Jewish community in RVA

Patrick Beaulier

Rabbi

Rabbi Patrick is a retired rock musician who became a Jewish educator and rabbi. His passion is Jewish life focused on Jewish life online, interfaith families, spiritual seekers and people who don't think of themselves as "synagogue people". He has been featured in ABC, CNN, CBS News, Richmond Times-Dispatch and more. He loves going to Virginia's many state parks and coffee shops with the love of his life, Rebbetzin Stefanie, and their adult son Javon.

Stefanie Papps

Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin Stefanie is a policy wonk by day and a Jewish leader by night. She has developed innovative adult Jewish programming in Richmond and Atlanta, GA, and is passionate about people "doing Judaism their way". She spends her time playing kirtan music on her harmonium, hanging out with Rabbi Patrick and is an avid home chef who makes challah the size of Thanksgiving turkeys. She wants to reclaim the title "rebbetzin" for progressive Jews like her.

Robin Rio

Lead Musician

Robin Rio is passionate about using music in a spiritual way that recognizes the humanity in every person. She the values sharing music of culture, tradition and faith in a setting that encourages everyone to support one another in personal growth through shared purpose and values. Having the opportunity to be the music leader with the Kehillah faith community has been a treasure! When Robin is not singing, she is embarrassing her teenage daughters (because that's just what moms do!), trying to arrange a date night with her husband, or snuggling the family kitty Mr. Chex.

Robin also offers music therapy to Kehillah members, subsidized through Kehillah Cares.

Edva Kashi

B'nai Mitzvah Educator

Edva (she/her) is a Persian-Polish-Syrian-Ukrainian-Israeli-American social worker, cat mom, and lover of obscure Jewish factoids (Why do trees have birthdays? What do sea monsters have to do with the names of planets?). She believes there is no wrong way to be Jewish and focuses on inclusion and equity in her teaching. Edva especially enjoys working with students from interfaith families. She is obsessed with Jewish cuisine from around the world - if you come over for dinner, you’re as likely to have Eastern European stew as you are to have Goan-style curry. In her spare time Edva gardens, knits, and annoys her husband by telling him (again) why the Koufax Curse is a totally real thing in baseball.

Matthew Childs

Spiritual School Adult Educator

Matt Childs works as a data scientist and teacher, but his true love is diving into the depths of Jewish spirituality and mysticism and exploring what he finds with curious co-seekers. He leads Kehillah’s Spiritual School sessions, and is particularly interested in the ways increasing awareness of and interest in ecology, Jewish mysticism, and mindfulness come together in progressive Neo-Hassidic spaces. He is also a passionate believer that building a practical, experiential spirituality deeply rooted in - but not bound by - tradition can be a powerfully empowering tool for living Jewishly. When he’s not working or studying, his free time is spent running around Church Hill or with his husband and two cats.

Pamela Shaw

Pamela Shaw is multi-passionate and believes that everyone has the power and divine right to heal and thrive no matter their circumstances. By day she works as an executive assistant and herbalist. Outside of her work and being the Kehillah Cares organizer, you can find her diving deep into her latest fascination, Kabbalah, learning something new like accounting, cooking, creating something, walking, swimming, or lounging with her cat, Martie. She loves the ocean, waking up to the sound of birds, and the magic of being alive.

Adam Krukas

Kehillah Cares

Adam Krukas, PharmD, MHSI is here to provide the support to those members in need as part of Kehillah Cares. In addition to supporting the communication and delivery of service Kehillah Cares, Adam provides support to members with his pharmacist's perspective, including Medicare review, medication review and assisting with helping find cost saving alternatives. Fun fact: Adam is a huge tea enthusiast -- ask him about it!

Rabbi Patrick Beaulier

President

Carol Fruhwald

Vice President

Penn Markham

Secretary

Austin Marks

Treasurer

Stefanie Papps

Board Advisor (Non-Voting)

Don Fruhwald

Board Advisor (Non-Voting)

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