Andy Izenson has been a member of the Kol Hai community for three years and lives with their partners in a queer commune on unceded Lenape/Esopus land in the Hudson Valley. On the clock, Andy can be found providing legal support to non-traditional families and transgender community members at the Chosen Family Law Center and fighting for prison abolition with the National Lawyers Guild, and off the clock, their time is spent crafting, doing aerial silks, singing show tunes, and perfecting their vegan challah recipe. Andy grew up Reform and has been overjoyed to find a spiritual home in Kol Hai, from which they can explore the spaciousness and depth of community and Jewish practice as a pantheist transsexual time-traveling anarchist weirdo.

Nancy Judson, Membership Committee

Nancy is the mother of two adult women, a lover of movement who weaves dancing, singing, smiling and playing into almost every aspect of her life including at Kol Hai. As a member of the precious Kol Hai community, you will see her ”dancing her prayers” at services, tending to community needs with a full and open heart, answering your Kol Hai membership questions, and occassionally substitute teaching at the Forest Hebrew School. You will also see her in her role as Ulster County PJ Library Coordinator. Nancy and her husband, Bruce, have been members of Kol hai for three years. 

Over the past 25 years, Nancy has served extensively on previous Temple and School Boards, served as Interim Religious School Education Director at a local synagogue and is currently responsible for organizing a monthly lunch for a soup kitchen in the City of Poughkeepsie. Most assuredly you can find Nancy helping to transform the lives of infants, seniors and all ages in between, through movement awareness, deep listening, touch and playful interactions in her work as a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and Child’Space Method Parent Educator.

Rachel Swersey has loved Kol Hai and been deeply involved in the community since its beginning in 2015. She spends her weekdays as an art teacher, facilitating art experiences and helping to foster belonging amongst middle school students in Kingston, NY. She is mom to two teen/young adult children, and a furry dog son and lives in Highland. Whatever free time she has is spent making art, cooking, celebrating through movement, and hanging out with her partner. She is very honored to help to steer Kol Hai at this exciting phase.

Stephanie Rose Bifolco has come to depend on Kol Hai's heart-opening music and prayer as a soothing balm for her sometimes aching soul at the end of a long work week.  As a member of the Board of Directors, she is on a mission to help strengthen and grow Kol Hai while keeping the "small village" vibe alive.  Stephanie has dedicated her professional life to social medicine, and is currently working as a licensed clinical social worker in a community mental health clinic in Newburgh, NY.  In her free time, she can be found playing, dancing, and singing outdoors with her two young children and life partner at their home in Esopus, NY.