Two local female rabbis selected for Rabbis Without Borders

Rabbi Wendi Geffen of North Shore Congregation Israel, Glencoe, IL

and Rabbi Lisa Sari Bellows of Congregation Beth Am, Buffalo Grove, IL

Chosen to be Rabbi's Without Borders

Unique Initiative Helps Rabbis Make Jewish Wisdom an Accessible Resource

and Prepares Them for the Changing Religious Landscape

Rabbis Without Borders (RWB), www.rabbiswithoutborders.org, helps rabbis make Jewish thought and practice more available for improving people's lives, selected its third class for its competitive rabbinic fellowship program. Of the more than 90 applicants competing for the 18 spots, Rabbi Wendi Geffen of North Shore Congregation Israel was selected for this prestigious program

“Interest in the program has only increased over the years,” said Rabbi Rebecca W. Sirbu, RWB Director. “Rabbis recognize that the religious environment has changed – from family make up to spiritual practice. To reach people where they are and how they are, rabbis need to apply their skills in new ways. RWB offers that kind of support. It helps rabbis better communicate in both familiar and new venues, and makes Jewish wisdom an accessible resource for the American public.”

The program, now in its third year, encourages rabbis to think creatively about their work and the new American religious landscape. As the key disseminators of the tradition, rabbis who can present Jewish wisdom more effectively are better educators and community builders, and RWB selected members can become religious leaders with unique tools learned from the fellowship to offer the broader culture.

Rabbi Wendi Geffen states: “The Rabbis Without Borders, offers rabbis from across the denominational spectrum, incredible opportunities to advance not only the state of their own rabbinate and congregation, but really Judaism and its practice more broadly. As one of the rabbis at one of the largest synagogues in Chicago, I encounter people, both affiliated and not, across the age-spectrum, expressing deep desire for a non-hierarchical, authentic and inspired Judaism that might create and/or enliven their religious tradition/practice, as well as impact their own lives and relationships in profound and practical ways, and the Rabbis Without Borders fellowship offered the most exciting and direct way to catalyze that into reality.

My work at NSCI over the last decade has helped me to strive to create and model a community where every individual is empowered to be a leader, educated in how to understand, interpret, and teach the language of Torah and Jewish tradition to others. The RWB fellowship affords its participants the opportunity to push that vision, transforming their communities into places that welcome and receive others back into the synagogue, but also invite and journey with them, where they are, whether on the “ground” or “on-line.” I am deeply honored to be one of the 2012-2013 fellows! “

Rabbinic Fellows will gather in NYC four times over the academic year, 2012-2013. The first session, on Oct 29th and 30th, 2012, will feature Lisa Miller, religion editor at Newsweek magazine and The Daily Beast who will discuss religion in America today. The December 17-18 program will feature social media innovator Daniel Sieradisky, who will discuss technology's effects on society.

To interview Rabbi Geffen please contact her at rabbigeffen@nsci.org, 847-635-0724