FULL SPEAKER BIOS (In Alphabetical Order)
Maggie Anton
Maggie Anton was born Margaret Antonofsky in Los Angeles, California, where Maggie Anton was born Margaret Antonofsky in Los Angeles, California, where she still resides. Raised in a secular, socialist household, she began studying Judaism in college. That was the start of a lifetime of Jewish education, synagogue involvement, and ritual observance. This was in addition to working full-time as a clinical chemist for Kaiser Permanente for over 30 years. In 1992 Anton joined a women's Talmud class where, to her surprise, she fell in love with Talmud, a passion that has continued unabated for twenty years.
Intrigued that the great Talmudic scholar Rashi had no sons, only daughters, Anton researched the family and decided to write novels about them. Thus the award-winning trilogy, Rashi's Daughters, was born, to be followed by National Jewish Book Award finalist, Rav Hisda's Daughter: Apprentice and its sequel, Enchantress.
Still studying women and Talmud, Anton has lectured throughout North America, Europe and Israel about the history behind her novels. Her most recent effort is the Ben Franklin Award winner for Religion, Fifty Shades of Talmud: What the First Rabbis Had to Say about You-Know-What, a light-hearted look at our Sages's surprisingly progressive views on sexuality.
John Ashbaugh
John Ashbaugh is a native Californian, born in Redding. His hometown has recently been in the news every day as firefighters there battle the deadly Carr Fire, which has destroyed over 1,000 homes and killed at least seven.
Ashbaugh developed a keen interest in the outdoors at an early age, a natural result of a rural upbringing in a city ringed with National Forests and Parks, snow-capped mountains, and abundant rivers. His academic training at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Cal Berkeley led him to a career in environmental planning. After meeting and marrying Patricia Nemec in 1977, the Ashbaughs settled in San Luis Obispo County where they raised two daughters, one of whom has made them grandparents last year.
Ashbaugh is currently writing a book about the environmental movement in the Central Coast of California. At the same time that he’s attempting to accurately describe the record of those who have worked tirelessly to preserve the natural resources of this very special part of the planet, Ashbaugh is advocating an entirely new chapter in that movement: The creation of the Pecho Coast National Seashore. This area would add approximately 25,000 acres to the National Park System, centered on the lands surrounding the last operating nuclear power plant in California, PG&E’s Diablo Canyon.
BRUCE EINHORN (KEYNOTE)
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Bruce J. Einhorn received his B.A., magna cum laude, in History from Columbia University in 1975, and received his Juris Doctorate from New York University Law School in 1978. From 1979 to 1990, Bruce Einhorn served as a special prosecutor and later as Chief of Litigation in the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Special Investigations (“OSI”), the agency charged with seeking the identification and prosecution of fugitive Nazi war criminals in the United States.
He then served as United States Immigration Judge for Los Angeles from July 1990 through January 2007. In that capacity, he presided over and adjudicated cases of foreign-born, non-U.S. citizens whose immigration status in the United States had been brought into question by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security.
For over 20 years, Judge Einhorn has served as a National Commissioner of the Anti-Defamation League, where he also served as Pacific Southwest Regional Board Chair and Co-Chair of the Latino-Jewish Roundtable of Los Angeles. Judge Einhorn now serves as the Founding Chair and President of the Coalition for the Advocacy of the Persecuted and Enslaved ("CAPE"), a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide free legal and therapeutic services to asylum seekers and victims of torture and human trafficking.
Len Felder, PhD
Len Felder, PhD is a licensed psychologist in West Los Angeles whose 14 books on Jewish spirituality and personal growth have sold over 1 million copies. His titles include "The Dilemma of the 21st Century Male," "More Fully Alive," "Here I Am," and "Fitting In Is Overrated." He is an active parent for a child with special needs and he has learned a lot about teamwork during 33 years of marriage to artist Linda Schorin.
