Nefesh is an open-hearted, spiritual outreach community welcoming all of the identities that make up who we are and who we love. Born in the multicultural beauty of LA’s east side neighborhoods, Nefesh cultivates empathy, love, and justice. Nefesh is an open doorway to the wisdom, ritual, and melodies of the Jewish tradition – a place to find and be found.
Nefesh brings the songs of the self, the song of the other, the song of the community, and the song of the world into a sacred song. We know there are times when we elevate one or the other in our lives. Nefesh reminds, supports, and provides teachings and practices to help us hold all four. As a community, we hold our inner lives and spiritual growth; we hold care, responsibility, and knowledge of others; we hold the repair of the world.
Nefesh is an intentional, outreach community: we place the margin at the center. We center the folks who have struggled to find Jewish community and their authentic, valued place within it. This includes women, multicultural Jews, Jews of Color, spiritual seekers, queer and trans people, Deaf Jews, Jews by choice, young adults, elders, interfaith families, and people who have felt excluded from or devalued within Jewish spaces.
We are a middot-driven community elevating the deepest values of the Jewish tradition as the grounding framework for our spiritual learning, practice, and growth.
We are a transdenominational community connecting people through ritual across identity, belief, and lived experience.
We are a participatory community drawing on the collective skills, efforts, talents, and resources of those who are creating Nefesh together. Our sliding scale membership model, known as Kinship, was developed in a community process in order to reflect our values of accessibility and responsiveness.
We are a community of care dedicated to participating in healing justice for ourselves, the people we love, and the places we live, through lay-led community organizing.
Whether you seek a meaningful Jewish experience or a spiritual home you are welcome at Nefesh.
Rabbi Susan Goldberg
Rabbi Susan Goldberg isn’t going to stop reminding you about the good stuff. That’s her now, shouting from the rooftops about empathy, love and justice. It’s not just her message, it’s part of an infectious and joyful worldview that has transformed each community she touches. Through spirituality, creativity and wisdom, her leadership inspires care for both the inner world and the world around us.
Nefesh team
Rabbi Aaron Leven
ASSOCIATE RABBI
Rabbi Aaron’s rabbinate is defined by joyful pluralism, the pursuit of justice, and vibrant social connection. At Nefesh, he places special emphasis on learning as an entry point to community, spending much of his time teaching about our ancient tradition and the ways it fits into, and reveals more about, our modern world. Rabbi Aaron is a B’nai Jeshurun Rabbinic Fellow, was a New Israel Fund Froman Fellow, and participated in T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights’ Israel fellowship. Prior to becoming a rabbi, he studied at Yeshivat Hadar, served in the Avodah Jewish Service Corp in New Orleans, and worked as the New York Hub Manager for OneTable. Rabbi Aaron received rabbinic ordination, an MA in Bible, and a certificate in Pastoral Care from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He graduated from Emory University with a BA in Middle Eastern Studies.
Rabbi Aaron is a native Angeleno and is grateful to be back on the West Coast with his wife after several years making New York city their home. He believes that rich Torah can be found anywhere, including on the dance floor or the basketball court.
Jordana Fraider
Executive Director
Jordana Fraider is a strategic, collaborative, and deeply compassionate non-profit executive.
She comes to Nefesh from the world of arts and culture, bringing with her 10 years of experience in theater, contemporary visual art, and resource mobilization for community-based social justice initiatives to bear on both community and institution building at Nefesh.
Ellen Kennedy
program director
If you live on the east side of Los Angeles and you have children, you’ve probably come across “Miss Ellen” in some way, shape or form. But Ellen is not only a beloved baby and toddler music teacher in the neighborhood. She has had a multifaceted career as a TV producer, a show creator, a local kindie-rock star, an early childhood music specialist, a Torah school educator, a music school director, a curriculum creator, a liturgical singer, and an event planner. Working for Nefesh is a dream come true, nourishing her body, mind, and soul. She lives in Mount Washington with her husband, three teenage sons, and two cats.
Duvid Swirsky
MusicAL Co-Director & Hazan
Duvid has been with Nefesh since the beginning and we are lucky to have him as the Nefesh music director. He is a musician, producer and singer-songwriter from Israel living in Los Angeles.
Sally Dworsky
MusicAL Co-Director
Sally is incredibly inspired and honored to be making music with Duvid Swirsky and the rest of the Nefesh band and community, which has become the spiritual home she longed for and would have chosen, regardless of her official role.
Sasha Perry
Tikkun organizer
Sasha is a white Trans/queer working-class Ashkenazi jew who organizes in earth/animal liberation spaces. They are a third-year Rabbinic student in the ALEPH Ordination Program and graduated in the first cohort of their Earth Based Judaism program. Sasha is a Tzedek Lab member, a former Jeremiah Fellow for social change, and 6-Points Artist Fellow.
