Shavuot at Pearlstone

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Dr. Joel Hecker 

Joel Hecker serves as Professor of Jewish Mysticism at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, where he has been the only orthodox faculty member since 1995. Hecker is the author of Volume 11 and (with Nathan Wolski) Volume 12 of The Zohar: Pritzker Edition; Mystical Bodies, Mystical Meals: Eating and Embodiment in Medieval Kabbalah; and numerous articles in the history of Jewish Mysticism. He received rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University (1990) and his PhD in Jewish Studies from New York University (1996). 

Joey Weisenberg 

Musician, composer, and teacher Joey Weisenberg is the founder and director of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute, which cultivates grassroots musical-spiritual creativity in Jewish community. He is the author of The Torah of Music (2017 National Jewish Book Award) and Building Singing Communities. L’eila, his eighth album of original music, is Joey’s latest release on Rising Song Records.

Rabbi Matisyahu Tonti   

Rabbi Matisyahu Tonti has spent four years living and studying in Israel where he received a certificate in Jewish Philosophy and Pedagogy from the Shalom Hartman Institute, and Smicha from Yeshivat Sulam Ya’akov in Jerusalem. He holds a BA from Siegal College of Judaic Studies in Jewish Education. 

Julie Tonti

Julie Tonti is a Potter, Jewish Educator and Yoga Teacher residing outside Washington, DC where she runs her business, Claybrook Yoga and Pots. She enjoys spending time in nature and laughing with her 3 children.  

Jakir Manela, Adamah CEO

Jakir Manela, Adamah CEO, was trained as a Teva educator at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in 2004, established Kayam Farm in 2006, and served as the Executive Director of Pearlstone from 2012-2021. In 2022, he became the CEO of Hazon & Pearlstone, and oversaw their merger into Adamah.  

The Program Team at Pearlstone

The Program Team at Pearlstone adds excitement and learning opportunities throughout every retreat with Kids’ Camp, adult activities, and exploration opportunities.  

Frani S. Pollack

Frani S. Pollack is a licensed social worker and psychologist. She has been in clinical practice for 30 years and teaches graduate students at several University settings including the University of Pennsylvania and Yeshiva University offering classes in her community and conferences and contributing writing to journals and book publications. Frani has studied the Mussar Literature for the last 12 years and has integrated Mussar with her knowledge of psychology.  

Jenna Zadaka

Jenna Zadaka is an embodiment practitioner, trauma-informed somatic coach, educator in Jewish Mysticism and Mindfulness, author, and ceremonialist. She weaves spiritual, experiential, holistic, feminine, and earth-based wisdom into all of her offerings. Jenna believes in the power of each person’s inner-directed healing and trusts that the Divine Body allows us to discover the Source of Life through our flesh, reconnecting to our inherent joyous nature. She uses the pathways of somatics, spirituality and creative visualization for healing. A pillar of her approach to wellness includes receiving support from both our visible and invisible guides. As a celebrated teacher of Kabbalah, Yoga, and Mindfulness, Jenna humbly draws wisdom from her root-teachers and ancestors. Connect with her embodied teachings on Instagram @breathandsoul_Jenna and through her website, awethenticroots.com. 

Dr. Craig Schranz

Dr. Craig Schranz is an emergency medicine physician and Navy veteran with a passion for community Jewish education that brings people of diverse religious observance into common conversation.  He is the creator and facilitator of the Rabbi Sacks Community Book Club of Tidewater which had been highlighted as a model program by the Sacks Legacy Trust.  He hosts the Growing Jew Podcast and his writings have been featured in The Times of Israel and Aish.com.  

Rabbi Ezra Seligsohn

Rabbi Ezra Seligsohn is joining us from Bala Cynwyd, Philadelphia. Most recently, he served as the Associate Rabbi at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale – The Bayit, and on the faculty of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Ezra graduated from Yeshiva University, and as a Wexner fellow, received Semikha from YCT in 2017. In the rare moments when Ezra is not earnestly pursuing human connection and relationship-building, he is also a graphic designer, coffee drinker, cyclist, and nature lover. 

Azi Grysman

Azi Grysman is Associate Professor of Psychology at Dickinson College. His research on memory includes work on gender, memory conversations, and the stories we tell about important life experiences. He is currently working on a book provisionally titled “The Intergenerational Transmission of Meaning: Memories of the Holocaust across Three Generations”. Azi lives in Pikesville with his family.

Carmiya Weinraub

Carmiya Weinraub has a collection of jobs. She is a stand-up comedian and creator of Interfaith Comedy (tagline: God, We’re Funny), a show that reduces prejudice through laughter. She is a pastoral care team member for elderly residents at Charles E. Smith Jewish Life Communities. She is a Market Manager (translation: van driver) for a company specializing in locally grown produce. She has Masters degrees in Social Work & Jewish Studies from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary. She can play the harmonica and the ukelele if you give her enough time to practice. She gets bored easily. She lives in Rockville, MD with her 5 kids and husband (no wonder he meditates!)

Michael Weinraub

Michael Weinraub is a knowledge and learning specialist. He has worked as a Spanish bilingual elementary school teacher in Los Angeles, Professional Development Director at the New York City Department of Education, and a Learning Advisor at USAID (until February 2025, boo hoo!) Michael loves to build stuff, read and listen to books of all kinds, and practice Bikram Yoga. He gets a lot of satisfaction from meditating with others, and often quotes his meditation rebbe, Pema Chodron. He lives in Rockville, Maryland with his wife, Carmiya, and children. Follow his writing at https://michaelweinraub.wordpress.com/.