Erica has been teaching at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue’s Early Childhood Center since 2015. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and master’s degrees in social work from New York University and in early childhood education from Hunter College. Erica lives in Manhattan with her husband and dog. She enjoys dancing, going to shows and checking out art exhibits. She loves playing outside, especially when there’s snow!
Isaiah Benedek brings over a decade of nonprofit experience to Stephen Wise, where he is the director of membership engagement. Isaiah began his career in admissions at the International School of Brooklyn and was part of its founding development team. Later, he worked in principal giving at Memorial Sloan Kettering and at an education nonprofit, where he developed and executed strategic initiatives to steward and engage friends of the organization. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he earned his bachelor’s in political science from the University of Vermont and lives in Brooklyn with his partner and their dog Roka.
Brittany graduated from The Ohio State University and earned a master’s in Jewish professional studies at the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership.
She is passionate about connecting Jewish people to Jewish life, whatever that looks like for them. She spent five years building and developing BBYO Big Apple Region and managed the communications and community-building projects for the 700+ global advisor team within BBYO. Later, she served as the program and operations manager for Atra: Center for Rabbinic Innovation, supporting rabbis in redefining their rabbinate to meet the needs of the modern, ever-changing Jewish community.
Brittany is the director of admissions and recruitment for the Early Childhood Center and the Religious School at Stephen Wise. In addition to her professional work, she assists with her family’s frozen yogurt business and enjoys creating resin casting art — ask her about handmade Judaica. She lives in Manhattan with her chihuahua named Challah.
Meredith was born in the Bronx and raised in Westchester. She studied textiles at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan and worked for the state of New York for 14 years before joining Stephen Wise’s staff at Westchester Hills Cemetery. She’s also the proud mother of a teenage son.
Jose has been our head of maintenance for more than 30 years. He took over for his father, Jose Corona, who had the role before him and whom he had shadowed when he was younger. In fact, Jose’s oldest son Jose Miguel (Joey) Fernandez also helped out around Stephen Wise before graduating college.