TogetheringAbout image

Who We Are

Togethering is a curated getaway experience for young, mixed-heritage Jew-ish couples, designed to create community and help build a shared sense of meaning as they co-create their Jewish life together. Our immersive travel experiences are authentic, inclusive, and rooted in the belief that Jewish wisdom and practices can be a source of creativity, curiosity, and connection.

Each Togethering trip gathers couples from one city and brings them to a stunning destination for an unforgettable weekend of growth, fun, and authentic connection. This is not just a getaway—it’s the beginning of a lifelong community.

Togethering

Our Mission

Togethering is a new endeavor designed to support young, modern couples as they explore how Jewish wisdom, practices, and stories can bring something meaningful to the lives they build together - on their own terms and in their own time. We do this through awe-inspiring immersive travel, authentic personal exploration, and ongoing opportunities to build community with other great couples.

Who We Serve

Togethering welcomes mixed-heritage couples ages 25–40, with at least one Jewish partner. Maybe one of you comes from a different tradition—religious, cultural, spiritual, or secular. Maybe you both identify as Jewish, but your upbringings couldn't have looked more different. If you're asking questions about connection, meaning, and how Jewishness fits into your life together—you're in the right place, and we're so glad you're here!

Togethering
Togethering

What's The Catch?

We get this question a lot. The answer? No catch. This is subsidized because we believe mixed-heritage couples deserve access to meaningful Jewish connection—without a price tag or a hidden agenda.

We're not here to convert anyone or box you in. We're here to honor both your backgrounds and everything you're bringing to the table. What matters is that you're curious about building a Jew-ish life that reflects who you are, what you value, and the story you're creating—together.

Why We Do This

It’s no secret—Jewish partnerships are evolving. In fact, 72% of non-Orthodox Jews who’ve married since 2010 are in mixed-heritage relationships. And yet, so many couples still don’t feel fully seen or supported. That’s why we exist: to offer space, conversation, and community for couples exploring how Jewish wisdom and practices can enhance the lives they are shaping together. In a world that often asks you to choose sides, we're here to help you create a Jewish life that feels authentically yours, alongside others who are doing the same.

Togethering

What We Stand For

Our work is guided by four core principles:

Authenticity

Creating space for honest connection and exploration – How can we show up fully and connect with others in real, meaningful ways?

Creativity

Reimagining what we inherited to generate something new  — How can we remix our stories, experiences, and traditions to create a shared future?

Curiosity

Welcoming new perspectives and questions — Where can we open ourselves to learn and grow?

Community

Cultivating friendships and weaving new experiences — What kind of community do we want to create together?

Authenticity

Creating space for honest connection and exploration – How can we show up fully and connect with others in real, meaningful ways?

Creativity

Reimagining what we inherited to generate something new  — How can we remix our stories, experiences, and traditions to create a shared future?

Curiosity

Welcoming new perspectives and questions — Where can we open ourselves to learn and grow?

Community

Cultivating friendships and weaving new experiences — What kind of community do we want to create together?

Our Impact

From coast to coast, we're creating communities where modern couples can try on traditions, explore Jewish wisdom, build authentic connections, and gain tools to shape their own custom version of Jew-ish life.


The result?

Couples who feel confident in their choices, connected to community, and excited about the future they’re 
building together.

350

+

Togethering Couples

7

Magical Destinations

Post-Trip Togetherings

Our Impact

From coast to coast, we're creating communities where modern couples can try on traditions, explore Jewish wisdom, build authentic connections, and gain tools to shape their own custom version of Jew-ish life.


The result?

Couples who feel confident in their choices, connected to community, and excited about the future they’re 
building together.

Meet the Togethering Team

Our team brings together different perspectives, backgrounds, and stories—just like the couples we serve.

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Sophie Hearne

Executive Director

Sophie is the Executive Director of Togethering, where she leads the organization's strategy, programming, and growth. Raised in a mixed-heritage family—with a Jewish mother and an atheist father—Sophie developed a deep appreciation for how her parents and grandparents navigated the melding and embracing of each other’s traditions, teachings, and holidays. She is passionate about creating Jewish experiences, spaces, and communities that she wishes had existed for her parents and that reflect the evolving needs of today's Jew-ish couples and families. Outside of work, Sophie enjoys spending time in Maine with her husband, Chris, and their son, Max; gardening in her backyard; and discovering the best bakeries wherever she travels.

