My name is Mitch, I grew up in Massachusetts and in addition to being an educator I’m also a professional musician, mediator, mindfulness meditation practitioner, martial artist, amateur magician (that was a long time ago), and I’m old enough to have watched Sesame Street from the beginning – so I can tell you, I am brought to you by the letter ‘M’ (IYKYK).

 

I’ve been teaching for a long time, starting as adjunct faculty in the music departments of the Newton and Milton Public Schools, and I’ve also taught at Northeastern University, Salem State, Endicott College, Harvard Program on Negotiation, and, starting in 2014, became adjunct faculty at Hebrew College, and occasional visiting faculty at Jewish Theological Seminary. I’ve also taught workshops at many Jewish conferences and workshops and programs, including NewCAJE, Aleph Kallah, Jewish Men’s Retreat, and have been a Fellow/Graduate of the Jewish Studio Project, Davennen Leadership Training Institute (DLTI), RISE Jewish Storyteller/Educator, and I serve on the board of directors of Teach the Shoah (teachtheshoah.org), a Holocaust based storytelling training program. As part of DLTI, my particular interest is understanding and creating Jewish liturgy and Torah study.

 

I was particularly drawn to Jewish education once my kids were born, more than twenty years ago, and have taught in several local religious schools and synagogues. I’m often the drummer (drum set or hand drums) for many touring Jewish musicians, including Jeff Klepper, Noah Aronson, Joe Buchanan, Elana Arian, and others. And if you attended the concert as part of Rabbi Perkins’ retirement weekend, I was the drummer with Josh Warshawski in his band Chaverai Nevarech. I lead Sacred, Jewish, and Interfaith drum circles with chanting, drumming, meditation, and movement across the country for BBYO, Hillel, and at many synagogues and ritual centers.