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Alumni & Certified Leaders

Alumni & Certified Leaders

Graduates of the IISHJ are working hard to create meaningful cultural Jewish experiences for individuals and communities across North America, and beyond. You can read about them here, on their own sites, or through their professional associations, the Association of Humanistic Rabbis and the Leadership Conference of Secular and Humanistic Jews. To learn more about IISHJ’s professional training, visit the pages for our Rabbinic, Leadership, and Officiant programs.

Rabbis in Secular & Humanistic Judaism

Susan Averbach
Ordained by IISHJ in 2014, Rabbi Averbach also holds a master’s degree in Jewish Studies from Gratz College in Philadelphia. She is retired from ritual leadership and spends her time studying, writing, hiking, and babysitting for grandchildren. Rabbi Averbach invites you to visit her website at http://rabbijubu.com.

Claire Bergen
Ordained by IISHJ in 2024, Rabbi Bergen resides in Los Angeles, CA and will be joining the faculty at IISHJ to provide instruction to students. Contact Rabbi Bergen via email at claire.bergen@gmail.com.

Binyamin Biber
Ordained by IISHJ in 2001, Rabbi Biber also holds a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan and has many years of experience as a teacher, counselor, and community organizer.  He previously served as Rabbi of Machar: The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism in Washington D.C.  Rabbi Biber is currently the humanist chaplain at American University, and can be reached at rav.bibi@gmail.com or (301) 437-7745.

Adam Chalom
Rabbi of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation in Highland Park, Ill., and dean for North America of IISHJ. Ordained by the IISHJ in 2001, Rabbi Chalom also holds a doctorate 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.

Eva Cohen
Rabbi at Or Emet Minnesota Congregation for Humanistic Judaism. Ordained by IISHJ in 2024, Rabbi Cohen holds a BA from Brown University and a Master of Arts in Classical and Near Eastern Studies. Contact Rabbi Cohen via email at rabbi@oremet.org.

Greg Epstein
Rabbi Greg M. Epstein serves as Humanist Chaplain at Harvard & MIT, where he advises students, faculty, and staff members on ethical and existential concerns from a humanist perspective. He was TechCrunch’s first “ethicist in residence” and has been called “a symbol of the transition in how Americans relate to organized religion” (The Conversation). He is the author of the New York Times-bestselling book Good Without God and his latest book, Tech Agnostic: How Technology Became the World’s Most Powerful Religion, and Why it Desperately Needs a Reformation, was named the Best Business Book of 2024 by the Porchlight Business Book Awards, in the “Big Ideas & New Perspectives” category, among other awards. He has also written for TIME, The MIT Technology Review, CNN , The Ink, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, Popular Science, and more. He is extremely grateful for his work towards rabbinic ordination via the IISHJ in 2005, which marked his introduction to humanism and inspired him to pursue a career building humanist community.

Eva Goldfinger
Rabbi at Oraynu Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Toronto. Ordained by IISHJ in 2005, Rabbi Goldfinger also holds a master’s degree in Jewish Studies from Hebrew College in Boston, and is a practicing psychotherapist and counselor. She is the author of Basic Ideas of Secular Humanistic Judaism and the director of the Canadian division of the IISHJ. Rabbi Goldfinger can be reached at evagoldfinger007@gmail.com or (416) 520-1922.

Denise Handlarski
Rabbi Denise Handlarski is the creator and spiritual leader of the online community Secular Synagogue and the author of the book The A-Z of Intermarriage. In addition, Denise is an Associate Professor at the School of Education, Trent University, Canada. She teaches courses in history and social justice education, particularly gender studies and anti-racist education, for the B.Ed. and M.Ed. programs, while also leading the School of Education well-being program, and Sex Education Alternative Settings Placement. Having served as the M.Ed. Director and B.Ed. Coordinator, Denise’s research areas include: spirituality and community in education, sex education, well-being and education, Jewish studies, and birth/motherhood studies. In 2022 she led a project funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada on Jewish Responses to the Loneliness Epidemic. Denise is also a certified labour/birth doula. Her newest work is on Holocaust history and pedagogy.

Miriam Jerris
Rabbi of the Society for Humanistic Judaism and associate professor of professional development of the IISHJ. Ordained by IISHJ in 2001, Rabbi Jerris also holds master’s degrees in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan, and Humanistic and Clinical Psychology from the Center for Humanistic Studies. She earned a doctorate in Jewish Studies from the Union Institute. Rabbi Jerris is the owner-director of the Wedding Connection, www.theweddingconnection.net, and can be reached at info@theweddingconnection.net.

Jodi Kornfeld
Founder and rabbi of Beth Chaverim Humanistic Jewish Community in Deerfield, IL. Ordained by the IISHJ in 2009, Rabbi Kornfeld holds a master’s degree in Jewish Studies, and a Doctor of Science in Jewish Studies (DSJS) from Spertus College in Chicago. She is the co-editor of Contemporary Humanistic Judaism: Beliefs, Values, Practices (2025). Rabbi Kornfeld can be reached at rabbijodi@gmail.com or (847) 945-6512.

