Rabbi As…

Rabbi Jordan Braunig`14

Rabbi as…Campus caregiver, Fermenter, Elul journaler, Teacher of active listening, Midrash maker.

Jewish Chaplain in Emory University’s Office of Spiritual and Religious Life

Since receiving smicha from Hebrew College in 2014, Rabbi Jordan Braunig has worked solely within the university setting, first, as a campus rabbi at Tufts Hillel and, now, as the Jewish Chaplain in Emory’s Office of Spiritual and Religious Life. He is honored to be a field guide, friend and teacher to members of the campus community. Whether he is offering support to a grieving staff member, studying Rebbe Nachman with a student on a hike, or cooking with a group of interfaith leaders, Jordan does his best to infuse Torah into all his work as a chaplain. You will find him riding his FreeRangeRabbi bike around campus from August through May.

Jordan lives with his partner, Casey and their three kids in Atlanta. He spends most of his downtime in the kitchen, cooking up dishes and dreaming of re-booting his short-lived, live-streamed cooking show, Rav Cooks.

Rabbi Adina Allen`14

Rabbi as…creativity connector, community weaver, crafter of cohorts, organization builder, artist of paint and new paradigms.

Co-founder & Creative Director
Jewish Studio Project, Berkeley, CA

Rabbi Adina Allen is a spiritual leader, writer, and educator who grew up in an art studio where she learned firsthand the power of creativity for connecting to self and to the Sacred. She is cofounder and creative director of Jewish Studio Project (JSP), an organization that is seeding a future in which every person is connected to their creativity as a force for healing, liberation and social transformation. Based on the work of her mother, renowned art therapist Pat B. Allen, Adina developed the Jewish Studio Process, a methodology for unlocking creativity, which she has brought to thousands of activists, educators, artists, and clergy across the country. A national media contributor, popular speaker, and workshop leader, Adina’s writing can be found in scholarly as well as mainstream publications. She and her family live in Berkeley, CA.

Rabbi Ayalon Eliach`18

Rabbi as…architect of the future, catalyst for transcendence, connector, wisdom transmitter, advocate.

Chief Ideas Officer, Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah, Brooklyn, NY.

Born and raised in NYC’s Modern Orthodox community, Ayalon’s life journey has taken him through Yeshivat HaKotel, Yale College, Harvard Law School, Hebrew College Rabbinical School, and 35+ countries. Jewish wisdom has been his compass, and the Oneness of all has been its north star. He’s passionate about keeping that wisdom alive, relevant, and accessible for others. He lives with his wife and two children in Brooklyn.

(Pictured: Ayalon with Hebrew College Dean Rabbi Kane Kanarek and Hebrew College President Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisefeld.)

Rabbi Hannah Orden`10

Rabbi as…Anti-racism warrior, risk taker, op-ed writer, joy spreader, sower of seeds.

Rabbi Emerita of Congregation Beth Hatikvah in Summit, NJ.

Rabbi Hannah Orden has a strong commitment to community building and social action, evident in her work with Summit Interfaith Council, where she is a past president and a founding member of the Interfaith Council’s Anti-Racism Committee. She writes an occasional op-ed column for the Jewish Standard/Times of Israel.

Before coming to New Jersey, Rabbi Orden was the rabbi and education director for Temple B’nai Israel in Laconia, New Hampshire and served on the adjunct faculty for Hebrew College in Newton, Massachusetts where she earned her rabbinic ordination and Master of Arts in Jewish Studies.

Rabbi Orden has an extensive background in education, served as a chaplain for Elder Service Plan in Boston.
Rabbi Orden is the author of a full-length play, a young adult novel, and two adult novels as well as a series of poems based on the books of Exodus and Leviticus.

Rabbi Jevin Eagle`19

Rabbi as…Educator, engagement professional, listener, Israel lover, first responder

Chief Executive Officer and University Chaplain, Boston University Hillel

Professor of the Practice, Strategy and Innovation; Executive Director, Social Impact Initiatives; Boston University Questrom School of Business

Rabbi Jevin Eagle is excited to leverage his entrepreneurial talent, spiritual depth, and passion for Hillel’s mission as the Chief Executive Officer of Boston University Hillel and University Chaplain. He also serves on the Faculty of Boston University Questrom School of Business, as Professor of the Practice, Strategy and Innovation and Executive Director of Social Impact Initiatives.

