Performer bios & images

Full Bios available on the Press Kit

Performers:

Galeet Dardashti As the granddaughter of Yona Dardashti, the most renowned singer of Persian classical music in Iran in his day, and daughter of highly esteemed cantor Farid Dardashti, Middle Eastern vocal innovator, Galeet is the first woman in her family to continue her family tradition of distinguished Persian and Jewish musicianship.  www.galeetdardashti.com   Download  Hi-res photo  

Divahn is the edgy all-female power-house ensemble led by Galeet. The group has engendered an international following, performing in venues ranging from international concert hallsto the most prestigious clubs in NYC. Infusing traditional and original Middle Eastern Jewish songs with sophisticated harmonies, entrancing improvisations, and funky arrangements. www.divahn.com

Josh Nelson, formerly of Boston but now New York City, is one of the most popular performers and producers in modern Jewish music. Mayyim Hayyim is blessed to have had Josh arrange and direct past productions—including last year's The Colors of Water as well as the Mikveh Monologues I and II—as well as produce the CD Immersed—Music for Mayyim Hayyim.   www.joshnelsonproject.com   Download hi-res photo

Shira Kline (aka ShirLaLa) is a celebrated New York based performer and music educator. Traveling across the country and internationally with her kiddie rock band, Shira delivers a dynamic, interactive program of joy and spirit, story and song. www.shirlala.com   Download hi-res photo

Tiffany Gordon is a second year student at the Rabbinical School at Hebrew College. She finds pleasure in serving her community as a teacher in and director of the Beit Rabban Youth Program at Temple Beth Zion in Brookline.   Download hi-res photo

Sheree Galpert is a professional actor, writer, educator, and organization development consultant. Her consulting company, Dramatic Results, uses theater-based techniques to help business clients address critical organizational issues, including diversity, communication, and leadership development.

David Wolfman is a Lay Leader-Clergy Relationships / Transition Specialist for the Congregational Consulting Group. Rabbi Wolfman is also the Director of the North American Commission on Rabbinic-Congregation Relations (NCRCR) which is a joint commission of the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis. He performed in The Mikveh Monologues in 2007 at the URJ Biennial in San Diego and is in a band that performs contemporary Jewish music.

Playwrights:

Bestselling author Anita Diamant and television writer-director Janet Buchwald co-wrote the script for Take Me to the River with Amichai Lau-Lavie, the founder and executive/artistic director of Storahtelling. Ms. Buchwald is also directing the production. Ms. Diamant and Ms. Buchwald have collaborated on past Mayyim Hayyim performances, including the nationally performed Mikveh Monologues.

Honorees:

Amy Fleming is one of Mayyim Hayyim’s biggest supporters, a board member and mikveh guide since 2006. “I started my Jewish journey at age 15. I’m still on it and Mayyim Hayyim is part of it,” she says.

Jonathan Fleming is the Managing General Partner of Oxford Bioscience Partners, an international venture capital firm specializing in life science technology based investments, with offices in Boston and Connecticut. “I support Mayyim Hayyim because I support entrepreneurs,” he says.

Mayyim Hayyim's First Class of Volunteer Mikveh Guides

Matia Rania Angelou * Rebekah Barkowitz * Lisa Berman * Kathy Bloomfield *  Rachael Bregman * Nechama Cheses * Judy Chudnofsky * Sherri Davoudgoleh* Gail P. Elson * Dr. Myrna Finn * Amy Friedman, Ph.D. * Bonnie Gerber Jenson * Michael Gilman * Roberta Gross-Torres * Dr. Suzanne Hanser Teperow * Dr. Shirah Hecht * Dr. Deborah Issokson * Ken (Yechezkel) Lawrence * Lisa Mansdorf Pollack * Melissa Patz * Barbara Hemley Rosenn, Psy.D * Lori Silverstone * Sheila Wolfson * Janet Yassen * Malka Young