Our Rabbi: Joel Levy

Rabbi Joel Levy became the Rabbi of Kol Nefesh Masorti in September 2001. Joel lives in Jerusalem and is at Kol Nefesh each month.

He studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University and was chair of the programme at Limmud. In 1989 he went to Israel to study and teach, returning to the UK in 1991 to serve as the director of NOAM, the Masorti youth movement until 1994.

He moved to Israel with his wife Susanna in 1994 and learned in various institutions and yeshivot in and around Jerusalem. He received semicha from Rabbi David Hartman in 2000. In Israel Joel teaches and studies at the Conservative Yeshiva and runs a cross-denominational rabbinical programme for Ta Shma, an organisation that provides multi-vocal Jewish education.

He is married to Susanna Cohen, a long-time classical musician who is currently studying for an M.A. in music therapy. They have two daughters, Shira and Kalya, and live in Jerusalem.

Joel is an extraordinary man who is passionate about his Judaism and about enabling his congregants to live rich Jewish lives. He is a demanding Rabbi and challenges the community and all whom he meets. He is heavily involved with NOAM, supports Israel programmes and many of the Masorti congregants who go to live and study in Israel. We know we are lucky to have him in our midst.