undergraduate degrees in social work, Hebrew and Jewish studies, as well as a masters degree in social work from Washington University. Elisa is the founder of Soul Sparkler Jewelry and presents interactive, educational programs in Jewish communities throughout the US, inspiring audiences to achieve life balance through intention, gratitude, and wellness strategies.

Touring Artist/Educator, SLBC Founder & Executive Director

Rick Recht is the executive director of SLBC and the top-touring musician in Jewish music playing over 150 concerts a year in the United States and abroad. Recht is widely recognized for his appeal to youth and family audiences not only as an exceptional musician, singer/songwriter, and entertainer, but also as a role model for involvement in Jewish life. He has become an icon for Jewish youth in the United States, elevating the medium of Jewish music as a powerful and effective tool for developing Jewish pride and identity among the masses. Recht is the national music spokesman for The PJ Library and the founder and executive director of Jewish Rock Radio (501c3), the first high-caliber, 24/7, Jewish rock internet radio station.

Born in Germany to Colombian parents, Julian Voloj is the executive director of Be’chol Lashon, an organization celebrating Jewish diversity through storytelling. He started his professional career at the European Union of Jewish Students and has worked at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, Legacy Heritage Fund, Joint Distribution Committee, and Met Council before joining Be’chol Lashon.

Zoey Waldman-Schein (they/them) engages in work that spans across disciplines emphasizing music, Jewish education, non-profit development, and social justice facilitation. In addition to directing Atid: The SLBC Middle/Day School Chavurah at SLBC since 2018, they are the Director of Music Engagement at Congregation Shaare Emeth in St. Louis. Other notable professional roles include curriculum specialist with Tiny Windows Consulting and artistic director of Kolot: the Saint Louis Jewish Women’s Choir.

Dodie Whitaker (she/her) is a performer, educator, and community song leader who sparks connection through the power of collective voice. With four decades of experience on stages from Carnegie Hall to the Chicago Symphony Center, she brings equal parts artistry and infectious energy to her work. But her true calling lies in creating spaces where people of all ages, identities, and musical backgrounds find their voices—and discover what happens when those voices come together in harmony.

Co-author of the influential “Who is Community Singing For?”, Dodie weaves her biracial Jewish identity and commitment to racial justice into everything she does. She’s been a featured song leader at gatherings including Let My People Sing, Singing in Love, and Song Village, and serves on the music team with Dayenu Climate Justice. In 2020, she founded Vox for Change, a consulting firm dedicated to creating systemic change through her lifelong advocacy for racial, social, and LGBTQ+ justice. A prolific songwriter and arranger, her original compositions—drawing from classical, folk, rock, and musical theater traditions—are sung in spaces and gatherings across the world.

A Chicago native who spent many years as an Artist-in-Residence guiding students through rigorous music programs in Chicago Public Schools, Dodie now lives in Wisconsin’s beautiful Driftless Region with her husband, where they raised two incredible children. She coaches aspiring singers, is active in community theater, and serves as assistant conductor with the local RidgeTones choir. This is her second year at the conference, and she’s thrilled to share her music with the SLBC community! Learn more at www.dodiewhitaker.com.