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Meet the Barnert Writers

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A Unique Opportunity to
Meet and Hear from
Talent in our Community

Within our Barnert community are a number of members for whom writing is a passion, hobby, or career. Some have written books or collections of poetry and short stories. Others write for newspapers, blogs, and other media sources. Their styles and content vary widely, but they all share a love for the written word and a connection to Barnert.

Come Listen to Their Stories.

Learn about what inspires them and how their Judaism and community influence their work. You'll also have the opportunity to hear samples of their works and speak with them directly to learn more about their writing and inspiration.

Are you a writer? Do you want to present as a "Writer of Barnert?"
Contact Rabbi Scheffler.

)	MELANIE BIEBER, M.Phil.Ed, LPC Melanie Bieber is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and the founder of Level Up Counseling & Consulting, which supports young children, teens and adults. Before opening her private practice, she was the Coordinator of Counseling Services and Primary School Counselor at Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA). During her time at MKA, Melanie co-authored Aaron Daniel Henry Davis: Just Another Day at School, a children's book which tells the story of a typical school day through the lens of a child with an ADHD diagnosis, with the goal of promoting a positive understanding of neurodiversity. Since launching the book, Melanie has shared interviews and insights on TV, podcasts, and online resources including One-On-One with Steve Adubato, The ADHD Lounge, and ADHD Online.
	DEBBIE BRESLOW Debbie a freelance writer and college essay coach based in Bergen County, New Jersey. For the last 15 years, she have supported high school seniors and post-graduate students in crafting a wide range of personal statements, college-specific supplements, activities lists, and resumes. Her freelance writing career, which began in 2002, includes personal essays and reported work published in local, regional, and national magazines including The Jewish Standard.
	CHANI GETTER Chani Getter is a psychotherapist, interfaith minister, and award-winning queer activist. An expert on religious trauma, Chani’s life and work has been featured in two documentary films, One of Us and Devout. Chani’s first book Mapito is a powerful how-to guide for finding, accepting, and loving every part of yourself.
	FELICIA HALPERT Felicia E. Halpert’s essays and articles have appeared in a variety of publications, including The New York Times, The Nation, Ms., Parents, and Essence. Her short story, “Summer Games” is included in the book, Girls Got Game: Sports Stories & Poems. She was a manuscript reader/advisor for An American Jewish Odyssey: American Religious Freedoms and the Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple by Cipora O. Schwartz, and she has edited/project managed several books of various types. After a substantial stint in educational publishing, Felicia more recently has been managing the family-owned company Bergen IT and producing content for its blog. She sees this forum as an opportunity to return to her writing roots.
	MICHAEL C. KIRSHNER, Ph.D. Michael C. Kirshner, is a psychologist in private practice in a northern suburb of New York City. From 1977 to 2014, he was a senior psychologist at a major mental health facility in New York. During that period, he was Director of Education and Training and Director of Case Management. In 1981 he published innovative research on treating young adult chronic psychiatric patients and lectured widely on that topic. He enrolled in Gotham Writers’ Workshop in New York City. At the age of 73, Michael submitted his first short story submission, “Men on Benches,” to the The Glimmer Train Press contest for new writers and received honorable mention. When not seeing patients, he continues to write, rummages through antique shops, and drives around aimlessly exploring new places. He has two wonderful adult sons, two wacky grandchildren, and an awesome daughter-in-law.
	WALLACE MANHEIMER, Ph.D. Wally Manheimer is a physicist with a Ph.D. degree from MIT. He spent his career at the US Naval Research Lab dividing his time between problems of national defense and the development of fusion energy. He now writes articles about climate change energy and publishes in a variety of media. He views his efforts to get all of humanity to the living standard and energy use of the more developed world as an act of 'tikkum olam.' His latest book, MASS DELUSIONS: How they harm sustainable energy, climate policy, fusion, and fusion breeding, was published in 2023.
	DAN NEUBURGER Dan is a retired CEO who has been published in a variety of periodicals and books and has been featured in Bloomberg, Forbes, CNN Money, Politico, Crain’s, The Washington Post, and Business Insider, as well as the award-winning book Recalculating. After his father’s passing, he inherited the decades of family research his father had compiled. What began as a simple effort to supplement this work and connect his children with their past soon took on a deeper significance. The incredible stories he unearthed—and their undeniable parallels to today's world—led him to reflect on the lessons to be learned from their tragic experiences in fighting antisemitism. This inspired him to write a historical fiction novel tracing his family's journey through this period. His upcoming book, From the Shadows, incorporates real events as much as possible and is scheduled to be published later this year.
	EMILY ZICHERMAN Emily Zicherman is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience in consumer research. Her work includes pieces published by The Nosher, Kveller, and Motherwell, as well as technical writing. She also authors The Oven Window, a newsletter that takes a deep dive into family meals.