Rabbi Jevin received rabbinic ordination from Hebrew College Rabbinic School in June 2019. Prior to attending rabbinical school, Jevin Eagle was the CEO of DavidsTea, a senior executive at Staples, Inc., and a partner at McKinsey & Company. He was one of the executives responsible for Staples’ “Easy Brand” Strategy and the famous “Easy Button.”

Eagle says his career change from business to the rabbinate was the fulfillment of a life-long dream to immerse himself in Torah study and serve the Jewish people. Illustrative of his commitment to the Jewish community while working in business, Jevin served as Board Chair of Harvard Hillel and Dartmouth Hillel from 2002 to 2006.

Rabbi Jevin has an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he served as an executive committee member on the Jewish Students Association, and a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, where he majored in religion and government and served as Hillel student president. Before Harvard Business School, he helped found Jewish Lights Publishing. He serves on the board of directors of Carter’s, Inc., the leading branded apparel marketer for babies and young children, and as a trustee of Hebrew College.

Rabbi Frankie Sandmel`22

Rabbi as…living room teacher, Jewish homebuilder, ritual crafter, amateur caterer, spiritual journey guide, tradition translator

Rabbi, Base Bay

Rabbi Frankie Sandmel (they/them), runs Base Bay where, together with their partner Elaina, they are building a vibrant, rooted, and resonant Jewish community out of their home in Oakland.

In their free time, Frankie is a fellow with SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva and they bake a lot of cookies.s

Rabbi Alison Adler `08

Rabbi as…seeker of hope and inspiration, outside the box thinker during world-wide crises, lifecycle weaver, healer of trauma and broken hearts, grant writer and fundraiser

Rabbi, Temple B’nai Abraham, Beverly, MA

In these challenging times strengthening our Jewish community is one of the most important things we can do. Since 2011, Rabbi Alison Adler has been striving to do just that with the hamish community of Temple B’nai Abraham in Beverly, MA. You might see her co-leading a musical Kabbalat Shabbat by the beach, speaking at local churches or community forums, welcoming babies or engaging elders in strengthening the community for all generations.

Rabbi Alison was part of the inaugural rabbinical school class at Hebrew College and received smicha in 2008. She seeks to help people of all ages find their own spiritual path while being part of a vibrant, caring community. She has participated in leadership programs with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and loves to share the wisdom of texts and contemplative practice. She is on the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis Executive Committee and is a past-president of the North Shore Rabbis and Cantors Association. She served on the Beverly Human Rights Committee and is active in local interfaith groups.

Her greatest joys are her husband Chuck, son Leo and their two dogs Cypress and Zev. She enjoys hiking, yoga, gardening, and Chuck’s excellent mostly vegan cooking.

Rav Ezra Balser `17

Rabbi as…soul doctor, Israel educator, Jewish party host, Hillel rabbi, just a man.

Senior Base Rabbi, Metro Chicago Hillel and the Luba and Bernard Friedman Base Loop (in Fulton Market), Chicago, IL

Over the last six years, Ezra has worked to create joyous and meaningful spaces for folks 18-40ish to have authentic Jewish experiences, both on campus, and at Base—where he and his wife, Laura (and their two daughters, Sima and Raaya), welcome people into their home.

Ezra serves on the senior team of Metro Chicago Hillel, oversees their Israel Education and is the point person to triage anti Jewish activity on campus.

Rabbi Salem Pearce`18

Rabbi as…Circuit-Rider, southern Jewish life supporter, rabble rouser, justice seeker, torah (en)chanter, moment lightener

Director of Spirituality, Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, Jackson, MS

Rabbi Salem Pearce (she/her) is Director of Spirituality at the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL). She was ordained by Hebrew College Rabbinical School in 2018 and previously served as Executive Director of Carolina Jews for Justice and Director of Organizing at T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights. She is a noted speaker and writer on immigration and the Jewish community, and her writing has appeared in JTA, Ha’aretz, Sojourners, and Sh’ma. While in school, she was a student fellow with Rabbis Without Borders, American Jewish World Service, and T’ruah. Rabbi Salem lives in Jackson, Miss., with her cats, Akiva and Tuvi.

Rabbi Josh Breindel`09

Rabbi as…Sci-Fi sage, Radio personality, Story-teller & crafter, Melody weaver, Nature-advocate & trail-guide

Rabbi, Congregation Beth El of the Sudbury River Valley, MA

Josh Breindel serves as the rabbi of Congregation Beth El of the Sudbury River Valley. He previously was the rabbi at Temple Anshe Amunim in the Berkshires, where he also guided the Pittsfield Area Council of Congregations.

