Office Staff Rabbi Aron Cantor Felder-Levy Rabbi Levenberg Rabbi Fleekop

Rabbi Lisa Levenberg, Educator

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I attribute my Jewish identity to my parents, whose personal values and professional commitment as owners of the San Diego Jewish Times ingrained in me an appreciation of Jewish history, community, and culture. I was also deeply influenced by my rabbi, Rabbi Marty Lawson of Temple Emanu-El in San Diego, and my experiences in Jewish youth group. My nine summers at Camp Swig, the "Institute for Living Judaism," were opportunities for finding Jewish role models, exploring my spirituality, and inhaling the spirit of Jewish life that pervaded the entire atmosphere.

After growing up in San Diego, I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of California at Berkeley (Go Bears!). Following graduation, I entered rabbinical school at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. As part of the program, I spent a year living and studying in Jerusalem, followed by three years in Los Angeles, where I earned a Master's in Jewish Education as well as a Master's in Hebrew Letters. I completed my studies at the HUC campus in New York, where I was ordained in 2002.

I was privileged to serve as the director of the New York metropolitan Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, an interfaith pro-choice group, before coming to Shir Hadash. At Shir Hadash, I work with all aspects of our youth education programs, from Tot Shabbat to high school, and am involved with the development of our new preschool, which will open in Fall 2009.

My partner Topaz is a pediatrician at Kaiser Santa Clara. We have two children, Dov and Ella, and an aged orange cat. As a family, we enjoy hiking, swimming, reading, cooking, playing at home, and spending time with family and friends. I am a year-round Cal fan and a fair-weather fan of various San Diego and Bay Area teams.