During college I had the incredible experience of singing with Pizmon, the Jewish a cappella group of Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary. With Pizmon, I traveled around the world performing and teaching Jewish music. After college I began my career as a special educator, teaching emotionally disturbed students in New York City. I then studied at the Pardes Educators program in Jerusalem.  In Jerusalem, I davenned an independent traditional-egalitarian minyan called Kedem. Through my experience in this minyan, I deepened my knowledge and abilities in integration of niggun and song into  prayer, learning how to mindfully choose and intentionally balance the familiar nusach with song.

     To my good fortune, after 4 years of living in Jerusalem, I found a job that melded my passion for education with my passion for Jewish life and learning.  Since moving to the Bay Area in 2011, I have been the Director of Educational Support at the Jewish Community High School of the Bay. A core part of my (weekday) job is helping teachers access their creativity in finding multiple ways for student to learn. Leading prayer harnesses those same values, challenging the shaliach tzibbur to offer multiple opportunities for people to access the divine.

     Over the past 8 years of living in Berkeley, my husband, Rabbi Joshua Ladon and I, have created a family. My daughter, Elisheva Maayan, is 6 years old and completing 1st grade at Oakland Hebrew Day School. My son, Zohar Yisrael, is 4 years old, and is loving his time at Gan Shalom Preschool. And my daughter Yona Sima, will turn 1 in July, and is simply scrumptious. I feel so fortunate for the opportunity to be the part-time cantorial soloist at Temple Beth Abraham, and I look forward to connecting with the community.