The Light Lab Team
Eliana Light
Founder and Head T’fillahsopher, Podcast Co-Host
Eliana Light envisions a joyful, vibrant, heart-centered Judaism that speaks to the soul and moves the spirit, reminding us that we all are One. She crafts ritual, writes music, trains educators, and consults with communities to bring this vision to life. Eliana has taught at the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial, the Rabbinical Assembly convention, the NewCAJE Jewish Education Conference, Limmud New York, Limmud UK, Songleader Boot Camp, Hava Nashira, Hebrew Union College, and the Jewish Theological Seminary, and was named to the Jewish Week’s 36 under 36 in 2019. Her consulting work guides synagogues to discover the “why” of their prayer life, allowing them to offer deeper, more meaningful experiences to more people. She is also a sought-after songwriter and performer of catchy, content-rich tunes for all ages, and has put out three albums of original music. Eliana received her Master’s in Jewish Education from the Davidson school at JTS in 2016, and is based in Durham, North Carolina.
Cantor Ellen Dreskin
Podcast Co-Host and Advisory Board
Cantor Ellen Dreskin is a communal prayer leader, educator, and mentor in the areas of liturgy, worship, and spiritual practice. She educates toward a deeper understanding of prayers (both traditional and creative), and the act of prayer itself as a doorway into spiritual practice and transforming oneself in order to transform the world.
Ellen has served as a scholar-in-residence at dozens of congregations across the country, and as an educator and prayer/ritual leader at numerous Institutes, Camps, and Conferences, including the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, HUC-JIR, SongLeader Boot Camp, Hava Nashira, URJ Biennials, and the JCCA’s Sheva Center for Early Childhood Education.
Ellen was ordained by HUC-JIR in 1986, and has a Master’s Degree in Jewish Communal Service from Brandeis University. She is also trained as a spiritual director. She is married to Rabbi Billy Dreskin, and is extremely proud of their joint projects: Katie, Jonah (z”l), and Aiden.
Rabbi Josh Warshawsky
Podcast Co-Host and Advisory Board
Rabbi Josh Warshawsky is a nationally touring Jewish musician, teacher, and composer. Josh seeks to build intentional praying communities, and travels to synagogues, camps, and schools across the country sharing his music and teachings on prayer. He is originally from Chicago, and has released five albums of Jewish music, most recently in March 2022. Josh composes melodies to open up new possibilities for understanding the deep meaning of the words of our tradition. Josh was ordained by the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles. He lives in Bexley, OH with his wife Adina Allen and their daughter Jona Liba. For more information check out www.joshwarshawsky.com
Yaffa Englander
Podcast Developer
Yaffa Englander is our Podcast Developer here at the Light Lab. She edits the podcast transcript and creates the detailed show notes that accompany every episode. Yaffa is a student at Penn State majoring in Human Development & Family Studies (Human Services). She is passionate about the creation of meaningful, creative, and accessible Jewish resources.
Rachel Dawn Kaplan
Podcast Producer + Wisdom Weaver
Rachel Kaplan (she/her) is passionate about building inclusive Jewish community, and creating offerings for Jewish communal experiences in nature. She believes community thrives best when each person feels empowered to live as their authentic self, and has the framework and tools available to do so.
Rachel joins the light lab team with 20 years of marketing experience in the Jewish world, and a love for making heart-opening t’fillah experiences more accessible. She has lifted up several Slingshot organizations with her work. She loves to sing, perform spoken-word poetry, and develop Jewishly-inspired puppet shows for all ages. Her favorite prayer spot is any waterfall or cold springs.
She was raised in South Florida and earned her Bachelor's degree in Public Relations at the University of Florida. Rachel now lives in Atlanta with her husband, two amazing kids who teach her heart lessons everyday, and their dog, Ziggy Stardust.
Learn more about Rachel’s wordsmith wizardry here.