Meet the Team


  • Co-Director

    Emma Hantgan, co-director of Jewish Life Mapped, is a Fulbright Student at Tel Aviv University studying Security and Diplomacy. Her passions for art, history, and cartography have led her to develop this project. As an undergraduate student at the University of Miami, Emma majored in International Studies and Chinese Studies with minors in Judaic Studies and Latin American Studies. She has interned in various sectors, including NGOs, at the U.S. Department of State, and for the government of Israel.

  • Co-Director

    Howard Brayer, co-director of Jewish Life Mapped was born and raised in New Jersey.  When he finished school, he moved to Washington, DC, where he was a budget analyst at the federal Department of Education for 33 years.  He retired in 2011 and moved to Miami Beach in 2012, looking for volunteer opportunities.  He became a tour guide for both the Jewish Museum of Florida - FIU and the Miami Design Preservation Preservation League.  He has led over 1,300 tours in Miami Beach, including almost 600 Jewish-themed tours.