Our Story – in Brief
New Lehrhaus was established in August 2021 to continue the mission and sustain the legacy of Lehrhaus Judaica, following the closure of Lehrhaus Judaica/HaMaqom.
Inspired by Franz Rosenzweig’s “Free Jewish Lehrhaus,” which was established in Frankfurt in 1920, Lehrhaus Judaica, established in Berkeley in 1974, was one of the crown jewels of the Bay Area community and was unique in North America. New Lehrhaus will continue the work and re-imagine new directions and initiatives for the future.
Leadership
Board of Directors
Raphael Asher
Rabbi Emeritus, B’nai Tikvah, Walnut Creek
David Biale
Emanuel Ringelblum Distinguished Professor of Jewish History, UC Davis
David De Nola
Bay Area Coordinator Project Rozana
Riva Gambert
Director, East Bay International Jewish Film Festival
Yoel Kahn
Rabbi Emeritus, Beth El, Berkeley
Janis Plotkin
Former Executive Director, San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Fred Rosenbaum
Founding Director, Lehrhaus Judaica
Judy Shanks
Rabbi Emerita, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette
Ellie Shapiro
Former Director, Jewish Music Festival
David Waksberg
Former CEO, Jewish LearningWorks
Staff
Rachel Biale, Program Director (Pro Bono): info@newlehrhaus.org
Jim Mavrikios, Program Manager: programs@newlehrhaus.org
Volunteer Leadership:
In addition to the Board of Directors, community members help run New Lehrhaus, including veteran Lehrhaus Judaica educators Dr. Jehon Grist and Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan. They are joined by Prof. Ariel Mayse, Rabbi Lavey Derby, and Lorraine Harris.
Our Donors
We are grateful to our major funders





Eda Pell
Eve Bernstein and Alex Gersznowicz
Our Partners
JCCSF
JCC East Bay
JCC Contra Costa
Oshman Family JCC, Palo Alto
Osher Marin JCC
Afikomen Judaica
American Friends of Ben Gurion University
Atiq Jewish Maker Institute
Contra Costa Jewish Day School
Beth El, Berkeley
Beth Abraham, Oakland
Cong. Beth Jacob, Oakland
Beth Torah, Fremont
Bnai Tikvah, Walnut Creek
Emanu-el, San Francisco
Emek Bracha, Palo Alto
Kol Emeth, Palo Alto
Kol Shofar, Tiburon
Ner Shalom, Cotati
Netivot Shalom, Berkeley
Sha’ar Zahav, San Francisco
Tempe Isaiah, Lafayette
Temple Beth Hillel, Richmond
Temple Beth Sholom, San Leandro
Temple Emanuel
Temple Israel of Alameda
Temple Sinai, Oakland
Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay
Jewish Learning Works
Jewish Community Library
Department of Jewish Studies – San Francisco State University
Jewish Studies Program – UC Berkeley
Jewish Studies Program – UC Davis
Jewish Studies Center (CJS) – GTU
Jewish Studies – Taube Center at Stanford
Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation
Jewish Silicon Valley
KlezCalifornia
Limmud Bay Area
Magnes Museum, Berkeley
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Contra Costa
PJ Library Bay Area
Rhoda Goldman Plaza
Tiyul Jewish Journeys
Urban Adamah