Rabbi Rachmiel Gurwitz joined the faculty of The Leffell School this year as Rabbi-in-Residence for the middle school. His primary roles are to oversee the tefillah program, chair the Rabbinics Department and run experiential programming alongside the school’s experiential education chair. Rabbi Gurwitz comes to The Leffell School from Carmel Academy, where he spent last year in a similar position. He joins several other faculty members and many students from Carmel who have transitioned to The Leffell School this year after Carmel closed its doors.

A native of San Diego, Rabbi Gurwitz earned a bachelor’s in global and international studies from the University of California Santa Barbara, and he completed post-baccalaureate studies at the David Shapell College of Jewish Studies/Darche Noam in Jerusalem. He received his rabbinic ordination at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in Riverdale and subsequently served as Jewish chaplain and Hillel director at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Rabbi Gurwitz looks forward to helping his middle school students navigate the transition to more active participation and leadership in prayer, as well as finding ways during this challenging time to bring the community together around Jewish holidays and celebrations. “For me it’s about infusing Jewish life with energy, excitement and creativity, making the experience nourishing, meaningful and joyful.”