Dammara Rose Kovnats Hall is an educator and entrepreneur. She grew up in the Canadian prairies and completed a degree at the University of Winnipeg before moving to New York where she received a degree in Childhood Education and Jewish Studies. Dammara then studied at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Israel for two years and she holds a Masters in Jewish Education from Hebrew College. Dammara taught at Rodeph Sholom School as the head Elementary Jewish Studies teacher and received the 2021 Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award for her innovative and inclusive approach to teaching. Deeply committed to the future of Jewish education, Dammara sits on the board of directors for the Jewish Education Project and is a part of UJA’s Jewish Life Shared Society Committee.
Dammara trained with The National SEED Project (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) at Wellesley College and is also the Person Of Colour belonging-space creator/facilitator for At the Well. She also serves as a mentor for the Senior Educator Learning Fellowship for Pardes. Dammara founded Jewish Cocktails, a fun and exciting kosher cocktail business where she teaches Torah through mixology. A graduate of culinary school, she has worked at Jean George’s ABCv and Eleven Madison Park, including their Rethink team which serves marginalized communities.
Dammara loves to travel and has visited over 30 countries on five continents. She enjoys hosting Shabbat meals and riding motorcycles. Dammara splits her time between Israel and New York.