Since her ordination in 1980, Ellen Lewis has enjoyed a bi-vocational career as both a rabbi and a psychotherapist. She spent 35 years serving synagogues in Dallas, Texas; Summit, NJ (named Rabbi Honorata); and Washington, NJ (named Rabbi Emerita). She was a founder and co-chair of the Women’s Rabbinic Network. She is an active member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and currently serves on the Task Force on the Experience of Women in the Rabbinate. She is also a certified pastoral counselor and is a member of the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education.
While serving as a congregational rabbi, Ellen Lewis became increasingly interested in why people do what they do, leading her to train at the Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies and become a licensed psychoanalyst. That training in emotional education led to her focusing on helping rabbis and cantors manage the challenges of the professional arena, including collegial conflict, work-life balance, gender issues, and personal and professional transformations, with the overall aim of an increased capacity for self-care, reflection and contentment. She is in private practice in Bernardsville, NJ, and New York City.
Ellen Lewis’ writings and teachings have focused on the intersection of psychoanalytic thinking and Judaism with a concentration on the rabbinate and Jewish communal life. Her essay “Changing Your Past: Reflections on Forgiveness,” appears in the new Mishkan HaNefesh: Machzor for the Days of Awe. She has contributed chapters to The Sacred Calling: Four Decades of Women in the Rabbinate (“Funny, You Don’t Look Like a Rabbi”) and to Jewish Pastoral Care: A Practical Handbook (“Preparing for the Chupah: Premarital Counseling”). She has also written in the area of sexual abuse, including the unfortunately timely “Preventing Clergy Sexual Abuse” in Keeping Faith in Rabbis: A Community Conversation about Rabbinic Education.
Sessions in which Ellen Lewis participates
- Shabbat Morning Services at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art Tel Aviv - Museum of Art
- 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM | 3 hours 30 minutes
- A limited number of print siddurim will be available. You can download the Kindle eBook version of Mishkan T'filah for Tra...
- Worship
Sessions in which Ellen Lewis attends
- *Cancelled* Optional Walking Tours: Sounds & Lights of Jerusalem Inbal Hotel - Lobby
- 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM | 2 hours
- Hospitality Desk Opens at the Inbal and the Dan Panorama Jerusalem - Various Hotels
- 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM | 12 hours
- Gathering at the Inbal Hotel in Jerusalem and Opening Remarks Inbal Hotel - Zion Ballroom
- 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM | 30 minutes
- The Reform Movement in Israeli Politics: Updates, impacts and a high-level briefing to prepare for the Knesset meeting Inbal Hotel - Zion Ballroom
- 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM | 30 minutes
- Moderated by Janet Liss and Arnold Gluck Over the years, the role of the Reform Movement in Israeli politics has shifted significantly....
- Israel and the Palestinians - Is the Two State Solution Still Viable? Inbal Hotel - Zion Ballroom
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | 1 hour
- Program to be moderated by Prof. Reuven Hazan Introduction by John Rosove The idea of “two states for two peoples” has become the ...
- The Arab Minority in the Jewish State; Where Are We Heading? Inbal Hotel - Zion Ballroom
- 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM | 1 hour
- Introduction by Judith Schindler Program with Van Leer Institute to be moderated by Naftali Rothenberg of the Van Leer Institute. ...
- Opening Reception including Dinner Mercaz Shimshon - Blaustein Hall
- 7:15 PM - 10:15 PM | 3 hours
- Opening remarks will be given by Denise L. Eger, President, Central Conference of American Rabbis and a special welcome from Yehoyada Amir, Chairpe...
- Shacharit Inbal Hotel - Galil Hall
- 7:00 AM - 7:45 AM | 45 minutes
- Worship
- Depart Hotel for Knesset Inbal Hotel - Lobby
- 7:45 AM - 8:15 AM | 30 minutes
- Special Session with Government Leaders: An Audience with the Israeli Knesset as Part of the Israeli-Diaspora Knesset Committee Jerusalem - Knesset
- 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM | 2 hours 30 minutes
- Introduction by Josh Weinberg Opening remarks will be given by Anat Hoffman, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center ...
