Clergy Under 40

Our congregational clergy are such an important part of our community that it is difficult to compare the vital role that they play and their efforts and accomplishments to the work that the rest of us do. As such, the Atlanta Jewish Times wants to separately and specifically thank and honor two rabbis and one cantor who are also under forty and are leaders in our community. Although these three people were nominated by members of our community for the AJT’s 40 Under 40, we felt it was better to acknowledge them in their own category. These young, spiritual leaders are hard working, warm and caring. We hope that they will continue to guide us for many years to come.

 

RABBI LAURENCE MICHAEL ROSENTHAL

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Rabbi Laurence Michael Rosenthal, 39, is the rabbi at Ahavath Achim Synagogue. Rabbi Rosenthal received his B.A. in Jewish Studies from the University of Southern California, his M.A. in Hebrew Letters and his Rabbinic Ordination from American Jewish University. Before beginning his rabbinical career, Rabbi Rosenthal was a researcher and project manager at the National Institute on Drug Abuse and an office manager at the Los Angeles Hillel Council. Aside from his contributions to his congregation, Rabbi Rosenthal serves the rest of the Atlanta community in a variety of ways. He actively contributes to the Hunger Seder, the interfaith Thanksgiving service at AA synagogue and churches around Buckhead, the interfaith potluck dinner with St. Martins of the Field and Istanbul center and the MAZON advocacy program. Rabbi Rosenthal is a member of the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival’s programming subcommittee, Atlanta Rabbinic Association, Rabbinic Assembly of Atlanta sub-region, Rabbinic Global Fellow’s American Jewish World Service, Limmud + Southeast, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s global forum, and ACCESS.

 

JULIE NATURMAN

Julie Naturman, 27, is the Bunzl Family Cantorial Chair at Temple Sinai with a B.A. in Music from Florida State University. Julie started at Temple Sinai as a part-time cantorial soloist, eventually becoming a full-time cantorial soloist and music director. Julie is a board member of the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival, leader of the curating/programming subcommittee, and member of ACCESS’ steering committee. Julie has been involved with the Temple Sinai group and the Temple Sinai Booth at the Atlanta Pride Parade. She has also assisted with the planning of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and ACCESS’ Gen Y night.

 

 

 

 

 

RABBI BRADLEY G. LEVENBERG

Rabbi Bradley G. Levenberg, 37, is the rabbi at Temple Sinai. He received his B.A. in International Relations from Antioch College, his M.A. in Hebrew Letters and Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union College’s Jewish Institute of Religion. Before joining Temple Sinai, Rabbi Levenberg was a rabbinic intern at Barnert Temple and Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Jersey and The Valley Temple in Cincinnati. He has been a board member of The Rainbow Center, the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival, Jewish Family & Career Services, Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta, Camp Coleman’s advisory board and the Association of Reform Zionists of America. He was the co-chair of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival’s selection committee, regional rabbi for NFTY, founder and president of Family Promise of North Fulton/Dekalb, chair of programming for the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta’s executive board, member of ACCESS’ steering committee and volunteer chaplain for the Sandy Springs and Fulton County Police. Because of the array of charitable contributions he has made to the Atlanta community, Rabbi Levenberg has received the Michael Kinsler Rainmaker Award from Sojourn, the David Ben Gurion Award from Israel Bonds and the Wisdom Award from L.E.A.D. Atlanta.