Dr. Tali Freed
Bio TBA
Rabbi Dov Gottesfeld
Rabbi Dov Gottesfeld has been a Hebrew teacher and lecturer on the Hebrew language for five decades. He has taught Hebrew to students of all ages – beginners and advanced. He has lectured in educational seminars to Hebrew teachers on his unique approach to teaching Hebrew. Rabbi Gottesfeld has also lectured to Christian audiences on the mistranslation of Psalms from Hebrew to English. Rabbi Gottesfeld has done comprehensive research in the usage of the existing Hebrew vocabulary in Biblical time to express ideas for which words did not exist yet. Currently, Rabbi Gottesfeld is working on a book, which offers a modern commentary on the book of Genesis.
Rabbi Chaim Hilel
Rabbi Chaim Hilel hails from Montreal, Canada. He graduated from the Central Lubavitch Yeshivah in Montreal, where he received his rabbinical ordination. He has been involved in religious outreach throughout the world, including Israel, Morocco, Hawaii and all over California . Together with his wife Miki they have been directing chabad on the central coast since 2009.
Rabbi Micah Hyman
Rabbi Micah Hyman is the Associate Rabbi of Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades. He served as the Director of Advanced Jewish Studies at Tarbut V’Torah in Orange County. A fourth generation Angeleno, Rabbi Hyman received his BA from Michigan and Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary with a Masters in Jewish Art and Material Culture. He also served as a Senior Educator of Beit Hatfutsot America, implementing a Covenant Signature Grant curating Jewish family stories through visual art. He was formerly Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom in San Francisco, a Chaplain at UCLA Medical Center, the Assistant Director of Camp Ramah in Ojai, and a year as a Rabbi in Paris. He also spends any free time in Morro Bay to cook and hike with his sons Nathan (14) and Theo (11).
Rabbi Rachel Isaacs
Rachel Isaacs was named one of “America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis” (2014) by the Jewish Daily Forward. Ordained in 2011 by the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she studied as a Wexner Graduate Fellow, Isaacs is the spiritual leader of Beth Israel Congregation.
She is also the inaugural holder of the Dorothy “Bibby” Levine Alfond chair in Jewish Studies, teaching courses on Hebrew, Jewish theology, and Jewish humor. In 2016, she delivered the final Hanukkah benediction of the Obama Administration at the White House. She is widely credited with the renaissance of Jewish life at Colby and in Waterville.
Teri Kanefield
Bio TBA
Dan Krieger
Dan Krieger, Ph.D. is Professor of History, Emeritus at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and a past president of the San Luis Obispo Historical Society (now the History Center) and the California Mission Studies Association, now the California Missions Foundation. He is the historian for the Salinan Tribe of San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties. Since 1984, he has chaired the historic oversite committee at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. He is the author of “Times Past,” a weekly history column for the San Luis Obispo County Tribune (McClatchy), 1983-present. He created and taught the first course on the Shoah at Cal Poly, 2004-2012. For many years, Dan and his wife Liz worked with Emily McGinn in research the history of the Jewish presence and communities in San Luis Obispo County. They served on the first and second Day of Remembrance Committees and Dan was the principal speaker at the first program in 1987.They have twice been honored by Hadassah for their work.
Abby Lassen
Abby Lassen majored in cultural anthropology at Stanford University and attended UC Hastings College of the Law with the intent to become a public interest lawyer. While raising her two daughters, she was employed in social welfare and education positions, as well as an attorney with an emphasis in government benefits and access to health care. During her almost three decades residing in San Luis Obispo County, a priority for Abby's volunteer activities has been participating in organizations which foster the Jewish community. In the late 1990's along with Emily McGinn, she led Jewish Community United which coordinated a calendar for the local Jewish organizations and their lighting the menorah in Mission Plaza, plus sponsoring several Jewish Cultural Celebrations. Abby was honored by Hadassah for her leadership in the Jewish community. She served as a co-chair for the San Luis Obispo regional board for the Anti-Defamation League office in Santa Barbara and coordinated its receptions which honored local schools' and YMCA programs' participation in the ADL No Place for Hate initiative. Abby currently serves as a co-chair for the JCC/Federation's Community Affairs Council.
