Judaism
Without Walls

Rabbi Steven Blane

Rabbi Steven Blane did not set out to become a rabbi. In many ways, the rabbinate chose him. Every chapter of his life — student, performer, producer, cantor, rabbi — shaped the spiritual leader he would become.

Rabbi Blane's Jewish education began in Orthodox institutions: the Yeshiva of Hudson County and Rogosin Yeshiva High School. He later earned a B.A. in Music Education from Jersey City University and performed off and on Broadway, including in STRIDER (1978–79).

Ordained in 2001 by Rabbi Joseph Gelberman, he served Conservative and Reform congregations before founding Congregation Sim Shalom in 2010 — the first fully interactive online synagogue. Out of that work emerged Jewish Universalism and the UJUC.

His life's work is to expand the moral and spiritual horizon of Judaism itself — rooted in tradition yet unafraid to evolve. He has trained and mentored hundreds of Jewish spiritual leaders across four continents.

Rabbi Nancy Tunick

Rabbi Nancy Tunick is a Nashville, TN based Rabbi, cantorial soloist and composer who serves as Rabbi and cantorial soloist for Temple B'nai Israel in Florence, AL and leads online Ma'ariv services for Sim Shalom.

A graduate of Temple University with a B.M. in Voice Performance, she began her career in broadcasting before serving in executive roles at Asylum Records and Warner Bros. Records. She currently co-owns GrassRoots Promotion.

Rabbi Tunick is a neurospiritual researcher specializing in how neuroscience impacts spiritual practices. She recently completed her first Jewish children's book, 'Eli Goes To Heaven,' and is writing 'Connect Beyond the Internet.'

She is President of the Shoals Interfaith Council and a founding Rabbi of the UJUC.

Rabbi Ivan Browner

Rabbi Ivan Browner is the Spiritual Leader and Rabbi at Congregation Ner Tamid Shel Torah, a Jewish Universalist Congregation in Tokyo, Japan, offering counseling and life cycle events in a joyous atmosphere.

He founded 'The Peace Initiative,' a non-profit where teachers, musicians, artists and businessmen host educational lectures, with proceeds donated to charities worldwide.

Ivan's spiritual education weaves Orthodox Jewish and Kabbalistic influence with Jewish meditation, Japanese Zen, martial arts training, and real-world experience. He received ordination through Sim Shalom and JSLI.

Rabbi Eran Bar-Adon

Originally from Israel, Rabbi Eran Bar-Adon's experience in Jewish Education spans two decades in American institutions. He welcomes all — affiliated, unaffiliated, and interfaith families.

He served as Director of Family and Hebrew Education at Wilshire Boulevard Temple and founded BarMitzvahSchool.com. He is also a licensed Marriage and Family Psychotherapist (LMFT).

Ordained by JSLI, he holds a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and graduated Cum Laude from USC's Annenberg School. He is also a Registered Yoga Instructor.

Rabbi Deborah Reichmann

Rabbi Deborah Reichmann serves the Washington DC metro area, officiating life-cycle events for Jewish and interfaith families. Ordained from JSLI in 2012, she is a member of the International Federation of Rabbis.

She holds a Juris Doctor and Master of Liberal Arts from Georgetown University, plus an MPH from Johns Hopkins. She spent seven years in Campus Ministry at Georgetown implementing religious and interfaith programming.

Previously a health policy attorney focused on Medicare advocacy, Rabbi Reichmann brings unique expertise bridging law, public health, and spiritual leadership.

Rabbi Galit Levy-Slater

Rabbi-Cantor Galit accepted a cantorial position at Congregation Sholom of Leisure World in 1994. When the community needed a rabbi, she found JSLI and was ordained in 2012.

In 2016, she formed Beit HaLev, House of the Heart — a Universalist synagogue dedicated to reaching the unaffiliated and shut-ins through livestreamed Friday evening and Saturday morning services.

'As a Jewish Universalist, I embrace all branches of Judaism and welcome all people to worship. There is no one way to seek God. All paths are open to those who seek them.'

Rabbi Deborah McKenzie

Rabbi Deborah McKenzie has served as a Jewish spiritual leader and counselor for more than 20 years, working with interfaith individuals and people of faith seeking a Jewish spiritual perspective.

Her love of Torah stems from parents who provided a strong Jewish foundation during a time when being African-American and Jewish was unique. Living at the intersection of diverse perspectives established bridges of understanding.

She discovered JSLI in 2013 and was ordained in January 2015, fulfilling a childhood dream. She holds a BA and MS in Bioanalytical Chemistry and serves as a senior director at AOAC INTERNATIONAL.

