About

The CJL Story

We began on a small scale in the fall of 2010 offering two after school classes that met around dining room tables in students' homes. Then there was a bar mitzvah and a Hanukkah celebration. Steadily our responsive education, home based after school classes, life-cycle ceremonies and Northampton area community events took root.

Since 2010, over 100 families have participated in the after school program. We celebrated over 100 B-mitzvahs, 4 weddings, developed multiple teen groups, officiated funerals and shiva minyans, and celebrated with many Valley families and individuals at multiple community and holiday events. In 2017, we received 501(c)(3) non-profit status giving us the capacity to receive significant local support from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the Jewish Endowment Foundation and other organizations for many of our programs.

In March 2019, ten of us met for a strategic planning session. We envisioned the next five years of CJL. In the first year, we expanded life cycle offerings and clarified our purpose - to meet participants wherever they are – Jewishly, spiritually and educationally. The planning group described CJL as responsive, unique, connected and post-denominational. Another descriptor was warmth of feeling. Repeatedly we heard that CJL is all about community. When asked what is most meaningful about CJL, participants said - - no judgement, joyful, focus on the home environment, experiential curriculum, strong social justice lens, community networked Judaism (not tech based, more relational).

In April 2021 during Covid times...eight of us sat outside in the rain and updated the strategic plan. You can view it on our home page. Got ideas? Want to help grow this community? Contact us.

"CJL has been a wonderful option that has been refreshingly creative, warm and connected."
~Dara Fishman

Founder and Director

Alison grew up in NYC surrounded by family and big Jewish community. Singing ancient melodies was her gateway into the heart and spirit of a rich Jewish heritage that she loves to share in community. Her friend Lucy describes her as a spiritual entrepreneur. Alison refers to her work as a life song- - a unique opportunity to blend passion for community, culture and creativity. In addition to big excitement for her work, Alison finds great joy in singing with the South River Community Chorus.

Prior to CJL's inception in 2010, Alison served as Director of Education for a synagogue community of 400 families with responsibilities that included teaching (all ages), program and curricular development, teacher training and community facilitation.

Alison holds a master’s degree in education from UMASS. She also studied at the SIT, graduate Institute in their Conflict Transformation Across Cultures (CONTACT) program and at Facing History and Ourselves in Boston. She has served as a trainer and mediator for the Mediation and Training Collaborative (TMTC) in Greenfield, MA.

Advisory Team

Rebecca Busansky is a CJL founding parent. She and her husband Jonah, moved to the Valley in 2010 with their three children, all of whom participated in the CJL after school, celebrated their B-mitzvahs CJL style and participated in our teen program. Her family was instrumental in supporting our 2016 Torah campaign. Rebecca is the Executive Director at Berkshire Agricultural Ventures. She earned an undergraduate degree from Brown University and has worked in the community economic development field for over 20 years.

Joan Tabachnick is nationally recognized for her expertise in sexual violence prevention and social marketing. Over the past 25 years, she has developed award winning educational materials and innovative programs for a wide variety of national, state and local organizations. and asked to participate on national expert panels for a variety of organizations. Joan's favorite quote from her daughter Rosie is, "Do something and mean it!"

Jane Fleishman, Ph.D, from Northampton, MA, is a mom, educator, author, and consultant with more than 30 years' experience as a teacher, trainer, and program evaluator. In addition to her work as a sexuality educator/researcher, she is an avid baker and enjoys baking challah with other children and adults. Jane believes in working for social justice in all of her work and works to build community in all of her endeavors.

Josh Feldman is the Founder & CEO (he/him/his) of R&R for the Rest of our Lives. Josh walks daily. He watercolors on zoom calls, and on good days you can find him hiking in the hills of western MA. Josh is a master facilitator, coach and public speaker with 20 years of experience building cohort communities, experience design and community building with other do-gooders. He is a creativity evangelist, dirt digging aspiring gardener and life long student to his three kids.

Val Miller, CJL's administrator/webmaster and board member has an eclectic background. She has many years of experience in the computer industry, and in the field of educational development. Currently, Val is a Certified EFT Practitioner with a focus on anxiety and stress. Val also loves to bake and happily provides her baked goods to CJL events.

Deb Krivoy, CJL board member, is the COO of the Springfield JCC. She is also the director of the Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival. Over the past 20 years, Deb has worked as a curriculum designer, teacher trainer, and arts program manager. As the former director of Avoda Arts, a nonprofit education organization, Deb co-founded the Six Points Fellowship for Emerging Jewish Artists. She and her family live in Florence.

Dave Marlin, CJL Treasurer is president at MetaComet Systems in South Hadley. His specialties are royalty processing automation, rights management, royalty contracts, intellectual property, licensing, publishing and IT system implementation. Wow - CJL is fortunate to have Dave on our team.