PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

GUEST LECTURER AND SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE 2008-present

• Throughout the United States and Israel [for a complete listing see Recent Appearances]

• Addresses contemporary issues of Jewish values, Jewish identity, and heartfelt personal concerns via the study of classic and contemporary Jewish texts and facilitated dialogue; special focus on Soviet and post-Soviet jewry.

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee 1993-2008
FSU [Former Soviet Union] Department [headquartered in Jerusalem]

Country Director For Western Russia and Belarus; Member of Senior Staff

• Supervision of field offices serving over 100 local communities

• Long and short term regional planning for community development, Jewish renewal and welfare programs;

• Constructed new Jewish Community Center in St. Petersburg, one of the largest Jewish facilities in Russia

Director of Academic and Adult Education

• Co-founder of Hillel Student organization in the FSU and Sefer: The Moscow Center for University Teaching of Jewish Civilization

• Supervision of FSU-wide educational initiatives

Wexner Heritage Foundation 1988-2003
USA, Jerusalem

Faculty and Israel Program Consultant

• Teaching in longstanding Jewish leadership program in the US

• Planning and organizing educational summer program in Israel

Rockland Community College, USA 1985-2002
Cape Cod Community College, USA

Director of Israel Programs

• Implementation of policy and academic standards for hundreds of students in 40 different educational institutes throughout Israel

• Student counseling and teaching

Temple Beth O'r 1975-1984
Clark, NJ

Rabbi

• Community Rabbi for congregation of 400+ families

United Synagogue of America 1972-1975

Assistant Director of the Department of Education

• Responsible for the Solomon Schechter Day Schools in North America

• Extensive field visits and school evaluations and follow-up

EDUCATION

• D.D. (Honoris Causa), Jewish Theological Seminary of America

• Rabbinical Ordination, Jewish Theological Seminary of America (also completed all doctoral coursework)

• M.A. (History and Russian History), Columbia University

• M.H.L. (Jewish Studies), Jewish Theological Seminary of America

• Special Student (Russian Studies) Hebrew University of Jerusalem

• B.A. (Jewish Studies and History), Brandeis University