Sophie is the Executive Director of Togethering, where she leads the organization's strategy, programming, and growth. Raised in a mixed-heritage family—with a Jewish mother and an atheist father—Sophie developed a deep appreciation for how her parents and grandparents navigated the melding and embracing of each other’s traditions, teachings, and holidays. She is passionate about creating Jewish experiences, spaces, and communities that she wishes had existed for her parents and that reflect the evolving needs of today's Jew-ish couples and families.Outside of work, Sophie enjoys spending time in Maine with her husband, Chris, and their son, Max; gardening in her backyard; and discovering the best bakeries wherever she travels.

Sumiko is delighted to support all elements of program design and implementation because Togethering resonates so strongly with her own personal experience. Originally from Cuba, Sumiko accompanied her husband on his Jewish conversion journey and was inspired by their shared experiences and the sense of belonging he found in the community. Together, they emigrated to Israel and a few years later made Miami home with their two young children. Sumiko was the Youth Engagement Director at Temple Beth Am, a prominent reform congregation in Miami, and is a skilled salsa dancer and passionate amateur singer.

Elana comes to the Togethering team with over a decade of experience in creating and facilitating immersive Jewish experiences for learners of all ages. Having grown up in the quaint, sandy town of Vero Beach, Florida where the Jewish community was small but mighty, she found her passion for fostering connections to Judaism through travel and experiential learning while working in Jewish summer camp. After seven years in the camping field, she shifted her focus to young couples and families from diverse Jewish backgrounds. As a Jewish communal professional, Elana strives to build relationships and connections rooted in trust, the value at the center of all her work. Elana lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, young daughter, and their family dog.

Amanda manages the many logistics for delivering Togethering retreats. Working as a Trips Operations Specialist at Honeymoon Israel provided her with the expertise and know-how for ensuring smooth operations. Prior to Honeymoon Israel, she worked as an educator teaching the culinary arts to high school students. She is very involved in the Phoenix Jewish community, serving on different boards, working at various Jewish summer camps, and teaching at local schools. In her spare time, she enjoys finding trendy brunch spots and hanging out with her family.

Miriam is a learning designer on a quest to strengthen our ability to lead, learn, and make social impact. She creates dynamic in-person and online programs, trainings, and gatherings for NGOs, cultural organizations, and small businesses to strengthen their leadership. As a traveler and digital nomad, Miriam balances curiosity and cultural humility with confidence in our ability to solve complex problems together.

Brent is widely recognized as one of the most inspiring rabbis in America. In his work with soon-to-be-wed couples, he is committed to helping couples work together as a team, regardless of gender, sexual orientations or faith backgrounds. Describing himself as “an accidental Rabbi”, Brent grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn but without much religious influence – he never even had a bar mitzvah. Today, Brent lives in Beacon with his wife and their two children.

As Director of Jewish Engagement at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Samuel believes that curiosity and inquiry are central to Jewish practice. Across two decades of accompanying couples and young families craft their Jewish journey with intentionality, Samuel has designed and led initiatives for couples of mixed heritage backgrounds in a variety of community settings including Synagogues, JCCs, and Federations nationally. Originally from London, Samuel is the proud father of three (all living on different continents!) and lives in Seattle. An avid runner and hiker and you can often find him running the Seward Park loop