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Sophie Hearne

Executive Director

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Sumiko Zayon

Recruitment & Partnerships Senior Manager

Sumiko is delighted to support all elements of program design and implementation because Togethering resonates so strongly with her own personal experience. Originally from Cuba, Sumiko accompanied her husband on his Jewish conversion journey and was inspired by their shared experiences and the sense of belonging he found in the community. Together, they emigrated to Israel and a few years later made Miami home with their two young children. Sumiko was the Youth Engagement Director at Temple Beth Am, a prominent reform congregation in Miami, and is a skilled salsa dancer and passionate amateur singer.

close

Sumiko Zayon

Recruitment & Partnerships Senior Manager

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Elana Pollack

Experience Designer

Elana comes to the Togethering team with over a decade of experience in creating and facilitating immersive Jewish experiences for learners of all ages. Having grown up in the quaint, sandy town of Vero Beach, Florida where the Jewish community was small but mighty, she found her passion for fostering connections to Judaism through travel and experiential learning while working in Jewish summer camp. After seven years in the camping field, she shifted her focus to young couples and families from diverse Jewish backgrounds. As a Jewish communal professional, Elana strives to build relationships and connections rooted in trust, the value at the center of all her work. Elana and her husband live in Atlanta, GA with their two young children and family dog.

close

Elana Pollack

Experience Designer

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Catherine Rose

Cohort Strategy Senior Manager

A community-builder at heart, Catherine is dedicated to bringing warmth and intentionality to every touchpoint of the Togethering experience. Originally hailing from the Deep South and now based in Washington, D.C., she believes deeply in the power of radical hospitality and in the ability of community to transform lives. With degrees in philosophy and design, Catherine brings a love for both the heavenly and the earthly to her work, weaving meaning, beauty, and connection into everything she does. In her free time, you’ll likely find her hosting dinners, volunteering, exploring nature, enjoying and creating art, or traveling with her family to the next country on her ever-growing list of places to visit around the world.

close

Catherine Rose

Cohort Strategy Senior Manager

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Amanda Brooks

Operations Manager

Amanda Brooks is the Trip Operations Specialist for Togethering, where she brings organization, care, and attention to detail to every trip experience. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and three beautiful children. Prior to joining Togethering, Amanda worked as an educator, teaching culinary arts to high school students, an experience that strengthened her passion for experiential learning and community building. She received her undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and is a committed Buckeye fan for life. She later earned her master’s degree in Education Administration from Northern Arizona University. Amanda is deeply involved in the Phoenix Jewish community, serving on various boards and working at Jewish summer camps. She is committed to creating meaningful Jewish experiences in all walks of life. In her spare time, she enjoys discovering trendy brunch spots, traveling, and spending quality time with her family.

close

Amanda Brooks

Operations Manager

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Sam Eidus

Operations Specialist

Sam Eidus has recently joined the Togethering team as an Operations Specialist. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Sam has dedicated his career to building community through hospitality and meaningful connection. In recent years, as a restaurateur, he has welcomed his neighbors and friends into his second home to be nourished through food, music, and good vibes.

Now, having traded his chef’s knives for a webcam and keyboard, Sam continues his lifelong passion for service and connection in a new way, helping foster community through shared experiences at Togethering.

Outside of work, Sam is an avid soccer enthusiast who enjoys playing in a local league and traveling the world to catch matches in person.

close

Sam Eidus

Operations Specialist

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Miriam Bader

Experience Design Consultant & Co-Facilitator

Miriam is a learning designer on a quest to strengthen our ability to lead, learn, and make social impact. She creates dynamic in-person and online programs, trainings, and gatherings for NGOs, cultural organizations, and small businesses to strengthen their leadership. As a traveler and digital nomad, Miriam balances curiosity and cultural humility with confidence in our ability to solve complex problems together.

close

Miriam Bader

Experience Design Consultant & Co-Facilitator

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Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek

Rabbinic Advisor & Co-Facilitator

Brent is widely recognized as one of the most inspiring rabbis in America. In his work with soon-to-be-wed couples, he is committed to helping couples work together as a team, regardless of gender, sexual orientations or faith backgrounds. Describing himself as “an accidental Rabbi”, Brent grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn but without much religious influence – he never even had a bar mitzvah. Today, Brent lives in Beacon with his wife and their two children.

close

Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek

Rabbinic Advisor & Co-Facilitator

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Rabbi Samuel Klein

Rabbinic Advisor & Co-Facilitator

As Director of Jewish Engagement at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Samuel believes that curiosity and inquiry are central to Jewish practice. Across two decades of accompanying couples and young families craft their Jewish journey with intentionality, Samuel has designed and led initiatives for couples of mixed heritage backgrounds in a variety of community settings including Synagogues, JCCs, and Federations nationally. Originally from London, Samuel is the proud father of three (all living on different continents!) and lives in Seattle. An avid runner and hiker and you can often find him running the Seward Park loop

close

Rabbi Samuel Klein

Rabbinic Advisor & Co-Facilitator

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Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp

