Faculty & Staff
The faculty and staff of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism are dedicated to creating the best and most effective educational and intellectual experiences for our professional students and adult learners. Part-time faculty provide additional depth and academic rigor to our professional and public programs.
Staff
Rabbi Adam Chalom – Dean, North America:
Rabbi Chalom was ordained by the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in 2001, and received his PhD in Near Eastern Studies – Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies concentration from the University of Michigan. In addition to his work with the Institute, Rabbi Chalom is the rabbi of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation in north suburban Chicago, Illinois. Contact Rabbi Chalom at info@iishj.org or 847.602.4500.
Rabbi Chalom was ordained by the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in 2001, and received his PhD in Near Eastern Studies – Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies concentration from the University of Michigan. In addition to his work with the Institute, Rabbi Chalom is the rabbi of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation in north suburban Chicago, Illinois. Contact Rabbi Chalom at info@iishj.org or 847.602.4500.
Rabbi Miriam Jerris – Associate Professor of Professional Development:
Rabbi Jerris holds a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies and Masters Degrees in Near Eastern Studies and Humanistic and Clinical Psychology. She was ordained with the second rabbinic class of the IISHJ in North America. Rabbi Jerris also serves as the Rabbi of the Society for Humanistic Judaism.
Rabbi Jerris holds a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies and Masters Degrees in Near Eastern Studies and Humanistic and Clinical Psychology. She was ordained with the second rabbinic class of the IISHJ in North America. Rabbi Jerris also serves as the Rabbi of the Society for Humanistic Judaism.
Jonathan L. Friedmann – Admissions Director and Associate Professor:
Cantor Jonathan L. Friedmann holds a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and master’s degrees in Religious Studies and Jewish Sacred Music. In addition to working at IISHJ, Jonathan is co-founder and vice president of Ezzree Institute, a graduate school specializing in Integrative Counseling & Cultural Studies, and community leader of Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles.
Cantor Jonathan L. Friedmann holds a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and master’s degrees in Religious Studies and Jewish Sacred Music. In addition to working at IISHJ, Jonathan is co-founder and vice president of Ezzree Institute, a graduate school specializing in Integrative Counseling & Cultural Studies, and community leader of Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeles.
Jennifer Grodsky – Operations Manager, North America:
Jennifer Grodsky holds a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Michigan. She is also the Director of Operations & Data Analytics for the Society for Humanistic Judaism (SHJ) and is a member of the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Metro Detroit, SHJ’s founding congregation. Married by Rabbi Sherwin Wine in the early 1990s, Jennifer and her family have been long term members and supporters of Humanistic Judaism. Email Jennifer here.
Jennifer Grodsky holds a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Michigan. She is also the Director of Operations & Data Analytics for the Society for Humanistic Judaism (SHJ) and is a member of the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Metro Detroit, SHJ’s founding congregation. Married by Rabbi Sherwin Wine in the early 1990s, Jennifer and her family have been long term members and supporters of Humanistic Judaism. Email Jennifer here.
Jeremy Owens – Executive Assistant, North America:
With a background in theater, Jeremy Owens enjoys welcoming people to the IISHJ office. He supports the ideals of the movement through his activities in local politics. Contact Jeremy at info@iishj.org or 847-383-6330.
With a background in theater, Jeremy Owens enjoys welcoming people to the IISHJ office. He supports the ideals of the movement through his activities in local politics. Contact Jeremy at info@iishj.org or 847-383-6330.
ISRAELI PARTNER - Tmura-IISHJ in Israel
Rabbi Sivan Malkin Maas – Dean, Israel:
The first Israeli rabbi ordained by the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in 2003. Rabbi Maas is the Dean of Tmura-IISHJ in Jerusalem and director of “The Secular Library,” publishing works on Judaism as culture. She is also president of “Secular Judaism,” a coalition of Secular Humanistic projects and organizations in Israel. She has previously run the Jerusalem “Nachlavia” community council and served as a Jewish Agency emissary to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. Contact Rabbi Maas at info@iishj.org.
The first Israeli rabbi ordained by the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in 2003. Rabbi Maas is the Dean of Tmura-IISHJ in Jerusalem and director of “The Secular Library,” publishing works on Judaism as culture. She is also president of “Secular Judaism,” a coalition of Secular Humanistic projects and organizations in Israel. She has previously run the Jerusalem “Nachlavia” community council and served as a Jewish Agency emissary to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. Contact Rabbi Maas at info@iishj.org.
FACULTY
- Gabriele Boccaccini
University of Michigan - Rabbi Jeffrey Falick
Farmington Hills, MI - Rabbi Eva Goldfinger
Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Rabbi Denise Handlarski, Ph.D.
Toronto, Ontario - Brett Kaufman
University of Illinois - Rabbi Jodi Kornfeld
Deerfield, IL
- Rabbi Jeremy Kridel
Washington, DC - Julian Levinson
University of Michigan - Stanley Mirvis
Arizona State University - Joshua Teplitzky
University of Pennsylvania - Dov Weiss
University of Illinois - Rabbi Tzemah Yoreh, Ph.D.
New York, NY
Past Faculty
- Yehuda Bauer
Yad Vashem, Israel - Jacques Berlinerblau
Georgetown University - Rifke Feinstein
Vegvayzer, Cleveland, OH - Yolanda Fleischer
University of Detroit, Mercy - Rabbi Daniel Friedman
Chicago, IL - Hershl Hartman
Los Angeles
- Yaakov Malkin
Tmura-IISHJ - Adolfo Roitman
Israel Museum - Brian Schmidt
University of Michigan - Rabbi Peter Schweitzer
New York , NY - Micheal Steinlauf
Gratz College - Rabbi Sherwin Wine
Farmington Hills, MI