Devorah Goldstein:
“The Bamboo Cradle-My Journey from Abandonment to Belonging”
A newborn baby girl was left abandoned in a railroad station in Taiwan. An American professor and his wife discovered the tiny Chinese infant and raised her as their own. What followed was an extraordinary odyssey — a providential chain of events that ultimately led to the discovery of their Jewish heritage.
Devorah’s riveting and fascinating life story, as told in the international bestseller "The Bamboo Cradle", will leave you inspired and truly uplifted.
Rabbi Mendel Bluming:
Rabbi Mendel Bluming is the Chabad representative in the Potomac Maryland area and serves as the Rabbi of the Chabad Shul of Potomac. He received Rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Hillel Pewzner of Paris France, a leader in France's rabbinate, kashrut and Jewish educational system, and Rabbi Adin Stensaltz (Even Yisroel) of Jerusalem Israel, author of the Steinsaltz Talmud amongst many other works. He was ordained as a Jewish judge, a Dayan, by the late Rabbi Pinchas Hirshprung, the Chief Rabbi of Montreal, considered one of the foremost Torah scholars of our generation. Rabbi Bluming is a highly respected Rabbi in the Greater Washington area, and is a leading Possek for many day to day halachik questions for hundreds in the community. In addition to his scholarly wisdom, his sensitivity guides hundreds of people in their interpersonal relationships, helping them build stronger and trusting relationships with their spouses, children or friends.
Jackie Shapo:
Jackie Shapo, PhD, JD of Shapo Interactive LLC is a relationship coach. Over the course of more than 20 years, she has helped couples (in all stages of their relationships), as well as parents, children, seniors, professionals, and others communicate clearly, resolve conflict constructively and engage a more holistic perspective. She holds a PhD in Psychology (Clinical) from George Mason University and a JD from Michigan Law School. She completed internship training at the GMU Counseling Center, and her dissertation work was in the field of marriage therapy. Jackie completed family mediation training in Ann Arbor, MI, at the Mediation Training Consultation Institute and at the Center for Social Gerontology. She also trained with the Northern Virginia Mediation Service. Jackie has previously presented in MI, VA, and MD to senior learning institutes, bar associations, JCCs, houses of worship, among other organizations. Jackie encourages clients to bring their whole selves into their process, including their spiritual
dimension.
Meira Mandel:
Meira Mandel uses her soulful voice and musical abilities to create a healing experience. As a certified life coach, Meira guides her clients to awaken their intuition, enabling them to live with more self compassion and emotional health. She leads Women’s healing retreats as well as concerts and song circles. Meira resides in Baltimore, Maryland with her husband and five children.