Lisa Lieberman Barzilai, RJE

Lisa Lieberman Barzilai, RJE (she/her) is the former director of the Union for Reform Judaism's Leadership Institute, part of the Strengthening Congregations team. She previously held positions as an educator in Reform synagogue congregational schools in New York and New Jersey. She is a board member and past president of the Association of Reform Jewish Educators and holds a master’s degree in Jewish education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Strong Congregational Leadership Requires Sacred Partnerships

Lisa Lieberman Barzilai, RJE

Our lives and work depend on partnerships. In Jewish communities, these partnerships can be among volunteers, paid professionals, or lay and professional leaders. Unfortunately, too often these relationships are fraught with a lack of respect, despite the fact that everyone involved is performing holy work. These partnerships create a stronger and more vital endeavor. They are sacred and should be treated as such.

How the URJ Can Help Congregational Leaders Inspire Sacred Action

Lisa Lieberman Barzilai, RJE

Each congregation has its own way of cultivating leadership. To assist this sacred work, the URJ offers a variety of programs that enable leaders to learn, network, and worship together, all of which are specifically designed to meet the needs of leaders of different positions and take into consideration different ways of rising to leadership.

URJ Leadership Institute: Sessions for Leaders Before, During, and After Biennial

Lisa Lieberman Barzilai, RJE


This fall, the URJ’s Leadership Institute is offering a series of three sessions about key concepts that we hope will inspire sacred action within congregations. Both virtually and in person at the URJ Biennial 2015, congregational lay and professional leaders have opportunities to study, engage, and converse with each other and with scholars who are well-versed in three topics