Jenna (they/them) is a passionate connector, educator, and organizer. They were ordained in 2023 from the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in Newton, MA. Jenna grew up in Chicago and fell in love with political activism and how social justice interacts with their Jewish identity when they stumbled into a local mayoral campaign office. Their deep call to activism and Jewish learning pulled them to American University in Washington DC, where they discovered that Torah is one of the most powerful tools for working for justice. While in DC, they became involved in Jewish organizing and activism, particularly around Israel and The Occupied Palestinian Territories.
After college, Jenna moved to LA and taught teens and middle school students about the magical power of Judaism. In LA, Jenna’s genuine passion for organizing came to life during their year as a Jeremiah Fellow with Bend the Arc. Jenna has served as an educator and rabbi in a variety of Jewish educational settings across the country, including BBYO, Temple Israel of Boston, Hill Havurah in DC, Boston University Hillel, Temple Sinai of Brookline, and Prozdor at Hebrew College. Most recently, Jenna served as the Assistant Director of Schools K-12 at Adas Israel Congregation, where they oversaw curriculum and pedagogy for the synagogue’s religious school. When they are not working, Jenna can be found biking around the streets of Washington, DC, trying new vegan recipes, and (most importantly) cheering on their beloved Chicago Cubs!
