Rabbanit Leah Sarna
Drisha Institute of Jewish Education
Rabbanit Leah Sarna is the Associate Director of Education and Director of High School Programs at Drisha. She previously served as Director of Religious Engagement at Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel Congregation in Chicago, a leading urban Orthodox congregation. She was ordained at Yeshivat Maharat in 2018, holds a BA from Yale University in Philosophy & Psychology, and also trained at the SKA Beit Midrash for Women at Migdal Oz, Drisha and the Center for Modern Torah Leadership. Her published works have appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Lehrhaus, The Forward and MyJewishLearning. She has lectured in Orthodox synagogues and Jewish communal settings around the world and loves spreading her warm, energetic love for Torah and Mitzvot with Jews in all stages of life.
Primary location: Philadelphia
Subjects of expertise/Sample speaking topics:
Ritual Reenactments: High Holiday Liturgical Role Play
The Rabbi Who Sat In A Box: A Talmudic Exploration of Bias
Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi's Lost Student
B’Rov Am Hadrat Melech: It Takes A Village
Hastara: Joy in the Hiddenness
Sin Before Sinai
Womb Torah
Women and Sheva Brachot
A Deep Dive into Kisui Rosh: Head and Hair Covering for Men and Women
Deborah the Judge-- Wait, Can Women be Judges?
The Dark Side of the Moon
The Sound of Silence
Kashrut as a Spiritual Practice
Holiness in the Hospital: Hilkhot Bikkur Cholim
Publications:
We are God’s Unruly Partners Fighting Chaos
My Chicago Synagogue Was Firebombed—But We’re Not Leaving (The Atlantic)
This year is not like all other years. Here’s how to find meaning in Passover anyway. (The Washington Post)
Berakhot 45: Exalting God together. (My Jewish Learning)
Leah's Improbable Optimism (My Jewish Learning)
Target Audience:
Adults, teens, girls -- anyone who wants to learn!
Sample class:
Sample teaching video:
Speaking fees:
Depends on travel, time investment, etc.