Debra Orenstein

Rabbi Debra Orenstein is renowned as a teacher and scholar-in-residence across North America, regularly speaking at synagogues, universities, and conventions. She is the spiritual leader of Congregation B'nai Israel in Emerson, New Jersey, and has taught in the rabbinical, graduate school, undergraduate, conversion, and continuing education programs at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, California. Her official website is at www.RabbiDebra.com.

She received her training at Princeton University (A.B. summa cum laude), University of Judaism (B.H.L.), The Jewish Theological Seminary of America (M.A. and ordination), The Neighborhood Playhouse, and The Meisner-Carville School (Two-year Program). She completed an internship in pastoral psychiatry at The Jewish Theological Seminary.

Rabbi Orenstein is the author or editor of five books, including the award-winning Lifecycles book series: Lifecycles 1: Jewish Women on Life Passages and Personal Milestones, Lifecycles 2: Jewish Women on Biblical Themes in Contemporary Life, and the forthcoming Lifecycles 3: Jewish Women on Holy Days and Communal Celebrations. She co-authored From Generation to Generation, a collection of sermons and Bible commentaries, with her grandfather, Rabbi Israel Mowshowitz. Her spoken word albums include the titles Transformation Now, Compassion Constantly, and Awe Always. She has also written essays for The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, The New Jersey Jewish Standard, The New York Jewish Week, The Women's Prophets Commentary (2004), Etz Hayim Humash (2001), and The Tallit (forthcoming), among others. She will be a keynote speaker and instructor at the 2012 Rabbinic Training Institute. Debra's rabbinate represents both the inherited tradition and its flexibility in every age. A seventh generation rabbi, she is also an alumna of the first entering class at The Jewish Theological Seminary to include women.

A frequent guest on radio and television, Rabbi Orenstein has appeared on dozens of media outlets, including as a repeat guest on WOR Radio, New York; Jewish Television Network; Good Day LA (Fox Television); and KABC Radio, Los Angeles. She was the spiritual leader of Congregation Makom Ohr Shalom in Tarzana, California for 14 years before returning to her home state of New Jersey. She also "worked her way through rabbinical school" as an actress, and has appeared in a handful of films and numerous stage productions.