Josh holds Masters degrees in Jewish Studies and Jewish Education from Hebrew College, where he was ordained in 2009. As “The Rabbi on the Radio”, he offers weekly reflections and music on Chagigah (WERS). As “The Sci-Fi Rabbi”, he blends ancient Jewish thought with modern speculative fiction in sermons, articles, an open Jewish F&SF book group at Beth El and seminars (most recently at Lehrhaus in Somerville, MA) . He can often be found singing Simon & Garfunkel as he hikes the cool, green hills of MetroWest with his wife and children.

Rabbi Rachel Tali Kaplan`21

Rabbi as….supporter of the brokenhearted, non-anxious presence, worthiness warrior, deep diver, permission granter.

Hospice Chaplain at Hebrew SeniorLife, Dedham, MA

Rachel Tali Kaplan was ordained by Hebrew College in 2021 and completed her chaplaincy training at Hebrew SeniorLife in 2022. Rachel grew up in Maine, graduated with a BA in psychology from Grinnell College and spent a decade working on and managing organic vegetable farms in Connecticut, Georgia and Massachusetts.

When not working, Rachel loves exploring the outdoors, sharing time with loved ones, cooking, crafting, and running.

Rabbi Avi Killip`14

Rabbi as…national non-profit executive, podcast host, Torah writer, daf yomi learner, thought leader.

Executive Vice President at Hadar

A graduate of Hebrew College Rabbinical School, Avi also holds Bachelors and Masters from Brandeis University. She was a Wexner Graduate Fellow and a Schusterman Fellow. Avi teaches as part of Hadar’s faculty and is host of Hadar’s podcasts, Responsa Radio and Ta Shma. She lives in Riverdale, NY with her husband and three children. Avi is proud to have recently joined the Board of Trustees of Hebrew College.

Rabbi Yael Werber`22

Rabbi as pastoral caregiver, community builder, prayer leader, spiritual guide, cheerleader, ritual creator.

Rabbi, Congregation Beth Simchat Torah in New York City

Rabbi Yael Werber was ordained at Hebrew College Rabbinical School in May 2022. Rabbi Werber is deeply in love with Torah, and with finding new meaning in our ancient text. She is very grateful she gets to spend her days immersed in Torah study, prayer, and caring for the CBST community.

She also loves a good adventure and spent the past few summers living in an off-grid cabin. She’s hoping joining CBST as the assistant rabbi will be at least as good an adventure, if not better.

Rabbi Werber is an avid reader, swimmer, and walk in the woods-er (with her dog and best companion, Ebbie). Before Rabbinical school, she spent time doing many eclectic things, including farming (proud alumna of the Adamah program), and writing a children’s book (Spring For Sophie, published by Simon & Schuster).

Rabbi Sam Blumberg`20

Rabbi as…teacher for all ages and stages, holy witness, ancient wisdom translator, calm presence, community connector, listening ear, facilitator, motivator.

Rabbi, Temple Beth Am, Framingham, MA

Rabbi Sam Blumberg has served as the rabbi of Temple Beth Am in Framingham, Massachusetts since 2020 and was ordained from Hebrew College in 2021. A graduate of the Pardes Educators Program and former day school teacher, he is passionate about meaningful, accessible, and joyous Jewish living, and enjoys all aspects of synagogue life and the rhythms of the Jewish calendar.

Rabbi Laura Bellows`18

Rabbi as…movement builder, public ritual designer, Jewish climate content consultant, network weaver,  interfaith collaborator.

Director of Spiritual Activism and Education at Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, Boston, MA

Laura Bellows works to build climate-resilient, justice-seeking, spiritually-rooted communities centered in Jewish wisdom. She serves as the Director of Spiritual Activism and Education at Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, where she guides American Jews — from the climate-concerned to long-time activists — to anchor in joy, Torah, arts & music; metabolize climate grief and anxiety; and move to courageous action.

Before Dayenu, Laura served as an experiential educator, curriculum and ritual designer, and program manager in a variety of collaborative, pluralistic settings, including as Director of Teen Learning at Hebrew College, Director of Genesis and BIMA at Brandeis, Teva’s inaugural Director of Congregation and Community Programs, as a teaching fellow at BCI, and visiting artist or educator at campuses across the country.

Laura received her B.A. at Oberlin College and her M.A. and smicha at Hebrew College. A longtime climate activist and artist, Laura moonlights as a soferet (scribe) and freelance rabbi for congregations and couples in the Boston area.

