An experiential look at essential questions, this program offers the opportunity to consider how to live well in the face of mortality. A topic made even more important by the pandemic, Death Over Donuts: Jewish Edition includes an exploration of accessible Jewish texts to prompt questions and discussions about quality of life, decision-making, and communicating wishes with loved ones. This gathering (with donuts) is a brave, healing space to talk about how we choose to live our lives, recognizing that they are finite. 

Rabbi Melanie Levav is passionate about helping to improve end-of-life care and conversations and brings this commitment to Shomer Collective as the Executive Director. Prior to Shomer Collective, Rabbi Levav served as the Director of PJ Library in New York, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Rabbi Levav has held positions at the Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst, the Mandel Center for Jewish Education at JCC Association, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and UJA-Federation of New York.

An alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship, Rabbi Levav was ordained as a rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary; she is certified as a chaplain by Neshama: the National Association for Jewish Chaplains, and received her graduate degree in social work from Columbia University.