Avram Mlotek

Avram Mlotek (Yiddish: אברהם, born 1987 in Manhattan, NY) is an American rabbi, social activist, cantor, writer, actor and slam poet. Mlotek is the co-founder of Base Hillel, a pluralistic home-centered outreach program, established in nine cities worldwide, predominantly for Jewish young adults.[1] Mlotek also serves as rabbi for the Manhattan location and as Director of spiritual life for the international Base program.[2][3]

Early life

Avram Mlotek was born in 1987, in Manhattan, NY. His father, Zalmen Mlotek, is the artistic director of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene;[4] and his mother, Debra Cohen Mlotek is an occupational therapist.[5] He is the grandson of Joseph Mlotek and Eleanor Mlotek. He grew up in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, and also in Teaneck, New Jersey.[6] Mlotek's younger brother Elisha Mlotek is a filmmaker and founding member of the Hasidic jam band Zusha. Mlotek was influential in encouraging his younger brother to share his group's music with a wider audience[7]

Education

Mlotek is currently a student at Fordham School of Social Work.[8] He has received rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School[9] in 2015.[10] In 2009, he received his BA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University where he also contributed to organizations that addressed ethical issues as a Sorensen Fellow[11] during his undergraduate career, in 2008.[12] Mlotek has studied theatre at Sarah Lawrence College, Islamic Scriptures at Bergen Community College, cantorial music at Yeshiva University, Talmud at Yeshivat Hadar, theater education at City College, and clinical pastoral education at The Jewish Theological Seminary of America.[13]

Career and activism

To combat the rise of antisemitism in the United States after the 2016 U.S. presidential election,[14] Mlotek travels to sites of various anti-Semitic events in an attempt to raise awareness against antisemitism and offer spiritual support and prayer for survivors and affected communities.[15] He has published his experiences in Paris,[16] Pittsburgh,[17] Philadelphia[18] and Manhattan in various news articles. Mlotek himself was a victim of antisemitism by a Farrakhan supporter on a subway train during his travels in Manhattan.[19][20]

Mlotek announced in 2019 that he would officiate at same-sex ceremonies for Jewish couples.[21] This was noteworthy, as Orthodox Judaism categorically forbids same-sex marriage.[22][23] Mlotek first officiated an ceremony for a same-sex couple in 2020.[24][25]

Mlotek also advocates for greater inclusion of multi-faith families[26] and other marginalized populations within Judaism.

On September 4, 2016, Mlotek co-officiated a wedding ceremony together with the late Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.[27] He used this experience to push for greater gender equality in Judaism by arguing that just as Justice Ginsburg fought for gender equality,[28] so too must men, especially privileged men such as Rabbis, advocate for equality between the sexes.[29]

In April 2020 during COVID-19, Mlotek organized The Third Seder, An Online International Celebration of Yiddish Culture which featured some of the leading Klezmer performing artists in a benefit program for The United Community Services of Westchester.[30][31]

In October 2020, Mlotek co-directed and produced Kids and Yiddish: The Reunion Special, along with brother Elisha Mlotek for The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene.[32]

Mlotek is also currently serving as the Rabbi-in-residence of the JCC.[33]

Acting

Mlotek has performed on the Yiddish stage since the age of three, most notably in the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene's Off-Broadway Family show, Kids and Yiddish,[34] in which he appeared for several seasons and is featured on their original cast album, Kids and Yiddish, A Musical Adventure. As a child, Mlotek was featured in several Klezmer CDs including The Klezmatics,[35] Oy Vey Chanukah for Kids,[36] Di Grine Katchke,[37] and others.

Mlotek has also performed in staged readings for the National Yiddish Theatre-Folksbiene including Chaim Grade's My Mother's Sabbath Days,[38] H. Leyvick's The Wedding in Fernvald,[39] H. Leyvick's The Miracle of the Ghetto[40] and Paddy Chayefsky's The Tenth Man (in Yiddish).[41]

Writing

Mlotek has recently authored the book "Why Jews Do That or 30 Questions Your Rabbi Never Answered" in 2020.[42] His writing has been published in various outlets, including The New York Times,[43] The Los Angeles Times,[44] The New York Daily News,[45] The Forward,[46] Haaretz,[47] Tablet[48] and The New York Jewish Week.[49]

Singing

Mlotek performed vocals for the documentary "Harbor From the Holocaust," featuring world renowned Cellist Yo-Yo Ma.[50]

Recognition

Mlotek was listed as one of America's "Most Inspiring Rabbis" by The Forward in 2016.[51] He was named a "leading innovator in Jewish life" by the Jewish Week's 36 Under 36 Section.[52]

Family

Mlotek is married to Yael Kornfeld, a geriatric social worker.[53]

