About Rabbi Lenke

Rabbi Michele Lenke D.Min was ordained from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in New York.  She returned to HUC-JIR to become a Spiritual Director and was a member of the first cohort of B'khol Levavkha.  She earned her DMin, Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling, at HUC-JIR.  Rabbi Lenke's thesis focused on the needs and experiences  of divorced women within synagogue communities. She completed her units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, as a Resident Chaplain for families and patients of every background and faith tradition. Serving as a Chaplain in the time of COVID-19 has been an affirmative way to serve the community in such a time of crisis.

Rabbi Lenke had the honor of serving congregations in Wellesley, Easton, Needham and Westwood, Massachusetts. Now back in her home town of Los Angeles, in her spare time you can find her cheering on her beloved UCLA Bruins basketball teams. Rabbi Lenke is a longtime mentor to rabbinic students and rabbis and is excited about the future of Judaism. She is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Women's Rabbinic Network, the Southern California Board of Rabbis, the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis, The Sandra Caplan Community Bet Din, among others. Rabbi Lenke is passionate about her rabbinate and a firm believer that each of us is created in the image of the Holy One.