Ariel Hendelman is a Senior Rabbinical student with the Aleph Ordination Program and is gratefully anticipating her ordination in January. Ariel loves gathering in sacred circles for chant and meditation, and teaches Torah through a mythological and mindful lens both online and in person. 

 

When Ariel was young and asked what she wanted to be when she "grew up," she responded, "a builder and a fixer, or a Rabbi." While growing up is still happening, she has found that answering the call to become a Rabbi is also the call to build and repair. Ariel walks the mystical path of Love and invites others to join her, journeying towards wholeness, or yechidah.

 

Ariel's written words appear in Ayin Press, Double Blind Magazine, and most recently, on her Substack. She is in the process of adapting her Capstone manuscript, a new midrash about a brave young girl's return to Eden, into a book. While living in Jerusalem until 2020, Ariel co-founded Shabbat Shelach, an LGBTQ+ community, hosting monthly Shabbat meals and the largest post-Pride-March Shabbat ever, with speakers such as Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie.

 

Ariel’s debut album, Prayers for Fire & Water is a soulful blend of folk and niggunim, and can be found wherever you get your music. In her free time, Ariel loves singing around the bonfire, pulling oracle cards, and eating cornbread, possibly all at the same time. 

Erika Green is an experienced administrative professional, with a strong background in education and nonprofit work. She currently works with Newton Public Schools supporting students and families, and has previously worked with nonprofits in Mexico focused on educational access in underserved communities.

 

Erika recently joined the Jewish community through conversion, a journey that deepened her connection to spirituality, service, and meaningful work. As a native Spanish speaker, Erika values bridging cultures and building inclusive spaces.

 

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and being part of spaces that foster connection, purpose, and belonging.

For eight years, Rabbi Suri served as rabbi and spiritual director of B’nai Or, Jewish Renewal of Boston. Having studied with Reb Zalman Schachter, her PhD supervisor at Temple University, Jewish Renewal has long been her spiritual home. While AJR (the pluralistic Rabbinic Academy where she was ordained in 2008) gave her the tools to forge her Rabbinic career, music and Renewal kavanot have always been her spiritual grounding.

 

Previous to B’nai Or, Rabbi Suri taught at Sacred Heart University for eight years, where she was the rabbi on a Catholic Campus, enabling her to be directly involved in Interfaith Dialogue. She considers it is a blessing to be able to continue teaching, singing, and studying yahadut, even as she navigates these retirement years.