rabbi laurie phillips new york and rabbi laurie phillips obituary
Rabbi Laurie Phillips Death: Remembering a Visionary Leader
On November 28, 2023, the Jewish community lost a visionary leader, Rabbi Laurie Phillips. Her passing was announced through a social media publication that read, "There are no words to express the enormity of this loss, for my family, for this world. Rabbi Laurie Phillips, you are still loving us, laughing with us, still illuminating us. You always will." Rabbi Phillips was an alumna of Hartman's Rabbinic Leadership Initiative (Cohort IV) and founder and director of Beineinu. She was involved in many organizations and was a well-rounded educator, facilitator, and program innovator with more than 20 years of diversified experience spanning youth, adult, and family education.
Who was Rabbi Laurie Phillips?
Rabbi Laurie Phillips was a visionary, transformational, and highly collaborative leader with a strong record of launching, developing, and elevating Jewish organizations to new levels of engagement, community, and meaning. She attended Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion where she studied Rabbinic Ordination and obtained a Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters. She also studied education at Michigan State University and obtained a Master of Arts in Leadership and Teaching, Curriculum, and Supervision.
Rabbi Phillips was involved in many organizations, including being a Rabbinic Fellow at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and The Hartman Institute from 2008 to 2017, a Participant and Intentional Community Developer at Hakhel from 2015 to 2017, a Participant at Clergy Leadership Institute and Kennisa from 2016 to 2019. She was the Vice President at MATAN, Consultant at the Foundation for Jewish Camp, and a mentor and participant at Vision, Union Theological Seminary.
Rabbi Phillips' Career
Rabbi Phillips had a diverse career in education and leadership. She was a Math and Science Curriculum Coordinator at Jewish Primary Day School of the Nation's Capital from 1996 to 1998 in Washington D.C. and an Associate Director at JCC Association/Mandel Center for Jewish Education from 2003 to 2006 in New York, New York. She was a Rabbi at Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, California from 2006 to 2008, and a Rabbi and Director of Education at Congregation Habonim from 2008 to 2014. She worked as a teacher at Brandeis Bardin College Institute (BCI) in Southern California. She was a Rabbi and the Founder and Director of "BEINEINU."
Remembering Rabbi Laurie Phillips
Rabbi Laurie Phillips was a beloved rabbi, educator, and deeply compassionate person. She was profoundly committed to education and Judaism, and her spirit and presence were strong and indefatigable. Her passing is a great loss to the Jewish community and beyond. Rabbi Phillips' legacy will continue to inspire and guide those who knew her and those who will learn about her in the future.
In conclusion, Rabbi Laurie Phillips was a visionary leader who dedicated her life to education and Judaism. Her passing is a great loss to the Jewish community and beyond. She will be remembered for her transformative leadership, collaborative spirit, and compassionate heart.
