meet rabbi dana saroken
our spiritual Leader and founder
“Welcome to a new idea…because opportunities to grow and connect can’t be limited to traditional prayer services on Shabbat or adult education classes in the synagogue library. We are here to appeal to the generation(s!) of Jews who require more creativity and relevance from their Judaism. People who have limited time and an overwhelming list of to-dos. People who are looking for ways to enhance the lives they are living—or aspiring to live.”
—Rabbi Dana Saroken
tap into the ancient wisdom of judaism
Rabbi saroken’s Message
In today’s complicated world, it’s so important to have a place that we can go to take care of our souls. It took us more months than you can imagine to find our name: “The Pause Bar,” “The Nefesh Nook,” the list of possibilities went on and on. Finally, we landed on “The Soul Center” and it felt so right. It still does.
From meditation to hiking to paddleboarding to creating art…the minute that you walk through our door or arrive at a program we’re hosting, you feel rejuvenated, uplifted, cared for, nourished. Your soul just feels better. You just know that you are in a place and a community that enables us all to think deeply, connect authentically, explore wholeheartedly, learn unabashedly.
Of course, the magic of The Soul Center doesn’t just happen. It is all carefully curated by my partners in creativity, Julie Hettleman, Marisa Shultz and Zoe Popowcer. They somehow always manage to get the details just right: twinkle lights, perfect cocktails, lush linens, edgy aprons, colorful markers. And then there is our commitment to bringing you the highest-caliber wisdom leaders and experts. You’ll find not one but two facilitators at all of our programs in order to ensure that the Jewish import—even if it only takes up a few minutes of focus—is as inspiring and transformative as the rest of your experience.
If you love yoga or exploring or Zentangling or writing? We’ve got that. Been thinking about trying something new, like meditation or NIA movement, stand-up paddle boarding or experiencing a soundbath? We’ve got that, too. Explore our programs and you’ll discover that our programs range from the every day to the unexpected.
Eight years into this great adventure, we’re hearing consistently that people are coming for our programs and community…and they’re coming back because they are finding that their lives are enriched by The Soul Center’s Jewish twist. Whatever your reason for coming and whatever you take away, the only thing that matters to us is how we made you feel: supported, valued, and enriched. That we honored your time, and that we inspired you to want more and to draw nearer to your heritage. That whatever you showed up for was worth it. Because Judaism is worth it.
About Rabbi saroken
Rabbi Dana Saroken was ordained as a Rabbi in 2004. She moved to Baltimore from New York to become a Rabbi with Beth El Congregation in 2007. As she was tending to her traditional rabbinic responsibilities of pastoral caregiving, life cycle officiating, sermon delivering, and more, she was also dreaming up the Soul Center, which opened up its doors in November 2016.
Rabbi Saroken grew up in Bedford Hills, NY. As a child, she loved traveling (she still does!) and studied abroad during high school in London and again in college at Israel’s Tel Aviv University. She headed to Tucson next to attend the Honor’s College at the University of Arizona (because who doesn’t love the mountains and the air and opportunities in Tucson?) and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude in 1994.
Following college graduation, Rabbi Saroken moved to Colorado and worked as the Educational Director for the international organization Up With People that specializes in performing arts, service, and global education. Through this job she was able to travel the world and pursue her passion for theater and community-building and service. After her tours ended, Rabbi Saroken moved to Washington, DC, where she ran the Jewish Students Association at Georgetown University for 3 ½ years and finally…she made it back to New York to attend the Jewish Theological Seminary, get ordained, and serve the Jewish people.
When she’s not working, or spending time with her husband Rafi Rone, or busy in the raising and growing and activities of her three children. Rabbi Saroken is a part of Kenissa – a national initiative for Jewish start-ups, a fellow of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality Rabbinic Cohort, and was named “1 of 10 Women To Watch” by Jewish Women International. For fun, she loves spending time with her family (including her dog Palmer), participating in anything having to do with water, skiing (when possible), seeing great musicals, reading and listening to brilliant podcasts.
“For me, The Soul Center has been a constant inspiration—the warmth, the pace, the depth, the people.
Reflecting back, my personal highlights include the new things I’ve tried. I’ve become steadier on our yoga hikes. I created a piece of art based on The Song of Songs that just might make it up on a wall in my home. I braided challah dough for the first time in a long (too long!) while.
All of these Soul Center experiences have enhanced my days.”