Adina Newberg, Ph.D., is a member of the faculty  at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical  College.  She is organizational consultant and a researcher for non profit  organizations, particularly religious organizations in the  USA and in Israel.    Her current research interests focus on issues of contemporary religious organizations and spiritual journeys of those who participate in them in Israel.
Newberg;s research examines and  follows the emergence of pluralistic houses of studies and prayer communities there. These are places where participants combine exploration and deep connection to Jewish tradition and Jewish sources with social action and concern for social justice, at the same time maintaining their identity as nonobservant, pluralistic Israelis. Newberg  spent a  year  studying in one  such house  of study-Elul  in Jerusalem during her  sabbatical year.
Newberg studied for her Bachelor of Arts at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and holds a doctorate in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania.

Rabbi Shawn Israel Zevit, www.rabbizevit.com is a congregational consultant and Director of Outreach and Tikkun Olam for the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation. He is the Co-Director of the award-winning Davennen Leaders Training Institute and is a spiritual director for many clergy. A recording artist he has also written and developed resources in the areas of Community Building, Leadership, Prayer, Contemporary views of GOD, Jewish Men's issues ("Brother Keepers: New Essays in Jewish Masculinity), and Money and Jewish values ("Offerings of the Heart: Values-Based Approaches to Money in Faith Community". Rabbi Zevit moved to Cleveland in 2009 to be with his wife Simcha and family, continuing his work for JRF from there.