Spotlight on our Speakers

Felice Gelman is a longtime Palestine solidarity activist. She helped found Friends of the Jenin Freedom Theatre, an organization that has supported The Freedom Theater in Jenin, Occupied Palestine since 2006. She led a group to Gaza after the devastating 2008-2009 Israeli attacks. The trip inspired the documentary film “Where Should the Birds Fly” which she co-produced as well as a book “Palestine 60 Years Later” by Tom Suarez, and an exhibit of children’s art, organized by Susan Johnson and Joyce Ravitz, that traveled across the US. Felice has visited the West Bank, Occupied Palestine a number of times.
She is a member of Middle East Crisis Response and Jewish Voice for Peace. She lives in Red Hook, NY. and works with Hudson Valley for a Free Palestine Coalition.

Chani Getter is a psychotherapist, interfaith minister, and award-winning queer activist. An expert on religious trauma, Chani’s life and work has been featured in two documentary films, One of Us and Devout. Chani’s first book “Mapito” is a powerful how-to guide for finding, accepting, and loving every part of yourself.

Chani also serves as Scholar-in-Residence for Footsteps, a nonprofit that supports people leaving insular religious communities. Chani’s life and work have been featured in two documentary films, One of Us and Devout, and in numerous news outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Elle, Haaretz, and The New Yorker.

Raised in an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Jewish home, Chani entered an arranged marriage at age 18 and quickly had three children. During their second pregnancy, Chani learned what a lesbian was thanks to a secret television, Ellen DeGeneres, and a dictionary. At last, Chani had a word for something they always knew themselves to be. Yet was never named or discussed. At 23, Chani left the marriage and began a courageous journey to live authentically. With barely a high school diploma and little work experience, Chani earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and a master’s degree in social work, was ordained as an interfaith minister, and opened a therapy practice while working full-time and raising three children alone.

Rose O’Neill has been an active member since 2019. She is currently co-chair of the Sunday Services Ministry and an occasional speaker. Her last presentation on Pablo Picasso as a social activist was well received. She has many hobbies including crafts and gardening. She is married to Patrick O’Neill, another frequent presenter at the UUCRT. They just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.

Rev. Peter Friedrichs is a retired Unitarian Univer￾salist minister who moved to Keene, NH with his wife Irene in the summer of 2021. Peter practiced law in Portland, Maine for nearly 20 years before heeding his call to ministry. For 16 years he served the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County in Media, Pa. As a minister he has pastored countless individuals facing serious health challenges, many of whom were forced to face end-of-life decisions.

Peter has walked the path of grief and loss beside families whose loved ones were denied the right to choose how and when their lives would end. He is deeply committed to principles of personal autonomy and freedom of choice in all health care decisions. As he contemplated his impending retirement in the spring of 2022, Peter had a vision of his own death, wherein he exercised his right to medical aid in dying. That vision led him to NH Options and his commitment to support its mission.