Regional Chapters
Yetzirah Regional Chapters are local groups of Jewish poets and readers of Jewish poetry, organized and hosted by Yetzirah members with the support of Yetzirah staff, which meet to offer programming and community-building aligned with Yetzirah’s mission. We believe an important part of supporting Jewish poets is helping people make connections in their own communities, facilitating local networks of mutual support and inspiration. After all, online friends can’t drop off soup and a good book when you have the flu.
Reach out to one of the leaders below to join a chapter near you, or check out local events at our Community Calendar.
Interested in learning more or perhaps forming a new chapter in your community? Email Yetzirah’s Program Manager Danny Kraft: dkraft.yetzirahpoets@gmail.com
California
Los Angeles Regional Chapter
Provides Jewish poets, friends, and community members across Greater Los Angeles with a much-needed place to make connections through a mashup of in person and online readings, poetry salons, lectures, workshops and write-ins.
Contacts:
Donna Spruijt-Metz dmetz@usc.edu
Nan Cohen nancohen@gmail.com
Julia Knobloch: juliknobloch@googlemail.com
SF Bay Area Regional Chapter
First meeting will take place soon via Zoom, so please be in touch if you would like to participate and help to shape the future of this community!
Contacts:
Dan Alter: dialter@sbcglobal.net
Gail Newman: newmangail3574@gmail.com
Massachusetts
Boston Area Regional Chapter
Regular in-person gatherings, including Jewish poetry salons, readings, and national Yetzirah event watch parties
Contacts:
Josette Akresh-Gonzales, josettepoet@gmail.com
Liza Halley, lizahalley08@gmail.com
Western Massachusetts Regional Chapter
Meets for monthly in-person gatherings of Jewish poets in and around Northampton.
Contacts:
Tzivia Gover, hello@thirdhousemoon.com
Rich Michelson, Rich@richardmichelson.com
Lesléa Newman, leslea@lesleakids.com
New Jersey
Central/Northern New Jersey Regional Chapter
Contact:
Hannah Butcher, hannah.e.butcher@gmail.com
Melissa Rosen, melissakrosen@gmail.com
New York
Finger Lakes Regional Chapter
Description: Meets regularly for in–person events including readings and generative workshops for Jewish poets, friends, and community members in the upstate New York Finger Lakes region.
Contact:
Suzanne Brody, sabrody@gmail.com
North Carolina
North Carolina Triangle (Durham/Chapel Hill/Raleigh-Area) Regional Chapter
Contact:
Caleb Horowitz, calebhorowitz7@gmail.com
Om Green, Om.echad.green@gmail.com
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Regional Chapter
An evolving, supportive, and diverse community of local Jewish poets who meet in-person monthly and host Jewish poetry salons.
Contact:
Amy Small-McKinney, momat927@gmail.com
Vermont
Vermont Regional Chapter
Meets through zoom for readings and inclusive workshops for Vermont Jewish poets of all levels, and supports community members organizing local in-person poetry events.
Contact:
Judy Chalmer, judyburlington@gmail.com
International
Israel Regional Chapter (based in Jerusalem)
Contact:
Joanna Chen, joannachen1@gmail.com
Illinois
Chicagoland Regional Chapter
Meets for in-person readings and Jewish poetry salons, and to create supportive community for local Jewish poets.
Contacts:
Jamie Wendt, jkwendt7@gmail.com
Dina Elenbogen, dinaelenbogen@gmail.com
Your local chapter here?
Interested in forming a new chapter in your community?
Or do you live in one of these areas and want to help with a chapter already in progress?
- CA: San Diego
- KY/OH: Kentucky/Ohio Region
- MD: Baltimore
- ME: Maine
- NM: Santa Fe
- OK: Tulsa
- OR: Portland
- WI: Madison
International:
- United Kingdom (Based in London)
Email Yetzirah’s Program Manager Danny Kraft for more info: dkraft.yetzirahpoets@gmail.com
And you’ll find the details of our Regional Chapter Membership Criteria & Benefits here.
BECOME A MEMBER
Your membership support enables Yetzirah to produce our annual in-person Jewish Poetry Conference, online reading series, Discover Jewish Poets database, media archive, resource-rich website, and other free programs that champion Jewish poets and Jewish poetry. Receive members-only perks and support Yetzirah’s programming.