Rabbi Yechiel Hoffman
YOUTH EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Rabbi Dr. Yechiel Hoffman has enriched the Jewish journeys of children and adults in Los Angeles and around the world in synagogues, schools and community organizations. Yechiel guides organizations to foster creativity, holistic wellbeing and greater growth and performance, and promotes a relational approach to collective inquiry, collaboration, and experimentation. Yechiel serves on the boards of the Jewish Studio Project, Beloved Builders, and R&R: The Rest of our Lives, transforming the broader Jewish community through innovative approaches to social entrepreneurship, social justice, diversity and human wellbeing. Yechiel received the prestigious Pomegranate Prize from the Covenant Foundation and earned a Doctorate in Education from Northeastern University.
TALK TO ME ABOUT: Your family’s Jewish journey and how Makom can be the place for you and your kids to connect, learn and grow.
Josh Fu
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
Josh joins Nefesh after a 15 year career in independent film, working extensively in marketing and publicity for studios such as IFC Films, Oscilloscope and a24, non-profit organizations like The National Board of Review and Los Angeles Festival of Movies, in addition to writing, directing and producing his own work. A Nefesh Kin turned team member, he is excited to deepen his relationship with Nefesh, and help amplify its many programs, services, and other offerings.
TALK TO ME ABOUT: our community emails, social media, old movies
Melissa Martin
DEVELOPMENT & ADMIN ASSOCIATE
Melissa Martin is native to the mountainous San Gabriel Valley and has a deep passion for all arts and animals – especially theatre, ceramics, and cats. She brings care and clarity to coordinating and organizing complex projects, cultivating genuine relationships, and keeping highly detailed records. Melissa’s creative spirit and commitment to social justice are deeply intertwined, inspiring her to use her hands to build a better world, her mind to create change, and her voice to speak for those who cannot.
TALK TO ME ABOUT: Kinship renewals, payment plans for offerings, or to nerd out together about art, astronomy, and animals
Rebecca Goldberg
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT & LIFECYCLE COORDINATOR
Rebecca Goldberg is a project manager and native New Jerseyean. Prior to joining the Nefesh team as Rabbi Susan’s executive assistant, she worked for over ten years in TV animation production and oversight. She brings with her a passion for inclusivity, collaboration, and art with a purpose.
TALK TO ME ABOUT: Your next lifecycle event (b’nai mitzvot, weddings, baby namings, etc.), setting time with a rabbi, or if you have a question and you’re not sure who else to ask.
Ari Herstand
Musician
Ari has been with the Nefesh service since its inception. As Nefesh has grown, Nefesh became an important part of Ari’s Jewish identity.
Nefesh is not just a gig anymore for Ari. It is a place where he feels connected spiritually, culturally and communally.
Leah Zeger
MUSICIAN
Leah Zeger is from a family of professional classical string players. She won a position in the Austin Symphony at 19 and got her BA in opera from University of Texas. She began her LA music career in 2010 quickly winning a position in the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and film and tv scoring sessions. She has toured as a solo violinist with Miley Cyrus, ELO, Annie Lennox, Cee Lo Green, Stevie Wonder, and is currently a solo violinist/vocalist for Hans Zimmer. Zeger is also a songwriter, And has several albums, all available on most listening platforms. (Spotify, ITunes, CD Baby etc. )
Dan Potruch
MUSICIAN
Dan Potruch is a Los Angeles-based drummer and percussionist with over three decades of experience. He is currently touring with Cat Power, performing on her worldwide tour honoring Bob Dylan’s 1966 Royal Albert Hall performance. Throughout his career, Dan has performed and recorded with musicians like Keb Mo, Joe Perry, Billy Gibbons, Butch Trucks, and Richie Kotzen, and worked with producers such as Andy Slater and Jack Douglas. His passion for music and collaboration continues to shape his dynamic career..
Noah Kennedy
SOUND TECHNICIAN
Noah Kennedy is a Los Angeles based artist, producer, recording, and mix engineer. Having grown up surrounded by music, he found a love and attachment to the world at an early age, and jumped right into freelance recording straight out of high school. He always tries to make sessions fun and comfortable for all artists, and loves working with the Nefesh band and team.
Nefesh Board
Tali Pressman – Chair
Daniela Gerson – Vice Chair
Alexander Kargher – Secretary
Patricia Baum – Treasurer
Shanti Chandra
Joshua Deighton
Zackary Drucker
Piper Kamins
Rebecca Lehrer
Paula Manzanedo
Spencer Neiman
Sylvia Paz
Tannaz Sassooni
Joey Soloway
Rabbi Susan Goldberg
Institutional Supporters