Rabbinic Advisor & Co-Facilitator

Miriam's career spans two worlds: the sanctuary and the start-up. After 13 years as Senior Rabbi at Temple Sholom in Cincinnati, she now serves as Executive Director of Judaism Unbound, a Jewish nonprofit known for its innovative podcasts, the UnYeshiva digital learning center, and original educational content. Miriam helps people find and tell their own stories through Jewish wisdom — exactly what her podcasts do: "Tales of the Unbound," "Door to Door," and "Everyday Mystics." She's also the author of "Beyond the Bindings," a guide for people who learn by doing. Miriam was ordained at HUC-JIR and has spent two decades showing that Jewish tradition and innovation aren't opposites — they're co-conspirators. She lives in Cincinnati with her daughters, spouse, and dog, always somewhere between writing, painting, and dreaming up the next big idea.

close

Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp

Rabbinic Advisor & Co-Facilitator

Icon

Sophie Hearne

Executive Director

Sophie is the Executive Director of Togethering, where she leads the organization's strategy, programming, and growth. Raised in a mixed-heritage family—with a Jewish mother and an atheist father—Sophie developed a deep appreciation for how her parents and grandparents navigated the melding and embracing of each other’s traditions, teachings, and holidays. She is passionate about creating Jewish experiences, spaces, and communities that she wishes had existed for her parents and that reflect the evolving needs of today's Jew-ish couples and families. Outside of work, Sophie enjoys spending time in Maine with her husband, Chris, and their son, Max; gardening in her backyard; and discovering the best bakeries wherever she travels.

close

Sophie Hearne

Executive Director

Icon

Sumiko Zayon

Recruitment & Partnerships Senior Manager

Sumiko is delighted to support all elements of program design and implementation because Togethering resonates so strongly with her own personal experience. Originally from Cuba, Sumiko accompanied her husband on his Jewish conversion journey and was inspired by their shared experiences and the sense of belonging he found in the community. Together, they emigrated to Israel and a few years later made Miami home with their two young children. Sumiko was the Youth Engagement Director at Temple Beth Am, a prominent reform congregation in Miami, and is a skilled salsa dancer and passionate amateur singer.

close

Sumiko Zayon

Recruitment & Partnerships Senior Manager

Icon

Elana Pollack

Experience Designer

Elana comes to the Togethering team with over a decade of experience in creating and facilitating immersive Jewish experiences for learners of all ages. Having grown up in the quaint, sandy town of Vero Beach, Florida where the Jewish community was small but mighty, she found her passion for fostering connections to Judaism through travel and experiential learning while working in Jewish summer camp. After seven years in the camping field, she shifted her focus to young couples and families from diverse Jewish backgrounds. As a Jewish communal professional, Elana strives to build relationships and connections rooted in trust, the value at the center of all her work. Elana and her husband live in Atlanta, GA with their two young children and family dog.

close

Elana Pollack

Experience Designer

Icon

Catherine Rose

Cohort Strategy Senior Manager

A community-builder at heart, Catherine is dedicated to bringing warmth and intentionality to every touchpoint of the Togethering experience. Originally hailing from the Deep South and now based in Washington, D.C., she believes deeply in the power of radical hospitality and in the ability of community to transform lives. With degrees in philosophy and design, Catherine brings a love for both the heavenly and the earthly to her work, weaving meaning, beauty, and connection into everything she does. In her free time, you’ll likely find her hosting dinners, volunteering, exploring nature, enjoying and creating art, or traveling with her family to the next country on her ever-growing list of places to visit around the world.

close

Catherine Rose

Cohort Strategy Senior Manager

Icon

Amanda Brooks

Operations Manager

Amanda Brooks is the Trip Operations Specialist for Togethering, where she brings organization, care, and attention to detail to every trip experience. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and three beautiful children. Prior to joining Togethering, Amanda worked as an educator, teaching culinary arts to high school students, an experience that strengthened her passion for experiential learning and community building. She received her undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and is a committed Buckeye fan for life. She later earned her master’s degree in Education Administration from Northern Arizona University. Amanda is deeply involved in the Phoenix Jewish community, serving on various boards and working at Jewish summer camps. She is committed to creating meaningful Jewish experiences in all walks of life. In her spare time, she enjoys discovering trendy brunch spots, traveling, and spending quality time with her family.

close

Amanda Brooks

Operations Manager

Icon

Sam Eidus

Operations Specialist

Sam Eidus has recently joined the Togethering team as an Operations Specialist. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Sam has dedicated his career to building community through hospitality and meaningful connection. In recent years, as a restaurateur, he has welcomed his neighbors and friends into his second home to be nourished through food, music, and good vibes.