Controversies


References
  1. "Avram Mlotek". Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  2. "MNHTN | Base". basehillel.org. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  3. "What?". Base. June 12, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  4. Connections, GoldenLand Concerts &. "Zalmen Mlotek | GoldenLand Concerts & Connections". Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  5. "Student Awards". Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. March 12, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  6. "Avram Mlotek". Office of Innovation, Hillel International. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  7. Wojno, Rebecca (December 7, 2014). "Wordless melodies to soothe the soul. Times of Israel. timesofisrael.com. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  8. "Avram Mlotek". Base. June 18, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  9. Staff, JLNJ. "Teaneck's Avram Mlotek to Receive YCT Ordination". jewishlinknj.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  10. "Avram Mlotek". Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  11. "Sorensen Fellowship | Brandeis University". www.brandeis.edu. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  12. "Reflections: 20 Years of Sorensen Fellows | Brandeis University". www.brandeis.edu. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  13. "Avram Mlotek". Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  14. Lovett, Ian (December 17, 2019). "Rise in Anti-Semitic Incidents Goes Beyond Recent Violent Attacks". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  15. Mlotek, Avram. "Paris, When It Mourns – And Fights Hatred". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  16. Mlotek, Avram (April 5, 2018). "Paris, When It Mourns – And Fights Hatred". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  17. McCausland, Phil; Johnson, Alex (October 28, 2018). "Thousands turn out in a cold rain to proclaim: Don't be scared to be Jewish". NBC News. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  18. Mlotek, Avram (March 7, 2017). "What Cemetery Vandals Couldn't Anticipate". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  19. "Farrakhan's hate speech leads to actual abuse of Jews. I just experienced it | Opinion". Haaretz.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  20. Mikelionis, Lukas (November 3, 2018). "Facebook says it 'mistakenly' removed rabbi's story about harassment by Farrakhan supporters". Fox News. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  21. "I'm an rabbi who is going to start officiating LGBTQ weddings. Here's why". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  22. "Orthodox Response to Same-Sex Marriage". OU Advocacy Center. June 5, 2006. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  23. "Statement on Orthodoxy". Coalition for Jewish Values. December 13, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  24. Cramer, Philissa. "After endorsing same-sex marriages, an rabbi performs his first". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  25. Liphshiz, Cnaan. "After endorsing same-sex marriages, a US rabbi performs his first". www.timesofisrael.com.
  26. Mlotek, Avram (June 17, 2017). "Time to Rethink Our Resistance to Intermarriage". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  27. "Missy Mlotek, Zach Schonbrun (Published 2016)". The New York Times. September 4, 2016. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  28. "Tribute: The Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and WRP Staff". American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  29. "I co-officiated a wedding with Justice Ginsburg – and it exposed a tension in Orthodox life". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. September 29, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  30. Palmer, Joanne. "Wait. There's a third seder?". jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com.
  31. Desk, BWW News. "Experience An All-Star Third Seder – An Online International Yiddish Cultural Celebration". BroadwayWorld.com.
  32. "Kids & Yiddish: The Reunion Special". National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  33. "Avram Mlotek". Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  34. Graeber, Laurel (December 5, 2003). "Family Fare". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  35. "The Klezmatics – Rise Up! Shteyt Oyf!". Discogs. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  36. Oy Vey! Chanukah!, Sisu Home Ent., 2000, retrieved April 23, 2019
  37. "Music Review: Sheva Zucker: Di grine katshke". www.klezmershack.com. May 20, 1998. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  38. Mlotek, Avram. "Being Chaim Grade". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  39. "A Staged Reading of Di Khasene in Fernvald (The Wedding in Foehrenwald)". www.facebook.com. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  40. "Past Performances". Amanda (Miryem-Khaye) Seigel מרים־חיה סגל. November 5, 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  41. Desk, BWW News. "National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene's THE TENTH MAN In Yiddish Sells Out". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  42. Palmer, Joanne. "Why do Jews do that?". jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  43. Mlotek, Avram (September 27, 2019). "Opinion | Hearing the Shofar's Cry in the Jerusalem of Lithuania". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  44. "Op-Ed: Google could use a little godliness". Los Angeles Times. July 16, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  45. Mlotek, Avram. "A letter to an anti-Semite from a rabbi". nydailynews.com. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  46. "Avram Mlotek". The Forward. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  47. "Avram Mlotek". haaretz.com. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  48. "Avram Mlotek, Author at Tablet Magazine". Tablet Magazine. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  49. "Avram Mlotek". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  50. Behind the Music | Harbor from the Holocaust, August 3, 2020, retrieved October 29, 2020
  51. "Avram Mlotek". The Forward. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  52. Mark, Jonathan. "Avram Mlotek, Going back to the future". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  53. Brawarsky, Sandee (June 25, 2010). "Yael Kornfeld and Avram Mlotek". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
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