Rabbi Rick Litvak
Rabbi Richard Litvak is the Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Beth El in Aptos California and the Interim Rabbi of Congregation Beth David in San Luis Obispo, CA. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Vassar College where he majored in Religious Studies. He also received Rabbinical Ordination from the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Judaism as well as a Masters Degree in Hebrew Arts and Letters. Rabbi Litvak also received a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and is a practicing Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Rabbi Litvak is a dynamic teacher and gifted leader who has had a rabbinate marked by building caring communities actively dedicated to social justice and meaningful Jewish spirituality. He has taught Judaism and Religion as well at Dennison University and the University of California Santa Cruz and served as the Hillel Rabbi at both Universities. He has special expertise in the intersection of Judaism, Positive Psychology and Spirituality. Rabbi Litvak is an instructor for the Mussar Institute and Wise Aging programs.
Zack Lodmer
Zack Lodmer is a yoga instructor, musician, and The Director of the L.A. Tech Initiative at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. As the founder and leader of Om Shalom Yoga, Zack weaves Jewish ritual, philosophy, and melodies into an all-levels experience. He infuses breath awareness, intuitive sequencing, community-building, and humor into all of his sessions. Zack's teachings give students the tools to find their own joy, strength, and equanimity both on the mat and well beyond the mat, into everyday life.
Hussein Aboubakr Mansour (KEYNOTE)
Hussein Aboubakr Mansour was born in Cairo to an Arab Muslim family. Growing up, he was obsessed by popular stories about Jews and Israelis as demons and was convinced by the pervasive antisemitic rhetoric of his schools, mosque, and media. After embarking on a journey of self-education, teaching himself Hebrew via the internet, he started to question his world view and became aware of the radical Islamism around him.
Hussein studied Hebrew at Cairo University but was uncomfortable with the official anti-Israeli, anti-Semitic propaganda. After the authorities discovered he was first visitor to the Israeli Academic Center of Cairo, he was surveilled, harassed, jailed and tortured for his studies of Israel.
After Hussein shared his opinions online, his family disowned him.
During the Egyptian Revolution in 2011, he became an organizer in Tahrir Square. The secret police continued harassing him and he was forced into hiding finding refuge in the Christian community. He left Egypt and received asylum in the United States in 2014 and is now a public speaker and an Assistant Professor of Hebrew.
Rabbi Janice MehringRabbi Mehring grew up in the Reform movement with Jewish summer camp being responsible for her love of Judaism through music, community and creative prayer. She has shared this passion by teaching religious school since she was 15 years old.
She completed her undergraduate education at UCLA, received a Master's degree in Physical Therapy from USC and for many years, had an orthopedic private practice before answering the call to become a rabbi. She sees this transformation as a perfect fit, moving from physical healing to spiritual healing. Rabbi Mehring received a Master's degree in Rabbinic Studies and was ordained at the Academy for Jewish Religion, CA, a trans-denominational seminary for rabbis, cantors and chaplains. She has served as spiritual leader and rabbi of Congregation Ohr Tzafon in Atascadero since 2007. Rabbi Mehring formally trained with Cantors Nathan Lam and Perryne Anker before redirecting her studies to become a rabbi. It is still through Jewish music that this 'singing rabbi' finds deep spiritual connection and depth. She has sung locally with the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale and with Canzona, a women's chamber vocal ensemble.
Rabbi Mehring is committed to understanding and dialogue amongst people of varied faith traditions. Her commitment to this work goes beyond finding what is common to our faith traditions, to working towards mutual respect and understanding of our differences. She works toward building a just world for all by service as a board member for People of Faith for Justice, Community Affairs Council for the Jewish Community Center of San Luis Obispo, and the North County Clergy Group. She is the rabbinic director for the Central Coast Community Hevra Kadisha.