- Talk
- Political Realities and Dilemmas Jerusalem - Departing from Knesset
- 11:45 AM - 5:45 PM | 6 hours
- Off-site Trip
- WRN Dinner Jerusalem - Alma Restaurant
- 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM | 1 hour 30 minutes
- Meal
- HUC-JIR Reception and Class Roll Call Jerusalem - HUC - JIR
- 8:15 PM - 9:00 PM | 45 minutes
- Festive dessert reception and roll call; sponsored by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Jerusalem. Opening remarks w...
- Shacharit at Ezrat Yisrael of the Kotel Jerusalem - Kotel
- 7:00 AM - 7:45 AM | 45 minutes
- Worship
- Ancient Land Modern Challenges: Contemporary Issues (depart hotels at 9:00 AM) Jerusalem - Off-site Tracks
- 8:45 AM - 3:45 PM | 7 hours
- Coordinated by Lennard Thal Meet at the lobby of the Inbal for a prompt departure by tracks. The tracks will expose you to the f...
- Check-in at Tel Aviv Hotels Tel Aviv - Various Hotels
- 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM | 2 hours 30 minutes
- Enjoy, Explore an Evening in Tel Aviv with Friends, Family, Colleagues and Special Interest Groups Tel Aviv - Local Restaurants
- 6:45 PM - 8:45 PM | 2 hours
- (We recommend that you make dinner reservations no earlier than 8:00 PM) On Thursday evening in Tel Aviv, there will be opportunities ...
- Meal
- Buses leave for 5K: (Run/Walk for Reform Judaism in Israel) David Intercontinental Hotel - Lobby
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | 1 hour
- To support Reform Judaism in Israel, CCAR rabbis will run or walk in the Tel Aviv Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, or 5K. Every rabbi who participa...
- A Fully Inclusive Israel David Intercontinental Hotel - Ballroom
- 9:15 AM - 11:15 AM | 2 hours
- Introduction by Karen Fox Israel, like every society, faces challenges as to the way in which we include adults and children with disa...
- Lunch on Your Own and Free Time or Guided Market Tours Tel Aviv - Various Locations
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | 2 hours
- Depart from the Intercontinental Hotel for Hustle & Bustle in Tel Aviv before Shabbat: optional guided tours, including a stop for lunch on your...
- Shabbat Services in 13 different locations - See Departure list for specific times Israel - Various Prayer Spaces
- 3:30 PM - 7:30 PM | 4 hours
- Spend Erev Shabbat with Israeli colleagues at one of our sister congregations. Includes communal dinners. Exact departure time...
- Worship
- Depart David Intercont. & Ruth Danielle for Shabbat Services at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art Tel Aviv - Various Hotels
- 8:15 AM - 9:15 AM | 1 hour
- 8:15 AM Departures from David Intercontinental and Ruth Danielle A limited number of print siddurim will ...
- Shabbat Morning Services at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art Tel Aviv - Museum of Art
- 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM | 3 hours 30 minutes
- A limited number of print siddurim will be available. You can download the Kindle eBook version of Mishkan T'filah for Tra...
- Worship
- Shabbat Lunch and Program at Mishkenot Ruth Daniel Tel Aviv - Mishkenot Ruth Daniel
- 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM | 1 hour 30 minutes
- Introduction by David Stern and Meir Azari Program: An Inside Look into the Reform Movement in Tel Aviv. Motzi:
- Meal
- Sights and Smells of Tel Aviv - Optional Walking Tracks Tel Aviv - Off-site Tracks
- 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM | 3 hours
- Off-site Trip
- Dinner with Friends, Family and Colleagues
- 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM | 2 hours 30 minutes
- Kobi Oz Concert & Havdalah David Intercontinental Hotel - Ballroom
- 8:15 PM - 9:45 PM | 1 hour 30 minutes
- Greeting from Mayor of Tel Aviv, Ron Huldai Introduction by Oren Hayon and Yehudit Werchow Alan Berlin introduces Ambassador Dan ...
- Shacharit David Intercontinental Hotel - Ballroom
- 7:00 AM - 7:45 AM | 45 minutes