Marisa Elana James

Administrative & Communications Intern at Encounter Programs

Israel

Current
  • Cantor at Bethesda-Chevy Chase Jewish Community Group
  • Development & Communications at Encounter Programs
  • Contributor at JVoices.com
Past
  • Shaliach Tzibbur, Ba'alat Kore at Congregation Moreshet Yisrael
  • Volunteer at Encounter
  • Freelance Translator-Editor at The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Education
  • Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
  • Jewish Theological Seminary
  • The University of Connecticut
Connections
40 connections
Industry
Non-Profit Organization Management
Websites

Marisa Elana James’s Summary

Formerly worked for an insurance broker, assisting small employers with life/health insurance decisions. I am still a licensed broker in the tri-state area and beyond. In the summer of 2007 I left my job at Frank Crystal & Co. in New York to go back to school, and I am currently living and studying in Jerusalem, Israel. In August 2010 I will move to Philadelphia, where I have been accepted at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC).

Marisa Elana James’s Specialties:

COBRA law, HIPAA law.


Marisa Elana James’s Experience

  • Cantor

    Bethesda-Chevy Chase Jewish Community Group

    (Religious Institutions industry)

    September 2009Present (3 months)

    High Holiday Cantor for services led by Rabbi Judy Kummer. 5770 and 5771.

  • Development & Communications

    Encounter Programs

    (Alternative Dispute Resolution industry)

    November 2008Present (1 year 1 month)

    Fundraising & grant writing support, proposal writing, website content contributor, and whatever else I can do to help this amazing organization flourish.

  • Contributor

    JVoices.com

    (Writing and Editing industry)

    August 2006Present (3 years 4 months)

    Contributor (and periodically co-editor) to Jewish/Queer community blog, writing about weekly torah portions, politics, current events, New York-area events.

  • Shaliach Tzibbur, Ba'alat Kore

    Congregation Moreshet Yisrael

    (Religious Institutions industry)

    August 2008May 2009 (10 months)

    Service leader (shabbat morning, weekday morning, festivals), darshanit, and monthly Torah reader for Masorti (Conservative) congregation in Jerusalem, Israel.

  • Volunteer

    Encounter

    (Alternative Dispute Resolution industry)

    March 2008October 2008 (8 months)

    Small group facilitator and medic on trips to Bethlehem for Rabbinical students, data entry.

  • Freelance Translator-Editor

    The Israel Museum, Jerusalem

    (Non-Profit; 201-500 employees; Museums and Institutions industry)

    March 2008June 2008 (4 months)

    Co-translated and edited museum catalog from German-English.

  • Account Executive

    Frank Crystal & Co.

    (Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Insurance industry)

    July 2006June 2007 (1 year )

    Worked with small employers to provide life & heath insurance to their employees; particularly schools, small retail employers, and hedge funds.

  • Account Manager

    Banc of America Corporate Insurance Agency

    (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Insurance industry)

    February 2004June 2006 (2 years 5 months)

    Assisted on a team which provided help to employers of all sizes in finding appropriate life and health insurance for their employees.

  • Merchandising Supervisor

    Borders Books & Music

    (Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Retail industry)

    November 2001February 2004 (2 years 4 months)

    Created & maintained store displays. Dressed up as Professor McGonagall for all Harry Potter events. Tried not to turn small children into toads.


Marisa Elana James’s Education

  • Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

    Rabbinic Ordination , 20092015 (expected)

    Accepted into program 2009, deferred entry until Fall 2010.

  • Jewish Theological Seminary

    N/A , Cantorial studies , 20072008

    Completed first year program in Jerusalem before leaving to pursue rabbinical studies.

  • The University of Connecticut

    BA, MA , English Literature , 19942000

    Activities and Societies:
    Ballroom Dance Team Captain, Aviation Club, Cello Society

Additional Information

Marisa Elana James’s Websites:

Marisa Elana James’s Interests:

Ballroom dancing International travel Languages (currently French, Hebrew, German, Yiddish, Arabic) Photography International cuisine Shakespeare Staying caffeinated

Marisa Elana James’s Groups:

Jewish Mosaic
Nehirim
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom
CBST (Congregation Beth Simchat Torah)
CouchSurfing
Encounter Programs
JVoices and the wider internet community


Marisa Elana James’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

  • expertise requests
  • reference requests
  • getting back in touch

Public profile powered by: LinkedIn

Create a public profile: Sign In or Join Now

View Marisa Elana James’s full profile:

  • See who you and Marisa Elana James know in common
  • Get introduced to Marisa Elana James
  • Contact Marisa Elana James directly

View Full Profile