Jewish Yoga Festival Leaders

Rabbinic Pastor/Cantor Lisa Levine builds bridges between faith communities as a nationally renowned composer, author, poet & worship artist. Lisa earned her B.A. in Music from the UCI and went on to study at Hebrew Union College-JIR DFSSM in New York and was Ordained Hazzan with a Masters in Sacred Music. Her newest project “Jospel Jam” is a journey through her Jewish Gospel compositions. Ordained as Rabbinic Pastor through ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal, she serves as A-I-R at Temple Rodef Torah in Marlboro, NJ, and chaplain in MC MD. She is co-President of the Rabbinic Pastors Association.

Marcus J. Freed is President of the Jewish Yoga Network (www.jewishyoganetwork.org). He has spent 18 years developing authentic Torah approaches to yoga and meditation, and is bestselling author of The Kosher Sutras: A Yogi’s Guide to the Torah, The Kabbalah Sutras: A Yogi’s Guide to Counting the Omer, The Festive Sutras: A Yogi’s Guide to Shabbat and Jewish Festivals, and has shared these teachings in 18 countries. Marcus is an actor, writer, filmmaker and business consultant with Freedthinking. Sign up for his regular teachings at www.marcusjfreed.com and follow Marcus on social @marcusjfreed.

Nati Acuña is the passionate founder of “Jai”, a global initiative that blends Jewish values with yoga and coaching techniques to allow each person to reveal the power of their soul. Originally from Colombia, Nati holds a Master’s degree in Personal Development and Leadership from Universidad de Barcelona and a Master’s in Yoga Studies from Università Ca’ Foscari di Venezia. She is a Paideia Alumna, a member of the ROI and LAZOS Latam communities, a volunteer for Bet Shalom Barcelona Women’s group, and a collaborator of innovative projects such as At The Well and Jewtina y Co. Connect with Nati: IG: @jai.global | @nati4.0

Roland Brandman is the chairman of HaMakom, the leading UK charity for Jewish meditation. He is also a professional chazan, a real-estate lawyer and a member of the illustrious Athenaeum Club. He is currently writing a book on Jewish foundations for contemplative spirituality.

Kinneret Dubowitz is a practicing Modern Orthodox Jew & a certified yoga teacher since 1996 with a Masters degree as a dance therapist since 1999. The founder/director of KinneretYoga Teachers Training (a yoga alliance accredited yoga program that certifies Jewish women of all denominations to teach a synergy of styles of yoga), Kinneret has run ongoing teacher training programs in Israel, New York, and Toronto and now on Zoom – as well as continuing education zoom certifications in yin yoga. Kinneret also runs Jewish women wellness/yoga retreats in Canada, has taught yoga workshops extensively throughout North America, is the founder of the Jewish Women’s Yoga Network group, and is a blogger on Embodiment & Judaism for the Times of Israel.  She currently teaches yoga & dance on Zoom & in person in Toronto. 

Estelle Eugene founded Yoga Mosaic, which eventually became the Jewish Yoga Network! She has taught Yoga since 1982. Estelle have always loved the connections and complementary similarities found in Judaism and Yogic teachings and have been involved with the Jewish Yoga Network from inception.

Julie Emden, E-RYT-500, Halprin Practitioner, is the Founding Director of Embodied Jewish Learning (EJL). EJL elevates the wisdom of the body in Jewish life and hosts a global network for leaders and seekers of embodied Jewish wisdom.

A graduate of five fellowship and teaching certification programs related to her work as a Jewish educator, movement/expressive artist, and Iyengar-based yoga instructor, Julie is passionate about awakening the body as a gateway to inner knowing. She has over two decades of experience guiding others in somatic explorations of Jewish wisdom teachings as a resource for living in balance and wholeness.

Deborah Glassman initially turned to yoga as a means to release stress. What she found was much more profound- a practice that was healing and balancing physically, emotionally and spiritually. Her self-discovery led to completion of a teacher training in 2008. As her practice has deepened, Deb experienced a commonality with Judaism that aligned and enhanced her connection to Gd and her Jewish heritage. A natural teacher and healer she began to share her wisdom and Shabbhakti- Prayer In Motion was born. Off the mat, Deb is a parent, partner, physician and performer.

Steven J. Gold, BA Antioch College, Philosophy and Religion; JD Emory Law School, is the founder/director of Torah-Veda (formerly Yoga and Judaism Center) in Atlanta, GA. He is an initiate and practitioner for more than 40 years in a Himalayan meditation tradition. He is a graduate of the Karin Kabalah Center course on Kabalah: A Process of Awakening, and has continued a course of study of Torah and mystical Judaism in light of yoga for several years. He is the author of several books and has been teaching meditation and related classes on Indian and Jewish mysticism for many years. 

Emily Herzfeld has been a certified yoga instructor (200 hour) since 2013 through the lineage of Satchidananda and completed training for teaching yoga to children in 2015.  Her style of yoga is Raja Yoga and her passion lies in teaching Jewish themed yoga to adults and children alike.  With a Masters degree in early education and sixteen years teaching experience teaching nursery school, religious school, and synagogues, Emily’s yoga classes are comprehensive, enriching, and a wonder — full introduction and ongoing experience.  Her children’s yoga classes emphasize mindfulness, breathing, values, and fun while engaging students in various ways.

thejewishyogi@gmail.com

Born in Ramat Gan, Israel, raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Rabbi Schachar Orenstein received Orthodox ordination where he currently resides, Montreal, Canada. A student of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi z”l, Rabbi Schachar has served as a congregational rabbi in Montreal and Vancouver. His Yin and Restorative Yoga facilitation certification comes via Soul Weaver Yoga. He received his Laughter Yoga instructor training from Laughter Yoga International University. In his role as Co-Executive Director of Aleph Canada, he recently organized the “Hinenu: Embodied Judaism Program.” He often accompanies his yoga classes with live music on his guitar.

Ida Unger has a Master’s Degree in Education is an Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor with extensive experience in guiding students to understand and practice the ancient mind-body science of yoga.  She grew up with a Yeshiva education and has continued study of the holy texts throughout her life, for the last 30 years under the guidance of Rabbi Johnathan Ommerman, and his community of Jewish meditators, Metivta.  She has extensive experience teaching yoga at the college, high school, private studios, and in retreat settings.   Since the early 90’s, as a result of revelations during yoga practice, she has been connecting her Jewish “roots’ with her yogic ‘wings”, resulting in the development of a curriculum that honors both traditions, while offering an illumination of their commonalities, historically and viscerally.  She is honored to share this work.

Rabbi Elyssa Austerklein is the Founding Director of Ivrim Jews Without Borders (jewswithoutborder.org) a “synagogue in your heart” dedicated to personal spiritual growth. Rabbi Elyssa shares her love of Divine Spirit (God) and Holy Teaching (Torah) by searching for and making meaning. As an artist, yogi, musician, mother and wife, she forms outlets for expressing joy and sorrow, questioning and certainty. She is a graduate of Brandeis University, BU School of Theology, and was ordained by the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College. Rabbi Elyssa has published articles, ritual, midrash and poetry in The Forward, eJewish Philanthropy, the Journal Kerem, and the “Ask the Rabbis” section in Moment Magazine, among other publications. She is a trained mikveh guide, has led Hallel with Women of the Wall in Jerusalem, and is Vice-President of the OHALAH Clergy Association. Rabbi Elyssa is a Rabbis Without Borders Fellow, and was named one of America’s most inspiring rabbis by The Forward. She walks outside in nature in sunshine, snow and rain. www.elyssajoyauster.com