Rabbi Judy Ginsburgh

Rabbi Judy is best known for her music and 30+ years as a cantorial soloist. She has produced award-winning Jewish music recordings and was commissioned by the URJ to write a preschool music curriculum.

Ordained in 2014 from JSLI, she specializes in creating deeply personal life cycle events. She is a certified Prepare-Enrich Facilitator and serves on the JSLI faculty.

Rabbi Judy currently serves Congregation B'nai Israel in Monroe, Louisiana and is available to travel anywhere — including destination weddings in Florida, Mexico, and Shabbat services in India and Sri Lanka.

Rabbi Kenneth Hahn

Rabbi Ken's return to Judaism began when choosing a preschool for his son at a Reform synagogue in Berkeley, CA. He went on to serve as synagogue president, Hebrew School teacher, and service leader.

After 20+ years as Executive Director of a non-profit sending students abroad for community service, he found JSLI and his eyes were opened.

'Jewish Universalism isn't only about making Judaism more accessible — it's about taking the beauty of the Jewish wisdom tradition, celebrating it, and making it available to anyone who has an interest, meeting that person wherever she or he is, without any judgement whatsoever.'

Rabbi Karen Becker-Marcelo

Rabbi Karen received smicha from JSLI in 2017 and embraces Jewish Universalism's core doctrine of encouraging interfaith families and all people to participate in Jewish worship.

She serves as a rabbi at Sim Shalom Online Synagogue leading weeknight Ma'ariv services. With an MS in History/Secondary Education, she taught for 32 years in NYC schools.

She studied Conversational Hebrew at Queens College (her professor was the grandson of David Ben-Gurion) and lived on a kibbutz in Israel. She directs Tree of Life Chaverim in Lake Worth, Florida.

Rabbi Linda Goldberg

Rabbi Linda's passion is helping Jews and interfaith families enhance their lives with Judaism. She serves individuals rather than a congregation, researching unaffiliated Jews to better serve them.

A graduate of Wellesley College, she had a 26-year career at IBM, co-founded an executive consulting firm, and served as CEO of a managed care company — but what she most wanted was to be a rabbi.

After 15 years of study with significant rabbis, she was ordained at JSLI. She travels to officiate life cycle events throughout the US and abroad, creating highly personalized, meaningful experiences.

Rabbi Miriam Van Raalte

Rabbi Miriam Van Raalte was ordained from JSLI in June 2020. She serves as assistant rabbi at Temple Beth Tikvah in Fullerton, California, focusing on engagement with the senior population.

She is a welcome addition to the congregation where her parents were members throughout her teen and early adult years. In addition to weekly lunch & learn sessions, she does outreach throughout the local Jewish and interfaith community.

Rabbi Diane Rose

Growing up, Rabbi Diane called her synagogue the 'ice palace' — large, marble walls, cold people. After her Bat Mitzvah, she said she was done with Judaism.

As a young adult searching for meaning, she realized Judaism held everything she was looking for — if seen through a different lens. 'I was born Jewish, but as a 30 year old, I chose to live Jewish.'

Her education spans Reform, Renewal, Conservative, Orthodox, and Zen traditions. She is the spiritual leader of Cool Shul (Kehillah Sababah) and was ordained through JSLI.

Rabbi Jordania Goldberg

Rabbi Jordania Goldberg was ordained at JSLI and currently serves as the Executive Director of the UJUC.

Her work as a rabbi is interwoven into her work as a virtual-care counselor, writer and artist. She is a guest rabbi internationally and is available for online counseling, teaching, and life-cycle events.

Rabbi Cantor Nancy Landsman

Rabbi-Cantor Nancy Landsman is 'YOUR PERSONAL RABBI' and founding Rabbi-Cantor of Congregation Ahavat Olam (2012), a unique and intimate Reform Congregation on the Northshore.

Prior to her cantorial career beginning in 1979, she studied Social Work with a focus in Gerontology. Ordained in 2016, she officiates all life cycle events including interfaith, same sex, and interracial weddings.

A passionate hospice chaplain volunteer, she received Clinical Pastoral Education from The Jewish Theological Seminary.

Rabbi Elisheva Irma Diaz

Rabbi Elisheva was raised in a Hispanic home and educated in Catholic school, but was intrigued by family members who practiced Judaism. She discovered her mother's family were Anusim — Spanish Jews forced to convert.

Her journey led through a successful international Christian ministry before officially returning to her Jewish identity in 2009. She was ordained at JSLI in 2012 and graduated with honors from Gratz College in 2013.