Stephen Llyod-Moffet
Bio TBA
Gita Ryle (KEYNOTE)
Gitta Ryle is a Holocaust survivor. She was born in Vienna, Austria, April 10, 1932. She was married for 36 years until her husband Bob passed in 1993. She has three children, Janine, Marcus and Geoffrey; and four grandchildren.
Her mission to tell her story is "their job is not to forget. They can tell future generations that they met someone who lived through it, so they know it really happened."
Aaron J. Hahn Tapper (KEYNOTE)
Aaron J. Hahn Tapper, the Mae and Benjamin Swig Professor in Jewish Studies and the founding Director of the Swig Program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice, has been at USF since 2007. An educator for more than two decades, his primary academic interest is the intersection between identity formation, social justice, and marginalized groups.
Aaron completed his PhD in the Religious Studies Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he studied the History of Religions, the Sociology of Religions, Nonviolence and Religions, Politics and Religions, and Modern Islamic Movements. His Dissertation focused on the relationship between power, the sociopolitical context of Israel and Palestine, and Jewish and Islamic religious law (halachah and shari'a, respectively). He also received an MTS from Harvard Divinity School, where he focused on World Religions, and a BA from Johns Hopkins University, where he majored in Psychology.
In 2003 he founded Abraham's Vision, a conflict transformation organization that ran educational programs within and between the Muslim, Jewish, Palestinian, and Israeli communities, for whom he served as Co-Executive Director through May 2013. Currently, he is the Executive Director of the Center for Transformative Education, an educational initiative aiming to create empowering educational programs to transform societies into their potential, which he co-founded in 2008.
In June 2016, Aaron published Judaisms: A Twenty-First-Century Introduction to Jews and Jewish Identities with the University of California Press. His forthcoming volume, Social Justice and Israel/Palestine: Foundational and Contemporary Debates, co-edited with Mira Sucharov, will be published by the University of Toronto Press in summer 2019.
Maggie Anton
Maggie Anton was born Margaret Antonofsky in Los Angeles, California, where Maggie Anton was born Margaret Antonofsky in Los Angeles, California, where she still resides. Raised in a secular, socialist household, she began studying Judaism in college. That was the start of a lifetime of Jewish education, synagogue involvement, and ritual observance. This was in addition to working full-time as a clinical chemist for Kaiser Permanente for over 30 years. In 1992 Anton joined a women's Talmud class where, to her surprise, she fell in love with Talmud, a passion that has continued unabated for twenty years.
Intrigued that the great Talmudic scholar Rashi had no sons, only daughters, Anton researched the family and decided to write novels about them. Thus the award-winning trilogy, Rashi's Daughters, was born, to be followed by National Jewish Book Award finalist, Rav Hisda's Daughter: Apprentice and its sequel, Enchantress.
Still studying women and Talmud, Anton has lectured throughout North America, Europe and Israel about the history behind her novels. Her most recent effort is the Ben Franklin Award winner for Religion, Fifty Shades of Talmud: What the First Rabbis Had to Say about You-Know-What, a light-hearted look at our Sages's surprisingly progressive views on sexuality.
John Ashbaugh
John Ashbaugh is a native Californian, born in Redding. His hometown has recently been in the news every day as firefighters there battle the deadly Carr Fire, which has destroyed over 1,000 homes and killed at least seven.
Ashbaugh developed a keen interest in the outdoors at an early age, a natural result of a rural upbringing in a city ringed with National Forests and Parks, snow-capped mountains, and abundant rivers. His academic training at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Cal Berkeley led him to a career in environmental planning. After meeting and marrying Patricia Nemec in 1977, the Ashbaughs settled in San Luis Obispo County where they raised two daughters, one of whom has made them grandparents last year.
