Dave Nidorf is an emergency room physician practicing at Northern Dutchess Hospital. He has lived in New Paltz for 10 years having moved here from California. He lives with his wife Rebecca and his 2 sons, Sam and Jonah, and 2 step-daughters Emilia and Phoebe. In his free time, he plays basketball, does yoga, and has been involved with Jewish Renewal at various levels for 25 years.

Jerilyn Brownstein is a therapist. For the past 22 years, she has worked exclusively supporting the inner life of mothers in the Hudson Valley and NYC.  Jerilyn and her partner, David, have been living in New Paltz for 21 years.  They have three suns Kole, Jeremy, and Asher. In her free time, she devours solitude often by taking long walks.  Jerilyn is drawn to Kol Hai because it is relevant and repairing. It works to reimagine and remember the deepest threads that hold soul, community, and the earth as equal.

Ken Ross is an award-winning filmmaker who first got to know the Hudson Valley some time ago when he taught film at Bard and Vassar. He is, as well, a healing practitioner and holistic life coach. He facilitates Men's Healing Groups in NYC and New Paltz and officiates weddings. Ken moved here four years ago because of his love for the area and his deep interest in Jewish spiritual community. He loves long walks and great music, and he loves to chant.

Elise Gold is finding a balance in her semi-retirement between work and play.  She works as a therapist, an adjunct instructor, and the Co-founder of the Maya Gold Foundation.  You may find Elise on the floors of African dance classes, hiking, traveling, batiking, gardening, and writing.  New Paltz has been Elise’s home since 1975, where she lives with her husband Mathew and their son, Adin.  Elise became Bat Mitzvah recently.  Why Kol Hai?  “It feeds my spirit while connecting me to others in the community, my ancestors, and to nature.”

Nigel “Shim” Austin moved to the Hudson Valley eight years ago to connect with nature. As a founding board member and board chair at Romemu, the largest Jewish renewal community in North America, and a former board member of Eden Village Camp, an environmentally conscious earth-based kids’ summer camp, he is well versed in the development and growth of Jewish spiritual communities. He is a life-long seeker of esoteric wisdom and practices with a passion for community building, spiritual music, and earth-based Judaism. His professional training is as a corporate attorney and is a practitioner of Argentine tango and yoga.