Program Coordinator and Educator
Jason Kay moved to West Hartford in 2015 with his wife, Arielle, and their three
children. Professionally, Jason works as an optical engineer for the nonprofit Nexterra
Foundation working on technologies for space telescopes in the hopes of imaging
planets in orbit around other stars. Jason is very active in the Jewish community:
working with local and regional USY, volunteering at Beth El Temple leading Shabbat
youth programming, and serving as a board member of the Solomon Schechter Day
School of Greater Hartford. He can be seen every Friday morning singing and playing
keyboard with enthusiasm at Schechter’s RELISH, a weekly pre-Shabbat music
program for the entire school.
Jason believes strongly in the importance of providing Jewish high school students with
positive and meaningful experiences. He has taught many classes at JTConnect and
developed a close relationship with his students. His popular classes have included
“Biblical Engineering,” “Does God Play Dice?”, and “I’m Right, You’re Wrong: Jewish
Debate Club.” In addition to educating, Jason is the program coordinator at JTConnect’s program at
FVJC, where he facilitates regular learning classes and community service projects with
the teens. When asked about their favorite part about taking a class with Jason, one
teen shared, “he opens the room up to all perspectives and questions us in ways that
broaden our views.”