(Photo: Bora Chung | Survival Media Project)

Rabbi Bryan Mann`18

Rabbi as…sukkah builder, queer activist, story gatherer, hevruta, counselor.

Rachlin Director for Jewish Student Life and Assistant Director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY

Rabbi Bryan Mann (he/him/his) joined Vassar in August 2020, coming from Tampa, FL, where he was serving as the senior rabbi of a small suburban synagogue. He is very excited to be back in the Northeast where he spent most of his life. He grew up in Penacook, NH. He received his BA in Jewish Studies from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. He received his Rabbinic Ordination, Masters in Jewish Studies, and a Certificate in Spirituality and Social Justice from the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in Newton, MA.

As a queer rabbi, he is particularly interested in the ways spirituality informs queerness and queerness informs spirituality.

On-campus or off you will likely catch him hanging out with his dog Babka, enjoying something fantasy-related (book, movie, tv show, video game), and/or hiking somewhere in the Hudson Valley.

Rabbi Jessica Kate Meyer`14

Rabbi as…hope-cultivator, listener, sherpa, tuning fork, ensemble leader, complacency-resister.

Rosh Tefilla and Artist-in-Residence, Hebrew College

Jessica Kate Meyer is a prayer leader, storyteller, vocalist, and rabbi, who served as rabbi-hazzan at Romemu in NYC, and most recently, at The Kitchen in San Francisco. She has studied sacred Jewish music with masters from Ashkenazi and Mizrahi traditions and has performed as a vocalist with ensembles in the United States and Israel. In a previous life, Jessica appeared in film, theater, and television projects in Europe and the United States: most notably, as a principal role in the Oscar-winning film, The Pianist.

Rabbi Ben Barer`18

Rabbi as…Torah enthusiast, guide, listening ear, teacher, text person (a la Heschel,) mentor, role model, scholar, father, cheerleader.

High School Jewish Text Teacher, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, MD.

Raised in Vancouver, BC (go Canucks!), Ben’s Jewish journey has included Conservative and Orthodox day schools, being bar-mitzvah’ed at the largest Renewal congregation in Canada, a year spent in the south of Israel, and an all-boys ultra-Orthodox yeshiva high school. Pluralism has been Ben’s lived experience of Judaism, and he is passionate about making Jewish texts and traditions relevant, and accessible to all who seek them.

He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Deborah and two kids.

Rabbi Ilana Zeitman`19

Rabbi as…tradition translator and transmitter, curriculum developer, sounding board, design thinker, ritualist, status quo pusher.

Director of Jewish life, Georgetown University

Rabbi Ilana Zietman (she/her) loves to create Jewish experiences and foster communities that are relevant, thought-provoking, and — most importantly — welcoming. As the Director of Jewish Life and Jewish Chaplain at Georgetown, Rabbi Ilana spends most of her time getting to know students, teaching Torah across campus, creating a center for vibrant Jewish life and community, crafting holiday experiences and engaging in interfaith dialogue with students and colleagues across faith.

Rabbi Ilana received her rabbinic ordination and a master’s degree in Jewish Education from Hebrew College in 2019. She currently lives in Washington, DC with her husband, Jack, their sons, Jesse and Gabe, and their furbaby, Ella.

Rav-Hazzan Ken Richmond`21

Rabbi as…Preserver and adapter of Jewish traditions, Songleader, Pastoral caregiver, Community builder, Klezmer fiddler.

Co-Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel of Natick

Rav Hazzan Ken Richmond (Rabbi Cantor Ken Richmond) is the co-senior rabbi of Temple Israel of Natick and has served as Hazzan there since 2006. He graduated from the Jewish Theological Seminary’s H.L. Miller Cantorial School in 2004 and received Rabbinical Ordination from Hebrew College in 2021. During his years at Temple Israel, he has enjoyed collaborating with clergy, staff, and lay leaders to shape the congregation and its culture of lifelong learning, participatory prayer, hospitality, and creativity.

Rav Hazzan Richmond was a member of the Rabbinical Assembly Mahzor Committee which worked on the Lev Shalem Mazhor. He has founded several klezmer bands, including the Klezmaniacs, Fish Street Klezmer, and the Richmond-Shazeer Family Band. You can find his original melodies for shabbat and holidays sprinkled through the music section of Temple Israel’s website. He and his wife Rabbi Shira Shazeer`10 are raising their children in a Yiddish-speaking household and attend Yiddish Week annually. Ken enjoys hiking, kayaking, and puzzle solving.