About Rabbi Lev
Caring. Warm. Sensitive.
Rabbi Lev Herrnson has officiated at the marriages of scores of couples, and also joined those same families for celebrations (baby naming and renewal of vows ceremonies) and on occasion, commemorations of life (funerals and unveilings), making him a part of their family networks. Casting a wide net, Rabbi Lev’s rabbinate embraces Jews from all walks of life, offering a mingling of both traditional and progressive approaches. Rabbi Lev routinely serves individuals and couples from Conservative, Reform and unaffiliated families. He has great sensitivity to the challenges of being Jewish in the modern world—because of his own varied experience.
Rabbi Lev’s progressive attitude stems from his own diverse Jewish experience. He grew up on Long Island in a family affiliated with the Reform movement. Years later, after a largely secular life in Israel, Rabbi Lev found himself on a path of religious immersion. As his passion for Judaism grew, he returned to the United States and obtained rabbinical ordination from the Reform Movement. Later in life, Rabbi Lev worked in the Conservative Jewish world and adopted many of the practices embraced by that movement. Today, Rabbi Lev worships at a Conservative synagogue, and adapts customs and traditions from all expressions of Jewish life both personally and professionally; he merges his passion for innovation with Jewish spirituality and tradition.
A Long Island native, Rabbi Lev has also lived in New York City, Miami, Boston and Jerusalem, Israel. Currently Rabbi Lev serves as Director for Bioethics Education for a large health care system on Long Island. An educator for over 25 years, Rabbi Lev worked in Jewish schools as well as other informal Jewish educational settings both in the United States and abroad. Ordained as a rabbi at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in New York in 2000, Rabbi Lev earned degrees from HUC-JIR (1999), Boston University (1993), and Binghamton University (1986). He’s also studied at and earned professional certificates from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and he is a Wexner Graduate Fellow, Class VIII.
Rabbi Lev is a member of Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains, and serves as a member on its board of directors. Rabbi Lev is also the founder and president of the Torah Restoration Project and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre. As a rabbinical student, Rabbi Lev served pulpits in western Pennsylvania and at Purdue University. He also interned as a chaplain at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City and, in a round-about way, met his wife there. (It's a long story!) Rabbi Lev’s five years in Israel and his love of Judaism launched him on a journey of service to the Jewish people. He shares his journey with his loving and brilliant wife Lisa, and his two above-average children, Alana and Jesse.
New York State has no specific licensing requirements. However, Rabbi Lev is registered by the City of New York as an official Marriage Officiant. Requirements in other cities, states and countries may vary. Upon request, he'll be happy to review the governmental requirements of your anticipated setting. Rabbi Lev Herrnson regularly officiates at Jewish Weddings in Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island, Weschester, New York City and greater NY, NJ, CT, PA, MA, FL. He is also available for destination events in the United States and abroad.
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