Alumni

Rabbis

Binyamin Biber

Served as Rabbi of Machar: The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism in Washington D.C. Ordained by the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in 2001, Rabbi Biber also has a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan and many years of experience as a teacher, counselor and community organizer.  Rabbi Biber is currently the Humanist Chaplain at American University can be reached at rav.bibi@Verizon.net or (301) 437-7745

Adam Chalom

Rabbi of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation in Highland Park, Illinois, and Dean for North America of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism (IISHJ). Ordained by the IISHJ in 2001, Rabbi Chalom also holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan. He is the author of a three-volume, 50-session adult education curriculum, Introduction to Secular Humanistic Judaism.  Rabbi Chalom can be reached at dean@iishj.org or (847) 602-4500.

Greg Epstein

Humanist Chaplain of Harvard University. Ordained by the IISHJ in 2005, Rabbi Epstein also holds an MA (Judaic Studies) from the University of Michigan and a Master's Degree of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. He is the author of Good Without God: What a Billion Non-Religious People Do Believe. Rabbi Epstein can be reached through the Harvard Humanist Chaplaincy at chudson@harvardhumanist.org.

Eva Goldfinger

Rabbi at Oraynu Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Toronto. Ordained by the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in 2005, Rabbi Goldfinger also holds a Master's Degree in Jewish Studies from Hebrew College, Boston, and is a practicing psychotherapist. She is the author of Basic Ideas of Secular Human.istic Judaism and the director of the Canadian Division of the IISHJ.  Rabbi Goldfinger can be reached at evagoldfinger@rogers.com or (416) 494-7450.

Miriam Jerris

Rabbi of the Society for Humanistic Judaism. Ordained by the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in 2001, Rabbi Jerris also holds Master's Degrees in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan and in Humanistic and Clinical Psychology from the Center for Humanistic Studies, and a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies from the Union Institute.  Rabbi Jerris is the Owner-Director of www.theweddingconnection.net and can be reached at miriam@theweddingconnection.net or (800) 696-0380.

Tamara Kolton

Served as Rabbi of The Birmingham Temple in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The first rabbi ordained by the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in 1999, Rabbi Kolton also holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from the Center for Humanistic Studies and a Ph.D. in Rabbinic Studies from the Union Institute.  Rabbi Kolton can be reached at (248) 885-0225.

Jodi Kornfeld

Founder and Rabbi of Beth Chaverim Humanistic Jewish Community in Deerfield, Illinois. Ordained by the IISHJ in 2009, she received her M.A. in Jewish Studies from Spertus College in Chicago, where she is currently a doctoral candidate. Rabbi Kornfeld also holds a J.D. from Boston University School of Law.  Rabbi Kornfeld can be reached at rabbijodi@gmail.com or (847) 945-6512

Karen Levy

Rabbi of Oraynu Congregation for Humanistic Judaism in Toronto. Ordained by the IISHJ in 2009, Rabbi Levy holds an MA in Jewish Studies from York University. She is also the editor of The Early Modern European Roots of Secular Humanistic Judaism.  Rabbi Levy can be reached at klevy@rogers.com or (905) 731-7066.

Sivan Maas

Dean for Israel of the IISHJ. Ordained by the IISHJ in 2003, Rabbi Maas directs "Tmura-IISHJ," training secular Rabbis in Israel. She also is a graduate of the Kerem Teacher Training Institute for Humanist Jewish Education and holds an MA from the Schechter College of Jerusalem of the Jewish Theological Seminary. Rabbi Maas is also the director of "The Secular Library."  Rabbi Maas can be reached at rsivanmaas@gmail.com or in Israel at (052) 336-6541.

Judith Seid

Founder and leader of Tri-Valley Cultural Jews in Northern California. Ordained by the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in 2003, Rabbi Seid also holds a Master's Degree in Jewish Communal Studies from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and is the author of God-Optional Judaism: Alter.natives for Cultural Jews Who Love Their History, Heritage and Community. Rabbi Seid directs www.secularjewishweddings.com and can be reached at Rabbi@secularjewishweddings.com or (925) 485-1049.