3:30pm EST, Friday February 20th

Celestial Rhythms: Culture, Calendars, and Cosmic Time

Rabbi Javier E. Cattapan, Katrina Furman, Smiti Majumdar, and Jack Daleske will discuss how different communities understand and organize time through celestial rhythms, drawing on cultural traditions, lived experience, and contemporary practice. Hosted by Samhita Rhodes of Grand Valley State University.

Rabbi Cattapan, a native of Argentina, studied philosophy and linguistics at the University of Buenos Aires and trained at the Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano. He came to the U.S. in 1994 to attend Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, where he earned an M.A. in Hebrew Letters, rabbinic ordination (1998), and later an M. Phil. in Hebraic and Cognate Studies. In 2023, he received his Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa. Rabbi Cattapan has taught Hebrew and Jewish literature, mentored new rabbis, and served congregations in the Mid-West. Since July 2025, he has been the spiritual leader of Temple Emanuel in Grand Rapids, MI. He believes the Divine is revealed through Torah study, good deeds, and acts of compassion. A dedicated listener and relationship-builder, he strives to create inclusive, engaging Jewish experiences. He enjoys singing, gardening, biking, and hiking, and is a member of the CCAR and a past president of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City.

Jack Daleske is the Planetarium Manager at the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium at Grand Rapids Public Museum. Jack graduated from Bradley University with a B.A. in History and a strong belief in the mission of public education for all. He is a member of the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association and the Great Lakes Planetarium Association. Before coming to Grand Rapids, he worked as a planetarium educator at Peoria Riverfront Museum where he created new programs on topics as varied as electromagnetism and art history. Today, his goal is to leverage planetarium technology to create inspiring and exciting education experiences.

Katrina Furman is the Anishinaabe Curator at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. She holds a BA in Anthropology and an MPA in Nonprofit Management, both from Grand Valley State University. Katrina is a proud Odawa Kwe and a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. She served her tribal government for 18 years in the capacity of education, student advocacy, and program development. At the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Katrina is leading the Anishinaabek: The Original People of This Place exhibit redesign team, ensuring Anishinaabe stories are shared through authentic voices. At home, she is a family matriarch and historian, ensuring cultural knowledge and traditions are preserved for the next seven generations. Katrina and her husband, Rev. Dr. Dan Furman, reside in Hudsonville, where they enjoy traveling, concerts, and spending time with family.

Smiti Majumdar is an experienced analytics and business strategy professional with a strong academic foundation in business administration, public health, and biological sciences. She leads a high‑performing analytics team responsible for global business data collection and advanced insight generation that informs and shapes enterprise‑level decisions at Amway.
Raised in India’s rich cultural traditions, she is a non‑professional musician trained in Indian classical music, an avid gardener who finds joy in nurturing living things, a passionate traveler who loves exploring new places, and someone who values mindful, nature‑centered living.