Avram Mlotek

Avram Mlotek was born in 1987, in Manhattan, NY. His father, Zalmen Mlotek, is the artistic director of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene;[4] and his mother, Debra Cohen Mlotek is an occupational therapist.[5] He is the grandson of Joseph Mlotek and Eleanor Mlotek. He grew up in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, and also in Teaneck, New Jersey.[6] Mlotek's younger brother Elisha Mlotek is a filmmaker and founding member of the Hasidic jam band Zusha. Mlotek was influential in encouraging his younger brother to share his group's music with a wider audience[7]

Mlotek is currently a student at Fordham School of Social Work.[8] He has received rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School[9] in 2015.[10] In 2009, he received his BA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University where he also contributed to organizations that addressed ethical issues as a Sorensen Fellow[11] during his undergraduate career, in 2008.[12] Mlotek has studied theatre at Sarah Lawrence College, Islamic Scriptures at Bergen Community College, cantorial music at Yeshiva University, Talmud at Yeshivat Hadar, theater education at City College, and clinical pastoral education at The Jewish Theological Seminary of America.[13]

To combat the rise of antisemitism in the United States after the 2016 U.S. presidential election,[14] Mlotek travels to sites of various anti-Semitic events in an attempt to raise awareness against antisemitism and offer spiritual support and prayer for survivors and affected communities.[15] He has published his experiences in Paris,[16] Pittsburgh,[17] Philadelphia[18] and Manhattan in various news articles. Mlotek himself was a victim of antisemitism by a Farrakhan supporter on a subway train during his travels in Manhattan.[19][20]

Mlotek announced in 2019 that he would officiate at same-sex ceremonies for Jewish couples.[21] This was noteworthy, as Orthodox Judaism categorically forbids same-sex marriage.[22][23] Mlotek first officiated an ceremony for a same-sex couple in 2020.[24][25]

Mlotek also advocates for greater inclusion of multi-faith families[26] and other marginalized populations within Judaism.

On September 4, 2016, Mlotek co-officiated a wedding ceremony together with the late Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.[27] He used this experience to push for greater gender equality in Judaism by arguing that just as Justice Ginsburg fought for gender equality,[28] so too must men, especially privileged men such as Rabbis, advocate for equality between the sexes.[29]

In April 2020 during COVID-19, Mlotek organized The Third Seder, An Online International Celebration of Yiddish Culture which featured some of the leading Klezmer performing artists in a benefit program for The United Community Services of Westchester.[30][31]

In October 2020, Mlotek co-directed and produced Kids and Yiddish: The Reunion Special, along with brother Elisha Mlotek for The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene.[32]

Mlotek is also currently serving as the Rabbi-in-residence of the JCC.[33]

Mlotek has performed on the Yiddish stage since the age of three, most notably in the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene's Off-Broadway Family show, Kids and Yiddish,[34] in which he appeared for several seasons and is featured on their original cast album, Kids and Yiddish, A Musical Adventure. As a child, Mlotek was featured in several Klezmer CDs including The Klezmatics,[35] Oy Vey Chanukah for Kids,[36] Di Grine Katchke,[37] and others.

Mlotek has also performed in staged readings for the National Yiddish Theatre-Folksbiene including Chaim Grade's My Mother's Sabbath Days,[38] H. Leyvick's The Wedding in Fernvald,[39] H. Leyvick's The Miracle of the Ghetto[40] and Paddy Chayefsky's The Tenth Man (in Yiddish).[41]

Mlotek has recently authored the book "Why Jews Do That or 30 Questions Your Rabbi Never Answered" in 2020.[42] His writing has been published in various outlets, including The New York Times,[43] The Los Angeles Times,[44] The New York Daily News,[45] The Forward,[46] Haaretz,[47] Tablet[48] and The New York Jewish Week.[49]

Mlotek performed vocals for the documentary "Harbor From the Holocaust," featuring world renowned Cellist Yo-Yo Ma.[50]

Mlotek was listed as one of America's "Most Inspiring Rabbis" by The Forward in 2016.[51] He was named a "leading innovator in Jewish life" by the Jewish Week's 36 Under 36 Section.[52]

Mlotek is married to Yael Kornfeld, a geriatric social worker.[53]

• Avram Mlotek at IMDb