JewishStorytelling.com: About the Artists

Mark Novak & Renée Brachfeld. Stories and Songs from the Jewish tradition

Mark Novak & Renée Brachfeld -- a dynamic husband-wife storytelling duo -- draw their material from the warmth and richness of the Jewish tradition. Renée is a storyteller and juggler, and Mark is a cantor and musician. Their unique skills as performers emanate from more than two decades of experience delighting audiences at synagogues, JCCs, schools, churches, festivals, and community events nationwide. Mark and Renée present Artist-in-Residence weekends at synagogues throughout the United States, enriching Jewish communities with performances and workshops for both adults and families.

Their highly acclaimed recording, "King Solomon's Daughter", was honored with the Parents' Choice Gold Award.

Renée Renée Brachfeld has been delighting audiences since 1985 with her unique combination of storytelling and juggling skills. She has worked extensively in elementary and middle schools, performing and teaching storytelling to both students and teachers. Renée speaks several languages, and collects her stories through her travels to Israel, Spain, and Latin America. Her original story, "The Light in the Wall," appears in Peninnah Schram's book Chosen Tales, published in 1995. Renée was a recipient of the Janice Goldstein Jewish Community Artists Grant, awarded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington to coordinate and direct intergenerational storytelling programs. Renée leads High Holiday learner's services at Bnai Shalom of Olney, MD.

Mark Mark Novak is a hazzan, musician, storyteller, and student in the ALEPH rabbinic program. Mark began his musical career as a child, singing with a professional Jewish choir and appearing on Broadway in the musical Oliver. From 1977 to 1986, Mark served as the music director of the Living Stage Theater Company of Arena Stage. Mark performed his original theater pieces at the Smithsonian InstituteÕs Discovery Theater, the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts, and The National Air and Space Museum. His work was also featured in Shofar Magazine. As a freelance cantor, Mark has served many Washington, D.C. area congregations, including Congregations Kol Shalom and Adat Shalom. "The Mark Novak Band" which he formed in 1993, is a popular choice for Jewish wedding celebrations throughout the Washington community.