Use tableware from the Common Ground installation and connect with fellow diners as you take part in an interactive culinary journey.

Rebeka Small (she/her) is a proud mother and synagogue professional in Los Angeles. She and her family have lived in LA since 2010 and are proud to be closely connected to JQ. Rebeka has worked in the Jewish community since 2011 and is focused on creating safe spaces and building community for those wanting to explore Sinai Temple. Outside of work, she loves to cook, perfect her challah baking, and be the kind of parent that causes her children to roll their eyes and to refer to her as “SUCH a Jewish mother.” Rebeka is passionate about sharing her story as the parent of a transgender child and encouraging other parents to support their children, LGBTQ+ and otherwise.

Raye Schiller is a queer, formerly Orthodox Jewish comedian and writer from New York, based in Los Angeles. Raye has been featured in The New York Times, headlined at the NY Comedy Festival, and has performed standup around the world, including London, Rome, Paris, and Peru. Raye hosts the popular comedy podcast Yenta! and boasts a devoted social media following with millions of views on their standup clips. For no good reason, Raye also has a Masters in Computer Science from Cornell University. www.rayeschiller.com

Established in 2004, JQ is the premier LGBTQ+ Jewish organization in Los Angeles. JQ celebrates the lives of LGBTQ+ Jews and their allies by transforming Jewish communities and ensuring inclusion through community building, educational programs, and support and wellness services, promoting the healthy integration of LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities. JQ envisions a world where all LGBTQ+ Jews feel a strong sense of self, pride, and community – a place where LGBTQ+ Jews and their allies are supported by communities that embrace their needs and celebrate their unique gifts.

Los Angeles–based artist Adam Silverman collected clay, water, and wood ash from all fifty American states, Washington, DC, and the five inhabited US Territories and combined them to create a set of tableware and ceremonial pots. The resulting 224 ceramic objects, titled Common Ground, is a community-activated artwork that celebrates American pluralism while also fostering human connection through shared meals and collaborative installations.