Ashbaugh is currently writing a book about the environmental movement in the Central Coast of California. At the same time that he’s attempting to accurately describe the record of those who have worked tirelessly to preserve the natural resources of this very special part of the planet, Ashbaugh is advocating an entirely new chapter in that movement: The creation of the Pecho Coast National Seashore. This area would add approximately 25,000 acres to the National Park System, centered on the lands surrounding the last operating nuclear power plant in California, PG&E’s Diablo Canyon.
BRUCE EINHORN (KEYNOTE)
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Bruce J. Einhorn received his B.A., magna cum laude, in History from Columbia University in 1975, and received his Juris Doctorate from New York University Law School in 1978. From 1979 to 1990, Bruce Einhorn served as a special prosecutor and later as Chief of Litigation in the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Special Investigations (“OSI”), the agency charged with seeking the identification and prosecution of fugitive Nazi war criminals in the United States.
He then served as United States Immigration Judge for Los Angeles from July 1990 through January 2007. In that capacity, he presided over and adjudicated cases of foreign-born, non-U.S. citizens whose immigration status in the United States had been brought into question by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security.
For over 20 years, Judge Einhorn has served as a National Commissioner of the Anti-Defamation League, where he also served as Pacific Southwest Regional Board Chair and Co-Chair of the Latino-Jewish Roundtable of Los Angeles. Judge Einhorn now serves as the Founding Chair and President of the Coalition for the Advocacy of the Persecuted and Enslaved ("CAPE"), a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide free legal and therapeutic services to asylum seekers and victims of torture and human trafficking.
Len Felder, PhD
Len Felder, PhD is a licensed psychologist in West Los Angeles whose 14 books on Jewish spirituality and personal growth have sold over 1 million copies. His titles include "The Dilemma of the 21st Century Male," "More Fully Alive," "Here I Am," and "Fitting In Is Overrated." He is an active parent for a child with special needs and he has learned a lot about teamwork during 33 years of marriage to artist Linda Schorin.
Dr. Tali Freed
Bio TBA
Rabbi Dov Gottesfeld
Rabbi Dov Gottesfeld has been a Hebrew teacher and lecturer on the Hebrew language for five decades. He has taught Hebrew to students of all ages – beginners and advanced. He has lectured in educational seminars to Hebrew teachers on his unique approach to teaching Hebrew. Rabbi Gottesfeld has also lectured to Christian audiences on the mistranslation of Psalms from Hebrew to English. Rabbi Gottesfeld has done comprehensive research in the usage of the existing Hebrew vocabulary in Biblical time to express ideas for which words did not exist yet. Currently, Rabbi Gottesfeld is working on a book, which offers a modern commentary on the book of Genesis.
Rabbi Chaim Hilel
Rabbi Chaim Hilel hails from Montreal, Canada. He graduated from the Central Lubavitch Yeshivah in Montreal, where he received his rabbinical ordination. He has been involved in religious outreach throughout the world, including Israel, Morocco, Hawaii and all over California . Together with his wife Miki they have been directing chabad on the central coast since 2009.
Rabbi Micah Hyman
Rabbi Micah Hyman is the Associate Rabbi of Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades. He served as the Director of Advanced Jewish Studies at Tarbut V’Torah in Orange County. A fourth generation Angeleno, Rabbi Hyman received his BA from Michigan and Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary with a Masters in Jewish Art and Material Culture. He also served as a Senior Educator of Beit Hatfutsot America, implementing a Covenant Signature Grant curating Jewish family stories through visual art. He was formerly Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom in San Francisco, a Chaplain at UCLA Medical Center, the Assistant Director of Camp Ramah in Ojai, and a year as a Rabbi in Paris. He also spends any free time in Morro Bay to cook and hike with his sons Nathan (14) and Theo (11).
Rabbi Rachel Isaacs
Rachel Isaacs was named one of “America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis” (2014) by the Jewish Daily Forward. Ordained in 2011 by the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she studied as a Wexner Graduate Fellow, Isaacs is the spiritual leader of Beth Israel Congregation.
