Today, we’re so excited to introduce you to the inaugural cast of Cincy Jewfolk’s first Stories from the Tribe live storytelling show!
Congratulations to the cast of the 2025 Cincy Jewfolk: Stories from the Tribe show!
Andrea Beck
Ali Cantor
Melissa Hunter
Hadas Kaplan
Elyse Krause
Ifat Lahyani
Idit Moss
Susannah Roitman
Carly Sachs
Gabriella Scacchetti
Allison Schneider
Sarah Weiss
About the Show
An event by Cincy Jewfolk, Stories from the Tribe features 12 women on the bima telling their true Jewish stories that have a thread to Jewish motherhood – whether that’s about their own Jewish mom or about being a Jewish mom – and includes all of the ups and downs, highs and lows, laughs and tears that come with the real-life experience of Jewish motherhood in Cincinnati.
We’re so happy to share that Cincy Jewfolk’s first annual storytelling show will be emceed by the amazing Jackie Congedo, Chief Executive Officer of the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center!
This promises to be a stunning night of storytelling and community and we’d love for you to join us!
This year’s show will be in Cincinnati on Monday, November 10th, 2025 at 7 p.m. Seating is General Admission, and the doors will open at 6 p.m. Click here to get your tickets to the show.
Meet the Producer
Galit Breen is the Producer of Stories from the Tribe. Galit was the original Minnesota Mammaleh columnist for TC Jewfolk when it first launched over a dozen years ago and has co-produced Listen to Your Mother Twin Cities since 2013. She is also the bestselling author of Kindness Wins, a guide to teaching your child to be kind online and the TEDx Talk, “Raising a digital kid without having been one.” Her writing has been featured on The Huffington Post; The Washington Post; Buzzfeed; TIME; and more. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, three children, and teeny tiny Terrier named Ella.
Meet the Emcee
Jackie Congedo is a dynamic storyteller, community leader, and nationally recognized expert on antisemitism, civic engagement, and coalition-building. A former journalist turned advocate, she brings heart, humor, and deep experience to the stage. As the new CEO of the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, Jackie is redefining what Holocaust education can look like today. With her passion for connection and her talent for bringing people together across lines of difference, she’s the perfect emcee for a night of powerful, live Jewish storytelling you won’t want to miss!
Get your tickets today!
Meet the Cast
Andrea Beck has a Ph.D. in English Rhetoric. She is particularly interested in the rhetorics of Jewish American Women in the later 20th century to the present. When she isn’t over-mothering her exceptional daughter, dogs, and husband, or working in the family business, Andrea carves out time to write. She currently writes for Cincy Jewfolk and Cohosts the Kibbitz Podcast. Her favorite meal is soft-boiled eggs with toast and tea.
Ali Cantor is an “older” mom of two slaying princesses (7 and 9) and one diva dog, Macki. By day she’s a financial advisor; by night she’s a Jewfolk writer, unpaid Uber for kids driver, sideline soccer/basketball coach, and travel planner extraordinaire—aka the unpaid CEO of Chaos. She loves the Bengals, theater, yoga, reading and travel, and is forever chasing the dream of finishing a matcha before someone yells “Mom!”
Melissa W. Hunter is an award-winning author and cohost of The Kibbitz Podcast. Her writing has appeared in Kveller, Literary Mama, Books by Women, and The American Israelite, and she is a regular columnist for Cincy Jewfolk. Her short stories have been featured in the Jewish Literary Journal, and her novella Through a Mirror Clear was serialized in the literary journal The Same. Melissa’s passion for storytelling and deep connection to her family history inspired her debut novel, What She Lost, based on her grandmother’s life as a Holocaust survivor. Her most recent book, Eight Wishes, is a heartwarming Hanukkah romance.
Hadas Kaplan is a therapist, bestselling Hebrew author, and jewelry artist. She is the author of “Doctor Potty,” “Everything’s Fine, Hili,” “Pitango in the Yard,” and “I Did Something Bad,” all of which became bestsellers in Israel. Living in Ohio while writing in Hebrew, she bridges cultures through stories that resonate across borders. In addition to writing, she teaches about boundaries, ease, positive body image, and helping people envision and pursue their dreams with vision boards. When she’s not working, she can be found dreaming of Iceland or fully immersed as a proud Swiftie.
