Resume
Congregational and Community Service
Founding Rabbi, HaMakom, The Place for Passionate and Progressive Judaism,
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Associate Rabbi, Temple Beth Shalom, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Rabbi: Chavurah Beth Chai, Westchester (UAHC). 1997-1999.
Led monthly Friday night services as well as High Holiday cycle. Also taught several adult education classes throughout the year and serve as rabbi for life cycle events.
Rabbinic Intern: West End Synagogue, New York. 1997-1998.
Shadowed Rabbi Avi Winokur to observe synagogue infrastructure, rabbinic presence, and the process of life cycle events. Also created and participated in a family education class to deepen one’s religious experience in the context of being parents.
Service Leader: Congregation Ansche Chesed Synagogue, New York. 1996-1997.
Officiated at Shabbat “Learners’ Minyan” geared to teach unaffiliated adults synagogue ritual and prayer, including Torah discussion.
Rabbinic Intern: CLAL (Center for Learning and Leadership), New York. 1996 1997. Participated in weekly text study and discussions about pluralism with fellow rabbinical students from diverse seminaries. Collaborated with fellow interns in creating student chevra groups in the metropolitan area.
Service Leader: Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, New York. 1996-1997.
Led Shaharit services weekly.
Service Leader: Temple Beth Shalom, Santa Fe, New Mexico. 1992-1999.
Led Conservative and Reform Shabbat services occasionally. Officiated at Conservative High Holiday Services.
Chaplain: New York Hospital and Sloan-Kettering Hospital, New York.. 1995.
Served as student chaplain to patients of all ages and religions.
Director, Para-Rabbinic Program: Temple Beth Shalom, Santa Fe, New Mexico.1995-6.
As a synagogue member initiated and organized a program to train fellow congregants to support other congregants during life cycle events. Also taught classes to adults about psalms, holidays, and theodicy.
Teaching Experience
Instructor: University of Judaism, Los Angeles, California. 1989-90.
Taught a variety of Jewish topics in continuing education and Elderhostel classes.
Instructor: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. 1984-85.
Taught adults about writing and publishing for children.
Workshop Director: Idyllwild School for Music and Art, Idyllwild, California. 1982-84.
Created curriculum, supervised instructors, and taught adults how to write for children.
Lectures
Speaking publicly to all age groups about: Holocaust rescuers; Jewish holidays and rites of passage; and how to write for children. Lecture and conference venues include:
The Jewish Museum, New York
The Skirball Museum, Los Angeles
The Corcoran Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Occidental College, Los Angeles
Wittenburg University, Springfield, Ohio
Congregation Ansche Chesed, New York
Temple Valley Beth Shalom, Encino, California
Association of Jewish Librarians, Long Beach, California
Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education
Anti Defamation League
Awards
Congregant of the Year, Temple Beth Shalom, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Hungry Mind Children’s Books of Distinction, Minneapolis, Minnestota.
ADL Janusz Korczak Literary Competition, New York.
Southern California Council on Literature for Children–Excellence in a Series.
Jewish Book Award Nominee, four different years.
Education
The Academy for Jewish Religion, New York. 1996-1998.
Jewish Theological Seminary, New York. Summer 1996.
University of Judaism, Los Angeles. Summer 1995.
Hebrew Union College, Jerusalem. 1985.
University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Teaching credential, 1968.
University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles. B.A., English. 1967.
Personal
Born 1945. Raised in New York and Los Angeles. Permanent residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mother of two adult children. Excellent health. Enjoy hiking, traveling, movies, conversation, reading, studying, and book collecting.
LISTING OF PUBLICATIONS
Books
Portraits of Jewish American Heroes, Dutton Children’s Books (August 2008)
White Fire; A Portrait of Women Spiritual Leaders in America, Skylight Paths Publishing. 2003. (Southwest PEN Award in Non-Fiction.)
The Sea Monster Prince, Harcourt Brace. 1999.
Frida Kahlo, University of New Mexico Press. 1995.
The Family Treasury of Jewish Holidays, Little Brown. 1994.
Jacob’s Rescue, Bantam. 1993. (New York Public Library Top 100 list.)
Rescuers: Portraits of Moral Courage in the Holocaust (co-author Gay Block). Holmes and Meier. 1992. (Christopher Award for TV series, Emmy nomination.)
Grandma’s Latkes. Harcourt Brace. 1992.
The Jewish Holiday ABC. Harcourt Brace. 1992.
Frida Kahlo: Torment and Triumph in Her Life and Art. Bantam. 1991. (Pick of the Lists, Hungry Mind Award.)
Eliezer Ben Yehuda: Father of Modern Hebrew. Dutton. 1987. (ADL Humanitarian Award.)
Celebrating Life: Jewish Rites of Passage. Holiday House. 1984.
Series TV: How a Television Show is Made. Clarion. 1983.
Shabbat: A Peaceful Island. Holiday House. 1983. (Southern California Literature for Young
People Award for Excellence in a Series.)
Sukkot: A Time to Rejoice. Holiday House. 1982.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: Sweet Beginnings, Holiday house. 1981.
Passover: A Season Of Freedom, Holiday House. 1981.
Hanukkah: Eight nights, Eight lights. Holiday House. 1980.
The George Foster Story, revised, Holiday House. 1980.
The George Foster Story, Holiday House. 1979.
Tom Seaver: Portrait of a Pitcher. Holiday House. 1978. (Sports Book of the Month selection.)
Articles
Weekly Parshiot, Torah Aura Bulletin Board 1996-97.
“Miketz,” Learning Torah With… 1997.
“Vaera,” Learning Torah With… 1996.
“Haazinu,” Learning Torah With… 1995.
“What Do We Owe The Rescuers?” Moment, April, 1988.
“A Spiritual Odyssey or How I Learned to Live With Six Sets of Dishes,” Sh’ma, Fall, 1984.
“The Malka Drucker Story According To Tom Seaver,”
Society of Children’s Book Writers. September, 1981.