Now, having traded his chef’s knives for a webcam and keyboard, Sam continues his lifelong passion for service and connection in a new way, helping foster community through shared experiences at Togethering.

Outside of work, Sam is an avid soccer enthusiast who enjoys playing in a local league and traveling the world to catch matches in person.

close

Sam Eidus

Operations Specialist

Icon

Miriam Bader

Experience Design Consultant & Co-Facilitator

Miriam is a learning designer on a quest to strengthen our ability to lead, learn, and make social impact. She creates dynamic in-person and online programs, trainings, and gatherings for NGOs, cultural organizations, and small businesses to strengthen their leadership. As a traveler and digital nomad, Miriam balances curiosity and cultural humility with confidence in our ability to solve complex problems together.

close

Miriam Bader

Experience Design Consultant & Co-Facilitator

Icon

Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek

Rabbinic Advisor & Co-Facilitator

Brent is widely recognized as one of the most inspiring rabbis in America. In his work with soon-to-be-wed couples, he is committed to helping couples work together as a team, regardless of gender, sexual orientations or faith backgrounds. Describing himself as “an accidental Rabbi”, Brent grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn but without much religious influence – he never even had a bar mitzvah. Today, Brent lives in Beacon with his wife and their two children.

close

Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek

Rabbinic Advisor & Co-Facilitator

Icon

Rabbi Samuel Klein

Rabbinic Advisor & Co-Facilitator

As Director of Jewish Engagement at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Samuel believes that curiosity and inquiry are central to Jewish practice. Across two decades of accompanying couples and young families craft their Jewish journey with intentionality, Samuel has designed and led initiatives for couples of mixed heritage backgrounds in a variety of community settings including Synagogues, JCCs, and Federations nationally. Originally from London, Samuel is the proud father of three (all living on different continents!) and lives in Seattle. An avid runner and hiker and you can often find him running the Seward Park loop

close

Rabbi Samuel Klein

Rabbinic Advisor & Co-Facilitator

Icon

Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp

Rabbinic Advisor & Co-Facilitator

Miriam's career spans two worlds: the sanctuary and the start-up. After 13 years as Senior Rabbi at Temple Sholom in Cincinnati, she now serves as Executive Director of Judaism Unbound, a Jewish nonprofit known for its innovative podcasts, the UnYeshiva digital learning center, and original educational content. Miriam helps people find and tell their own stories through Jewish wisdom — exactly what her podcasts do: "Tales of the Unbound," "Door to Door," and "Everyday Mystics." She's also the author of "Beyond the Bindings," a guide for people who learn by doing. Miriam was ordained at HUC-JIR and has spent two decades showing that Jewish tradition and innovation aren't opposites — they're co-conspirators. She lives in Cincinnati with her daughters, spouse, and dog, always somewhere between writing, painting, and dreaming up the next big idea.

close

Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp

Rabbinic Advisor & Co-Facilitator

Our Partners

Together with our partners, we’re opening new doors for mixed-heritage couples to connect with Jewish life. Through collaboration, we are able to provide transformative experiences that inspire exploration and heartfelt connection—guided by each couple’s unique journey.

Togethering Partner

The One8 Foundation is proud to support Togethering as one of the programs in their Jewish Life portfolio. The One8 Foundation supports user-centric organizations like Togethering that serve the needs of young couples and families and create innovative Jewish experiences in local communities that are flexible, joyful, meaningful, and non-prescriptive. The One8 Foundation believes that education is the doorway to individual success and self-determination and is anchored in the Jewish values of human dignity, social justice, repairing the world and building robust caring communities of meaning and purpose.

Togethering Partner

Honeymoon Israel is the country’s premiere organization serving young couples with at least one Jewish partner. Since its founding in 2014, Honeymoon Israel (HMI) has served over 3,000 couples through immersive experiences in Israel and local engagement in their communities. HMI has partnered closely with Togethering to provide operational and educational resources. In 2025, HMI will provide significant support to the Togethering team to execute 10 Togethering experiences in the U.S. HMI’s additional support will ensure that both organizations can reach the maximum number of couples.

Togethering Partner

As part of select Togethering alumni experiences, some cohorts will have the opportunity to participate in Reset & Refresh following the retreat. Reset & Refresh is originally a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. This post-trip series is a learning adventure crafted to provide couples with a welcoming space to deepen relationships with their new Togethering friends and co-author their shared Jew-ish journey once they return home.

On the Horizon

See Next Trips
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