About Us
MJE is a cutting edge program for young Jewish professionals with little or no background in Judaism
who are interested in connecting more to each other, to their community, and to Judaism.

MJE
131 W. 86th St
New York, NY 10024
212-787-9533


Rabbi Mark Wildes
Founder & Director

He holds a BA in Psychology from Yeshiva University, a Law degree from the Cardozo School of Law, a Masters Degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and was ordained from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (Yeshiva University). Since founding MJE nine years ago, Rabbi Wildes has become one of America’s most inspirational and dynamic Jewish educators. Rabbi Mark & Jill and their children Yosef, Ezra, Judah and Avigayil live on the Upper West Side where they maintain a warm and welcoming home for friends and newcomers.


Rabbi Jonathan Feldman
Associate Director

A native New Yorker, Jonathan attended
Cornell University and completed his Ph.D. in Philosophy at New York University. He received rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University. He enjoys exploring Central Park and its zoo with his wife Shifra and four young children, Deborah, Daniel, Meirah, and Noa. Jonathan is known for his open smile, warm manner and readiness to answer any and all of your questions.

Richard Corman
Chief Operating Officer

Richard received his BA from Rutgers University and his MSW from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work.  He served as the Executive Director of the JCC of Central New Jersey for 20 years.  As a lay leader, Richard also served as the President of the Board of Directors for Rutgers Hillel and is involved in the capital campaign / construction for a new Hillel building. Richard and his wife, Jean, live in Westfield, New Jersey.

Rabbi Pinchas Rosenthal
Executive Learning Program Director

Rabbi Rosenthal grew up in Seattle, Washington. He received a B.S. in Finance from TouroCollege, an M.A. in Education Administration from Columbia University's TeachersCollege and received his Rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva B'nei Torah in Far Rockaway, NY. Rabbi Rosenthal was the dean of the Torah Academy of Long Island for 10 years. He also was the lead guitarist for Shlock Rock for many years. Rabbi Pinny & Marie Beth and their children Eliyahu,
Yosef, Shmuel, Zechariah, Moshe and Aviva
 live in Plainview, LI.

Rabbi Ezra M. Cohen
Assistant Director

Hailing from Atlanta, GA, Rabbi Cohen received a B.A. in Speech & Marketing from Yeshiva University, an M.A. in Education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and received his rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University. Rabbi Cohen served as Educational Director and Rabbi at the Hillel of Rutgers University and also worked at the Beth Din of America. He is a frequent speaker and in his free time enjoys Tennis and snowboarding..

Rachel Kraus
Director of MJE Downtown
Rachel completed her Bachelor of Science, majoring in Marketing / Advertising with a minor in Music. Rachel is pursuing further study in musical composition at the Juilliard School. Rachel was the Associate Director of the Jewish Youth Connection Program where she developed curriculum for unaffiliated students. Additionally, she teaches a Bat Mitzvah Program to Mothers
and Daughters developed by the MaTaN institute in Israel. Rachel also played for the HaPoal Jerusalem Basketball Team.

Daniel Kraus
Director of MJE Downtown

Born in Melbourne Australia, Daniel is studying for a Masters Degree in Jewish Education & Administration at YU. Daniel led Birthright missions to Israel & Poland and was actively involved in the Australian Union of Jewish Students elected as Vice President for two years.
He taught Bar-Mitzvah studies at Leibler Yavneh College in Melbourne and worked as senior supervisor for Kosher Australia. Last year Daniel was the Director of the Bar Mitzvah program for Jewish Youth Connection on the Upper East Side.

Mischa Sade Braun
Office Manager

Imported from Amsterdam, Holland, Mischa attended the Conservatory of Amsterdam as an Opera Major and graduated in Graphic design and Biology. With a modeling and acting career on track including a role on a popular Soap opera in Holland, Mischa came to New York right after her 18th birthday and has worked for MJE ever since.

Gabriel Shulman
Director of Marketing

Hailing from Baltimore, MD, Gabriel graduated from Towson University with a degree in Mass Communications, focusing his major on integrated marketing theory. Gabriel spent a year in Israel before college where he taught English to Israeli high school students, worked on an archaeological dig, and volunteered in the Israeli Army, which took him into Lebanon to fortify bases.

Deborah Riker
Administrative Assistant
to Rabbi Wildes

Born and raised in the Bronx, Deborah has worked with an Administrative background for over 20 years and is skilled in Event/Party Planning. Although she is a newcomer to MJE, she looks forward to working with Rabbi Wildes and the staff. When she is not working or planning parties she enjoys spending quality time with her talented ten year old daughter who aspires to one day be a
singer or actress.


Chani Bardash
Educational Director

Born and raised in Parsippany, N.J. she teaches at the Ramaz Day School. After spending two years learning at Midreshet Moriah in Jerusalem, Chani received her B.A. in Judaic Education from the Azrieli Graduate School and is pursuing a doctoate in Jewish Education and Adminisration from Yeshiva University. Chani, and her husband Alan, live on the Upper West Side.

Avery Gaskin
Bookkeeper

Avery Gaskin holds a in B.A. in Theater and English from Temple University. She moved to NYC from Philadelphia, PA and is very active in the theater community as a playwright and actress. She also spends a lot of her spare time participating in women’s health rights, animal shelters and environmentalist organizations. She is happy to be at MJE!

Joey and Dana Small
Educators

Joey, originally from Los Angeles, California received a B.A. in Biology and Jewish Studies from Yeshiva University and an M.A. in Modern Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School. Dana holds a B.A. in Psychology from Barnard College and is currently pursuing a Master's degree at NYU. She served as the Program Director for Yeshiva and University Students for the Spiritual Revival of Soviet Jewry where she led seminars for Jewish youth in Minsk, Balarus. In fact, she met her husband Joey while running a Pesach seder in Belarus in 2006.