Elyse Krause, a Cincinnati native, serves as the Engagement Professional at Rockdale Temple. Passionate about exploring all aspects of Judaism, she recently chanted Torah for the first time, is learning to lead services, and is studying second-year Hebrew at the University of Cincinnati. When not working or studying, Elyse enjoys knitting on her balcony with her dog, Chickadee, an 11-year-old boxer mix who keeps her laughing with constant antics.
Ifat Lahyani is a classically trained chef and Le Cordon Bleu graduate, founder of Koriela Kitchen, and the creative heart behind tables filled with flavor and unique style. After moving from Israel to Cincinnati with her husband and five children, she transformed her passion for food, culture, and community into a thriving business. A breast cancer survivor, Ifat believes food is a vessel for healing, connection, and joy. Her use of her parents’ vintage silverware is her way of honoring their memory and bringing their spirit into every celebration. She also writes a culinary column, sharing recipes, stories, and traditions.
Get your tickets today!
Idit Moss was born and raised in Rehovot, Israel, and has spent most of her life in Cincinnati, where her children, Karen and Daniel, also reside. She is passionate about educating the next generation, Judaism, and Israel. Idit holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master’s in Educational Administration. She works as an elementary school teacher in Cincinnati Public Schools and serves as Director of Education at Northern Hills Synagogue. Idit loves trying new things and taking on challenges. She enjoys volunteering at the Jewish Federation and spending quality time with family and friends.
Susannah Roitman is a Lexington-based stand-up comic serving up unapologetic laughs with a GenX twist. Self-branded as “50 & Fun-Sized,” Susannah mines her life for comedy gold—everything from bad perms, small-town childhoods, and awkward family traditions to the chaos of middle age. Her style is sharp, snarky, and a little raunchy, proving that funny doesn’t come with an expiration date. A regular at local venues like Comedy Off Broadway and beyond, she brings big energy in a small package. Follow her misadventures @comedyriotman — laughter guaranteed, bladder control optional.
Carly Sachs is a poet, writer, librarian, and yoga teacher whose work has appeared in The Best American Poetry and NPR’s Selected Shorts. She’s the author of the steam sequence and Descendants of Eve, and editor of the why and later. Originally from Northeast Ohio, she now lives in Lexington, KY, where she’s a Montessori school librarian and proud mom to a spirited seven-year-old. During the pandemic, she and her daughter began baking challah—find them on Instagram @challah_at_y_all. She loves good coffee, long hikes, and finding joy in the chaos.
Gabriella Scacchetti has worked in the nonprofit world for over a decade. She is the Principal Editor at Clever Crazes for Kids, a free educational enrichment resource for students across the country. Scacchetti is an advocate for hospice and palliative care, and she serves on fundraising committees for Hospice of Cincinnati and the Fernside Center for Grieving Children. A devoted arts enthusiast, she’ll rave about the Cincinnati Ballet to anyone who’ll listen.
Allison Schneider has a background as a special education teacher, an early intervention provider for children birth through three, a teacher supervisor, and an executive function coach. She has served on her sisterhood and temple boards. Her favorite “job” is as wife to her amazing husband Philip and mother to two wonderful nuero-diverse children. In her limited free time she loves playing board games with family and friends, and attending boardgame conventions, and cruising.
Sarah Weiss is a visionary nonprofit leader and the Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. She began her career with AmeriCorps’ Public Allies program and spent nearly two decades at the Holocaust & Humanity Center, where she served as executive director and CEO, expanding its reach and national partnerships—including leading its move to Union Terminal. She also directed the Jewish Community Relations Council and helped establish the Ohio Commission on Holocaust & Genocide Education. An active community leader, she serves on boards including Talbert House, the Mayerson JCC and the Freedom Center. She is a proud alum of the Chamber’s WE Lead and Leadership Cincinnati programs. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the FBI Director’s Leadership Award and Cincinnati Magazine’s 25 Women Driving Change.