She serves as Health and Mental Health Liaison to Congresswoman Grace Napolitano and is President of Ayekah Jewish Foundation and Co-Founder of The Coalition for Sephardic Hispanic and Ladino Legacy.

Rabbi Gail Fisher

Following years of studying, teaching, and leading services — and after retiring from public accounting — Gail Fisher fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a Rabbi.

She serves Congregation Sha'are Shalom in Waldorf, MD and volunteers at Goodwin House Alexandria retirement community, leading Friday night services, Torah study, and educational programs.

Built on 11 years of Hebrew school, Hebrew-speaking camp, and summers in Israel, her greatest passion is teaching. She is a proud mother of two and grandmother of five.

Rabbi Lee Richmond

Dr. Lee J. Richmond is a counseling psychologist, consultant, and Professor Emerita from Loyola University of Maryland where she taught in education and pastoral counseling.

Her research focuses on the intersection of spirituality and career in adult women. She has taught Wise Aging courses and offered programs on Living with Presence, Purpose and Possibility.

A member of JSLI Class 21, ordained in December 2021, she is a believer in Jewish Universalism and intends to incorporate its wisdom into her life and work. Mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

Rabbi Ellis Griffith

Rabbi Ellis Griffith (they/she) dreamed of the rabbinate since childhood. It wasn't until adulthood — balancing work and life, having children, experiencing illness and loss — that the dream became reality.

Their passion is working with individuals, families and communities to infuse Jewish meaning into life moments — from destination weddings to designing unique ritual roadmaps for multi-faith households.

Rabbi Griffith works remotely and in person, embracing the fullness of diversity. Currently residing in Amsterdam with an incredible wife, family, and team of pets.

Cantor Marianne Styles

Cantor Marianne Styles has joyously served for over 20 years as a Hebrew school teacher, music director, service leader, and solo vocalist/guitarist. Ordained through JSLI in 2020.

She holds a Juris Doctor from Widener University's Delaware Law School and serves on the Board of Directors as a volunteer attorney for the Support Center for Child Advocates in Philadelphia.

Fully remote capable for virtual services, life cycle events and education.

Rabbi Judy Katz Howard

Rabbi Judy serves the Greater Toronto Area as a freelance Rabbi, officiating life cycle events for Jewish and interfaith families, focusing on the unaffiliated. Ordained in December 2023 (JSLI Class 25).

Originally from Montreal, she lived 11 years in Israel, earned degrees from Hebrew University, and served in the Israel Defence Forces. After 30 years practicing law in Toronto, she enrolled at JSLI.

She has officiated more than 60 weddings and her goal is to make every experience meaningful, respectful, fully egalitarian and inclusive.

Rabbi Elias Zwang

Elias Zwang grew up in the Bay Area in a family that belonged to Reform, Conservative, and Chabad synagogues — giving him appreciation for the diversity of modern Jewish life.

After graduating from Vassar College, he moved to Israel and hiked the entire 500-mile Israel National Trail. He made Aliyah in 2012 and spent three years supporting the Sudanese refugee community in South Tel Aviv.

Now a Rabbi, his goal is to help make the Jewish world a more loving and accepting place for Jews and their families of all tribes.

Rabbi Karen Tashman

Rabbi Karen Tashman is a Rabbi, Educator, Public Speaker, and Community Leader serving as Rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom in Palm Coast, Florida.

She has worked as a Jewish communal professional for over 40 years, providing leadership in New York, Georgia and Florida across congregational, summer camp, day school and senior services settings.

It is her journey and passion for embracing Jewish community that led the way to pursuing rabbinic ordination.

Rabbi Cantor Robbi Sherwin

Robbi Sherwin is Rabbi Cantor of the Wood River Jewish Community in Ketchum/Sun Valley, Idaho. Raised in the Air Force in small towns across the US, Camp Young Judaea solidified her Jewish identity.

As President of the Women Cantors' Network, she is the lead voice for 300 female cantors and rabbis worldwide. She is 1/3 of the award-winning Jewish rock band Sababa, with 5 albums of original Jewish music.

A Life Member of Hadassah and NCJW, certified Storahtelling Maven, passionate college football fan, and avid Mahj Jongg player. She is in high demand as an artist/scholar-in-residence.

Rabbi Steve Hara

Rabbi Steve Hara has been an active synagogue member since 1972, serving as budget director, men's club president, religious education chair, adult education chair, and board member.

He holds a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.), taught elementary school for 17 years, served as principal and administrator, and was an adjunct professor at Northeastern Illinois University and Concordia University.

A lifelong learner, he attended JSLI to learn and become a rabbi. His interests include performing wedding ceremonies, funerals, adult education, and leading Shabbat services at senior living facilities.