Founded in 2005, the Alef Beats, Brown/RISD’s premier Jewish-themed a Capella group, is one of Brown University’s younger singing groups. Featuring members from all around the states and the world, the Alef Beats are arguably one of Brown’s most diverse a Capella groups. Brought together by a love of music and a passion for Jewish culture, the Alef beats have been working hard to bring Jewish a Capella to Brown’s rich music scene as well as to the Northeast region at large. The Alef Beats’ repertoire currently consists of a surprisingly eclectic range of songs. The Beats perform a number of vocal arrangements by Jewish singers and songwriters as well as a healthy smattering of traditional Hebrew and Yiddish tunes. These songs are performed at events ranging from various competitions, festivals, private concerts, temples, holidays celebrations, and arch sings around the Brown University campus and along the East Coast, but with the imminent release of their first studio album, the Alef Beats are excited to bring their music to the masses at long last.
Past Performances
Brookline A Cappella Fest, Brandeis University, Congregation Kehillath Israel, Temple Emanuel Leisure Club, Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence, Providence Jewish Community Center, Mt. Hope Baptist Church, Rutgers University, etc.
Checkout videos of them performing:
"Fix You"
"Everybody Talks"
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen/Rufus Wainwright)
Bei Mir Bist Du Sheyn (classic Yiddish/English jazz song)
Hinei Ba Hashalom
Maoz Tzur
Darkeinu
One Day (Matisyahu)
The Chanukah Song (Adam Sandler)
She Will Be Loved (Maroon 5)
Perfect (Pink)
Down by the River (Alison Krauss)
Fix You (Coldplay)
New Soul (Yael Naim)
Alive With the Glory of Love (Say Anything)
Or Zarua
Single Ladies (Beyoncé)
Hide and Seek (Imogen Heap)
Better (Regina Spektor)
Interested in gigs? Contact The Alef Beats.
May 19, 2013
May 04, 2013
Marshall Einhorn is a former software consultant, with a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from MIT. While he took a somewhat windy career path to Hillel and Jewish communal work, his time in the for-profit world both prepared him for his role and allows him to appreciate the gift of being passionate about his work each day. Marshall brings the pluralistic passion that was sparked as a student leader at Tufts Hillel to his work at Brown RISD Hillel, where he seeks to help students forge a deep and abiding relationship to Jewish life and to one another. Marshall lives in Providence with his wife, Deborah, and their three children, who firmly believe that the foosball table is the greatest thing about the Glenn and Darcy Weiner Center. Contact: Marshall_Einhorn@brown.edu 401-863-9354
Rachel Eisen attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY, where she was a double major in History and Jewish Studies (and deepened her love for New York sports teams). When she wasn’t holed up in the library or running Jewish programming, Rachel taught religious school and was (and still is) a figure skater and competed with a synchronized skating team (yes, that’s a real thing!). Rachel has worked at a locally-based Jewish educational organization in the Washington, DC-metro area and has taught Holocaust history and global social justice. She’s extremely excited about Brown RISD Hillel and would love to help with any and all aspects of student programming! Feel free to shoot her an email or stop by Hillel when she’s working at the front desk.
Contact: Rachel_Eisen@brown.edu 401-863-6507
Anna Gershman is responsible for running the financial aspects of the foundation and managing the building. Anna received her MBA from Bryant University. She is a CPA and worked in public accounting before joining the staff at Brown RISD Hillel. Anna emigrated to US with her husband and son in 1988. Prior to that she practiced dentistry in St. Petersburg, Russia. She received a DMD from Pavlov Dental School of Leningrad. She is interested in photography and music. Contact: Anna_Gershman@brown.edu 401-863-9353
Alisa Kotler-Berkowitz is happy to be back at Brown RISD Hillel after working here in the 1990s and then spending time in Israel and NYC. Alisa is Hillel's Director of Engagement. In this position, she coordinates projects that engage students who don't initially seek Hillel out - including an internship program and alternative break projects. She loves working with the amazing students and the incredible staff here at Brown RISD Hillel. When Alisa's not at Hillel, she's hanging out with her family, volunteering at the Jewish Community Day School of RI and working in her freelance photography business. Contact: Alisa_Kotler-Berkowitz@brown.edu 401-863-9289
Sara Miller attended Brandeis University and received a degree in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies with minors in Music, Religious Studies, and Hebrew: Language and Literature. While at Brandeis, Sara was active in Hillel at large (running Hillel Orientation for new students), singing and dancing onstage with the Hillel Theater Group, and coordinating the Brandeis Reform Chavurah (BaRuCH). Sara spent a semester abroad in the spring of her junior year at the University of Haifa’s International School, where she improved her Hebrew, traveled, and interned. Have any questions about Birthright or anything related to Israel on campus? Feel free to stop by and ask! Contact: Sara_Miller@brown.edu 401-863-2962
Mordechai Rackover is a Montreal native who spent nearly eight years studying in Israel. Prior to working at Brown he was a synagogue rabbi and a school teacher. Mordechai is passionate about Jewish learning and open to multiple perspectives and opinions. Nechama Lea and Mordechai have four children, and as a family they enjoy sports, cooking and crafting. Contact: rabbi@brown.edu 401-863-2733
401-863-2805
info@brownrisdhillel.org