Who we are

Openlev is more than a co-working space.

Our mission is to cultivate purpose and belonging in the workday.

Openlev is an intentional coworking community for deep work and deep connection. We are tending a global community inspired by a better way of working, guided by ancestral Jewish wisdom– one that leads to meaningful, connected, and purpose-driven lives. We uplift our community through well-being programs, expert-led workshops, and opportunities for connection and collaboration.

We’re building a movement and we’d like you to join.

Values

Our values are inspired by the Jewish mystical tradition, teaching us that we live simultaneously in four worlds: Essence, Intellect, Design, and Action.

Atzilut (Essence)
Honor Each Spirit 

We celebrate the uniqueness and brilliance within each of us.

Briyah (Intellect)
Students and Teachers

We stay open to new wisdom, shared discovery, and a lifelong commitment to growth.

Yetzirah (Design)
Open Heart

We shape ourselves and our relationships through kindness, compassion, and generosity. 

Asiyah (Action)
Embodied Purpose

We bring our ideas into the world and live our values with intention.

Meet the Team

  • Founder

    Benjamin is a seeker of meaning and purpose who found his calling through Jewish mysticism, meditation, and community building.

    Prior to founding OpenLev, Benjamin amassed nearly two decades of experience in the tech and finance sector, most recently as Managing Director of Digital Currency at Silvergate Bank.

    Benjamin is an MBA graduate from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, a certified Yoga and Meditation teacher in the Tantric Hatha lineage, a Muay Thai enthusiast, and an occasional impromptu piano player for singalongs.

  • Director of Community

    Alexandra is a storyteller and lover of creative play, community building, and Jewish mysticism. 

    She has worked as a journalist for a decade and is also an actor, playwright, and improvisational singer.

    The New York native graduated from Skidmore College with a Bachelor of Science in Theater. She also studied with the cast of Freestyle Love Supreme to learn freestyle hip-hop theatrical storytelling, took acting classes at the Moscow Art Theater, and is a student of life, always learning new ways of relating to herself, her art, spirituality, and the world at large. You can likely find her on the dance floor. 

  • Director of Content & Creative

    Simone Spilka is a creative strategist and copywriter with 10+ years experience working for high-end lifestyle clients and startups. With a background in journalism and content strategy, and keen eye for design, she helps brands develop their voice and creative to amplify their brand's story in meaningful ways.

    She is also the founder of The Writing Ritual, a creative writing program to help new and seasoned writers discover their voices, explore various writing techniques and styles, and connect with community on the creative process. Her writing has been featured in Bon Appetit, Well + Good, PSFK, The New York Times, and more. In her spare time, she travels regularly, and feels most passionate about encouraging young people to get out and see the world.  

OpenLev Advisors

  • A scion of a notable rabbinic ultra-Orthodox family, Rav Jericho was expelled from their community as a teenager for their rebellions and their questions. 

    After years learning from Buddhist, Sufi, and atheist teachers, they returned to Judaism on their own terms, excavating lost wisdom from our female, trans, mystical, and queer ancestors. 

    A first-generation college student, Rav Jericho earned an undergraduate degree at Brooklyn College as a night-student on a Presidential Scholarship. They hold a masters degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, where they were a Pforzheimer Fellow. They are ordained by the Aleph Ordination Program in the lineage of Reb Zalman Schachter Shalomi. 

    Rav Jericho currently serves as an advisor to Beit Kohenet and the Shalom Center. A member of B’not Esh, they are a Wexner Fellow, a member of the ROI: Schusterman Community, and a recent fellow at Atra: The Center for Rabbinic Innovation. Rav Jericho has been named to the Jewish Week’s 36 Under 36 and Forward 50 for their work. 

  • Ben Poretzky is a community organizer and strategist passionate about bringing impact-driven projects to life. Formerly a technology product manager and strategist at Intuit, Meta, and multiple startups in the Bay Area, Ben currently works for the Sacred Design Lab managing their Accelerating Global Spiritual Innovation project. He is a co-founder of Kinhood, a men’s wellness organization committed to growing men’s capacity to receive and reciprocate care through events and community. He formerly served as the Project Manager of SynagogueX: Reimagining Jewish Spaces of the Future. He is a member of the SF Jewish Federation Jews of Color Giving Circle. He holds a BAS in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.