Rabbi Michael P. Sternfield, Senior Rabbi
- Joined Chicago Sinai in June 1995.
- Initiated and led the development of the Sinai Edition of the Union Prayer Book, which has been adopted by a number of Reform congregations.
- Formerly Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in San Diego, CA
- Rabbi of the Durban Progressive Jewish Congregation during South Africa's transition to multi-racial democracy.
- Political science graduate of UCLA. Rabbinical training at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati.
- Producer of the Emmy-nominated first TV broadcast of High Holy Days services and Passover seders.
- Current and previous affiliations: the National Rabbinical Cabinet of the United Jewish Appeal, Bonds for Israel, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Planned Parenthood.
- Married to Cantor Deborah Bard of Congregation K.A.M. Isaiah Israel in Hyde Park. Father of son Marc and daughter Robin.
Click here for selected sermons
Rabbi David Levinsky, Associate Rabbi
Born in Chicago and raised in Northbrook, Rabbi Levinsky spent his youth as an active member of Am Shalom in Glencoe. After his undergraduate work at Indiana University, where he majored in English and wrote an honors thesis on James Joyce, he moved back to Chicago where he freelanced for the Chicago Tribune and published poetry. A desire to give back to his community drove Rabbi Levinsky towards the rabbinate and he began school at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. Rabbi Levinsky then continued his studies at Stanford University, earning his Ph.D. in Religious Studies. At that time he also served as Rabbi of Keddem Congregation in Palo Alto. His leadership role in this congregation clarified and strengthened his commitment to liberal Reform Judaism. Most recently, Rabbi Levinsky has worked as the Director of the Taube Center for Jewish Life and the Interfaith Program at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco. He led a program that provided a non-judgmental environment where interfaith couples explored their spirituality, learned about Judaism, and made decisions about their religious beliefs and practices. Rabbi Levinsky is married to Kate Phillippo, who is on the faculty in the Education Department of Loyola University. They have a four year old son, Noam.
Rabbi Emeritus Howard Berman
- Has served Chicago Sinai since 1982; Rabbi Emeritus since 1998.
- Initiated the Sinai Outreach program for interfaith couples in 1982.
- Graduate in European History of the University of London.
- Studied for the Rabbinate at Leo Baeck College in London, Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati.
- Previously served as Assistant Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in New York City and as Associate Rabbi at Temple Beth Israel in Hartford, Connecticut.
- Represented the Jewish Community on the Metropolitan Task Force of the World Parliament of Religions.
- Editor of the World Book Encyclopedia section
on Judaism from 1985 to 1992. - Rabbi Berman is the Executive Director for The Society For Classical Reform Judaism. For more information, click here, www.renewreform.org
- For audio of Rabbi Bermans sermon from August 22, 2008, when he visited Chicago Sinai Congregation, click here
Chicago Sinai's Historic Rabbis
Through its history, Sinai's commitment to providing a responsive and welcoming spiritual home to its members and to the ideals of equality, outreach, community involvement and advancement of Classical Reform Judaism have found their voice in distinguished Rabbis.