The Heart Behind Saba What if you could tell the story of someone you loved without saying a single word? That is part of what makes Saba, the animated short film we’ll be screening at this year’s Wine & Cheese Gala, so special. The film comes from DreamWorks artist and filmmaker Liron Topaz, whose credits…
Meet Liron Topaz For the past 17 years, Liron Topaz has helped bring some pretty familiar characters to life. As an artist and filmmaker at DreamWorks, he has worked on some of the studio’s biggest films, including the Kung Fu Panda franchise, How to Train Your Dragon and The Bad Guys. His work has taken…
From the Dugout to the Shabbat Table: Joe Kinsky’s story For nearly a decade, Joe Kinsky lived the dream. After growing up in Denver, he left home to play college baseball in California and Oregon before earning the opportunity to play professionally. His career took him through the Pioneer League, an MLB partner league. Along…
Finding Our Place: Becci Weiss’s Story When Becci first considered becoming a single mother by choice, she assumed she would have to make a difficult compromise. She had always been drawn to traditional Jewish life. The values, the rituals, and the sense of history and purpose all resonated deeply with her. But she worried that…
“The Wandering Jew Who Finally Found Home” For years, Beth called herself “the wandering Jew.” She wasn’t wandering away from Judaism. Quite the opposite. She was searching for a place where it finally felt like she belonged. A Denver native, Beth says she “always felt deeply connected to Hashem.” She raised three sons in the…
Jennifer Dechtman’s connection to The Jewish Experience is deeply personal and unexpectedly full circle. Long before TJE became a familiar name, Jennifer felt profoundly supported by Rabbi Ahron Wasserman and his wife, Hadassah, during her early years in Denver. “They were a big part of my time here,” she shared, recalling the warmth and sense of belonging they created.
Connection When It Matters MostConversations with Madison Esses & Aaron Polster Madison Esses: Finding Belonging through Invitation For Madison Esses, finding Olami wasn’t just about learning more Judaism. It was about finding connection at a moment when she needed it most. After October 7th, Madison found herself searching. She had grown up Jewish but not…
Judaism You Want to Show Up ForA Conversation with Adam and Barbara Moskowitz Adam and Barbara Moskowitz are leaders in the Denver Jewish community, partners in life, and deeply committed champions of The Jewish Experience. Adam serves as President of TJE’s Board of Directors, while Barbara is actively involved in Women’s Experience programming and brings…
When Robert Warren and Elsa Sackett Warren first found The Jewish Experience, they were searching for connection. Newly engaged and new to Denver, Robert was looking for ways to engage with Jewish life that felt deeper than what he had known growing up, yet still welcoming and accessible. “I was new to the city and looking for real ways to connect,” he shared, “and I wanted something that felt meaningful, not intimidating.”
Faces of TJE: Lisa Berkow – A Journey of Growth, Connection, and Jewish Joy If you’ve ever walked into The Jewish Experience and felt immediately at home, chances are you were lucky enough to cross paths with someone like Lisa Berkow. Warm, thoughtful, and always ready to learn, Lisa embodies the quiet strength of Jewish…