Rabbi Loren Sykes

Rabbi Loren Sykes is the Director of Teen Immersive Israel Programs for the URJ and serves as principal of URJ Heller High: The Isaac and Helaine z”l Heller High School in Israel. He lives in the Arnona neighborhood in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs and Anat Hoffman holding Torahs at the Kotel on Rosh Chodesh Adar Bet

P'kudei

Update from URJ Heller High: Creating a Sacred Space at the Kotel on Rosh Chodesh

Rabbi Loren Sykes

March 4, 2022

We joined Women of the Wall (WoW) for what were supposed to be services celebrated at the Kotel, the Western Wall. Unfortunately, rather than an experience in entry to sacred space, our students experienced what it means to be denied entry to sacred space.

Group of teenage participants in URJ Heller High pose together in front of ahava statue in Israel

Youth Engagement

Grants of Up to $7,500 Available to Teens Who Want to Attend URJ Heller High

Rabbi Loren Sykes

April 1, 2021

Through the DREAM ISRAEL program, students can access various levels of grant funding toward their semester at URJ Heller High while learning about the act of tzedakah by fundraising for approved philanthropic causes in Israel.

Smiling group of teenagers on a sand dune in Israel with a blue sky behind them

Leadership Development

Leadership Lessons in the Time of Corona from URJ Heller High

Rabbi Loren Sykes

April 16, 2020

While evaluating my role in handling the situation, I found that the leadership skills I acquired over the years in different organizations and settings served me well in dealing with COVID-19. Most of these skills were learned as a camp counselor.

Youth Engagement

From Crush to Love: A Different Approach to Israel Education

Rabbi Loren Sykes

March 10, 2016

How do we teach the full story while fostering a love for our homeland? I learned about Israel in a “crush-like” way, as a “perfect Israel,” a place where everything was good, right and just. I was not introduced to the “real” Israel, a place with imperfections. The Israel as “crush” approach worked for me. Ultimately, I moved from crush on to deep love with to moving to Israel.