Mara Bernstein

Mara joined the Park Avenue Synagogue team in June 2018 as Director of Synagogue Programming and Adult Education. She has a background in event planning and program management, having worked at several New York City nonprofit organizations and cultural institutions, including Fraunces Tavern Museum, the Museum at Eldridge Street, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. Before coming to PAS, Mara was the Retreats and Programs Manager at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, where she helped create and facilitate learning and leadership opportunities for Jewish clergy, educators, and community leaders.

Mara earned her BA in history with a minor in Hebrew and Judaic Studies from New York University. She is passionate about learning at all stages of life, and loves helping to provide fun, diverse, and community-based education for adults. It’s never too late to learn something new! 

When not at PAS, Mara is a volunteer docent at the Museum at Eldridge Street and also leads walking tours in lower Manhattan, where she loves bringing stories of NYC’s historic neighborhoods to life! Mara lives on the Upper West Side and enjoys crossing Central Park as part of her daily commute.