Jeremy Kridel
Rabbi of Machar – The Secular Humanistic Jewish Congregation of Greater Washington, in Washington, D.C. Ordained by the IISHJ in 2017, Rabbi Kridel holds a Juris Doctor (Cum Laude) from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, and Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Religion from Florida State University. In his capacity as Director of Machar’s Jewish Cultural School program, Rabbi Kridel is co-director of the Collaborative Jewish Sunday School program, a Sunday school program in the Washington area that is run in collaboration with two movement-independent congregations and uses a curriculum adapted for Humanistic Jewish students. Rabbi Kridel performs lifecycle ceremonies in D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. He has served as President of the Association of Humanistic Rabbis, Chair of the Howard County (Maryland) Board of Jewish Clergy, and is a member of the boards of the IISHJ and the Society for Humanistic Judaism. Rabbi Kridel also served as co-editor of Humanistic Judaism, the magazine of the Society for Humanistic Judaism. He can be reached at rabbi@machar.org or (202) 686-1881.

Karen Levy
Rabbi of Oraynu Congregation for Humanistic Judaism in Toronto. Ordained by the IISHJ in 2009, Rabbi Levy also holds a master’s degree in Jewish Studies from York University. She was 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, a program training secular rabbis in Israel. She is a graduate of the Kerem Teacher Training Institute for Humanist Jewish Education and holds a master’s degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Schechter College of Jerusalem. 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.

Mary Raskin
Rabbi Mary Raskin is a founder and the rabbi of Cultural Synagogue serving Portland, Oregon and Southwest Washington. Ordained by the IISHJ in 2022, Rabbi Raskin also holds a master’s degree in Jewish Studies from Spertus Institute in Chicago, and master’s degrees in management and business from Marylhurst University in Marylhurst, Oregon. Rabbi Raskin can be reached at culturalsynagogue@gmail.com or (360) 513-4144.

Jeffrey Schesnol
Rabbi Jeffrey Schesnol is the Ceremonial and Spiritual Leader of Or Adam Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Phoenix & Scottsdale, AZ. He was Ordained in 2022 by IISHJ North America and Israel and is a licensed Humanist Celebrant and Counselor. He earned his Masters in Jewish Studies from Spertus Institute in September 2020. Rabbi Schesnol is a certified PMP, the Associate Director and Resident Rabbi of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, and the curatorial project manager of its museum exhibits. He is the project manager developing the Center for Jewish Heritage, Holocaust & Human Rights Education, opening 2025. Rabbi Schesnol can be reached at JSchesnol@azjhs.org or (336) 215-7762.

Judith Seid
Founder and rabbi of Tri-Valley Cultural Jews in Northern California. Ordained by IISHJ in 2003, Rabbi Seid also holds a master’s degree in Jewish Communal Studies from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She is the author of God-Optional Judaism: Alternatives for Cultural Jews Who Love Their History, Heritage and Community and We Rejoice in Our Heritage: Home Rituals for Secular and Humanistic Jews. She is the creative editor of Kumzits! A Festivity of Instant Jewish Songs. Rabbi Seid directs www.secularjewishweddings.com and can be reached at Rabbi@secularjewishweddings.com or (925) 485-1049.

Joysa Winter
A writer, editor, and rabbi, Joysa Winter is a 5th-generation native of Colorado. Now living in Philadelphia, she earned rabbinic ordination by IISHJ in 2017, a master’s degree in Jewish Studies by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. She is the author of Living Jewish Values: Be Your Best Self by Behrman House, as well as hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. She was a proofreader for The Torah: A Women’s Commentary by URJ Press, and has edited over a dozen books for the medical profession. Rabbi Winter can be reached at joysa.winter@gmail.com.

Certified Leaders/ Madrikhim/ Madrikhot & Vegvayzers/ Officiants

IISHJ does not endorse titles granted by other institutions. This list represents those currently certified by the IISHJ.

Educators, Spokespeople and Cantors/ Musicians

  • Deborah Davis
  • Marjorie Hilton
  • Sharon Kobrinsky
  • Leila Lustig
  • Dan Tobocman

Their Memory is a Blessing (Prov. 10:7)

  • Madrikh Jerald Bain
  • Vegvayzer Louis Biderman
  • Madrikha Lucie Brandon
  • Madrikha Barbara Brandt
  • Madrikha Helen Bussel
  • Madrikh Len Cherlin
  • Madrikha Sue Feder
  • Vegvayzer Rifke Feinstein
  • Madrikha Ruth Duskin Feldman
  • Madrikh Hershl Hartman
  • Rabbi Edward Klein
  • Madrikha Renee Kogel
  • Madrikh Martin Kotch
  • Madrikh Harold Londer
  • Madrikha Betty Pelletz
  • Vegvayzer  Gerry Revzin
  • Madrikha Marilyn Rowens
  • Vegvayzer Rhea Seagull
  • Vegvayzer Paul Shane
  • Madrikh Bert Steinberg
  • Madrikh Morris Sukenik