She is also the inaugural holder of the Dorothy “Bibby” Levine Alfond chair in Jewish Studies, teaching courses on Hebrew, Jewish theology, and Jewish humor. In 2016, she delivered the final Hanukkah benediction of the Obama Administration at the White House. She is widely credited with the renaissance of Jewish life at Colby and in Waterville.
Teri Kanefield
Bio TBA
Dan Krieger
Dan Krieger, Ph.D. is Professor of History, Emeritus at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and a past president of the San Luis Obispo Historical Society (now the History Center) and the California Mission Studies Association, now the California Missions Foundation. He is the historian for the Salinan Tribe of San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties. Since 1984, he has chaired the historic oversite committee at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. He is the author of “Times Past,” a weekly history column for the San Luis Obispo County Tribune (McClatchy), 1983-present. He created and taught the first course on the Shoah at Cal Poly, 2004-2012. For many years, Dan and his wife Liz worked with Emily McGinn in research the history of the Jewish presence and communities in San Luis Obispo County. They served on the first and second Day of Remembrance Committees and Dan was the principal speaker at the first program in 1987.They have twice been honored by Hadassah for their work.
Abby Lassen
Abby Lassen majored in cultural anthropology at Stanford University and attended UC Hastings College of the Law with the intent to become a public interest lawyer. While raising her two daughters, she was employed in social welfare and education positions, as well as an attorney with an emphasis in government benefits and access to health care. During her almost three decades residing in San Luis Obispo County, a priority for Abby's volunteer activities has been participating in organizations which foster the Jewish community. In the late 1990's along with Emily McGinn, she led Jewish Community United which coordinated a calendar for the local Jewish organizations and their lighting the menorah in Mission Plaza, plus sponsoring several Jewish Cultural Celebrations. Abby was honored by Hadassah for her leadership in the Jewish community. She served as a co-chair for the San Luis Obispo regional board for the Anti-Defamation League office in Santa Barbara and coordinated its receptions which honored local schools' and YMCA programs' participation in the ADL No Place for Hate initiative. Abby currently serves as a co-chair for the JCC/Federation's Community Affairs Council.
Rabbi Rick Litvak
Rabbi Richard Litvak is the Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Beth El in Aptos California and the Interim Rabbi of Congregation Beth David in San Luis Obispo, CA. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Vassar College where he majored in Religious Studies. He also received Rabbinical Ordination from the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Judaism as well as a Masters Degree in Hebrew Arts and Letters. Rabbi Litvak also received a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and is a practicing Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Rabbi Litvak is a dynamic teacher and gifted leader who has had a rabbinate marked by building caring communities actively dedicated to social justice and meaningful Jewish spirituality. He has taught Judaism and Religion as well at Dennison University and the University of California Santa Cruz and served as the Hillel Rabbi at both Universities. He has special expertise in the intersection of Judaism, Positive Psychology and Spirituality. Rabbi Litvak is an instructor for the Mussar Institute and Wise Aging programs.
Zack Lodmer
Zack Lodmer is a yoga instructor, musician, and The Director of the L.A. Tech Initiative at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. As the founder and leader of Om Shalom Yoga, Zack weaves Jewish ritual, philosophy, and melodies into an all-levels experience. He infuses breath awareness, intuitive sequencing, community-building, and humor into all of his sessions. Zack's teachings give students the tools to find their own joy, strength, and equanimity both on the mat and well beyond the mat, into everyday life.
Hussein Aboubakr Mansour (KEYNOTE)
Hussein Aboubakr Mansour was born in Cairo to an Arab Muslim family. Growing up, he was obsessed by popular stories about Jews and Israelis as demons and was convinced by the pervasive antisemitic rhetoric of his schools, mosque, and media. After embarking on a journey of self-education, teaching himself Hebrew via the internet, he started to question his world view and became aware of the radical Islamism around him.
Hussein studied Hebrew at Cairo University but was uncomfortable with the official anti-Israeli, anti-Semitic propaganda. After the authorities discovered he was first visitor to the Israeli Academic Center of Cairo, he was surveilled, harassed, jailed and tortured for his studies of Israel.
After Hussein shared his opinions online, his family disowned him.
During the Egyptian Revolution in 2011, he became an organizer in Tahrir Square. The secret police continued harassing him and he was forced into hiding finding refuge in the Christian community. He left Egypt and received asylum in the United States in 2014 and is now a public speaker and an Assistant Professor of Hebrew.
Rabbi Janice MehringRabbi Mehring grew up in the Reform movement with Jewish summer camp being responsible for her love of Judaism through music, community and creative prayer. She has shared this passion by teaching religious school since she was 15 years old.
She completed her undergraduate education at UCLA, received a Master's degree in Physical Therapy from USC and for many years, had an orthopedic private practice before answering the call to become a rabbi. She sees this transformation as a perfect fit, moving from physical healing to spiritual healing. Rabbi Mehring received a Master's degree in Rabbinic Studies and was ordained at the Academy for Jewish Religion, CA, a trans-denominational seminary for rabbis, cantors and chaplains. She has served as spiritual leader and rabbi of Congregation Ohr Tzafon in Atascadero since 2007. Rabbi Mehring formally trained with Cantors Nathan Lam and Perryne Anker before redirecting her studies to become a rabbi. It is still through Jewish music that this 'singing rabbi' finds deep spiritual connection and depth. She has sung locally with the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale and with Canzona, a women's chamber vocal ensemble.
Rabbi Mehring is committed to understanding and dialogue amongst people of varied faith traditions. Her commitment to this work goes beyond finding what is common to our faith traditions, to working towards mutual respect and understanding of our differences. She works toward building a just world for all by service as a board member for People of Faith for Justice, Community Affairs Council for the Jewish Community Center of San Luis Obispo, and the North County Clergy Group. She is the rabbinic director for the Central Coast Community Hevra Kadisha.
Stephen Llyod-Moffet
Bio TBA
Gita Ryle (KEYNOTE)
Gitta Ryle is a Holocaust survivor. She was born in Vienna, Austria, April 10, 1932. She was married for 36 years until her husband Bob passed in 1993. She has three children, Janine, Marcus and Geoffrey; and four grandchildren.
Her mission to tell her story is "their job is not to forget. They can tell future generations that they met someone who lived through it, so they know it really happened."
Aaron J. Hahn Tapper (KEYNOTE)
Aaron J. Hahn Tapper, the Mae and Benjamin Swig Professor in Jewish Studies and the founding Director of the Swig Program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice, has been at USF since 2007. An educator for more than two decades, his primary academic interest is the intersection between identity formation, social justice, and marginalized groups.
Aaron completed his PhD in the Religious Studies Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he studied the History of Religions, the Sociology of Religions, Nonviolence and Religions, Politics and Religions, and Modern Islamic Movements. His Dissertation focused on the relationship between power, the sociopolitical context of Israel and Palestine, and Jewish and Islamic religious law (halachah and shari'a, respectively). He also received an MTS from Harvard Divinity School, where he focused on World Religions, and a BA from Johns Hopkins University, where he majored in Psychology.
In 2003 he founded Abraham's Vision, a conflict transformation organization that ran educational programs within and between the Muslim, Jewish, Palestinian, and Israeli communities, for whom he served as Co-Executive Director through May 2013. Currently, he is the Executive Director of the Center for Transformative Education, an educational initiative aiming to create empowering educational programs to transform societies into their potential, which he co-founded in 2008.
In June 2016, Aaron published Judaisms: A Twenty-First-Century Introduction to Jews and Jewish Identities with the University of California Press. His forthcoming volume, Social Justice and Israel/Palestine: Foundational and Contemporary Debates, co-edited with Mira Sucharov, will be published by the University of Toronto Press in summer 2019.