Rabbi Lisa Batya Friedland
(She/Her/Hers)
Post-Denominational

Conversion requirements
Brit milah/Hatafat dam brit:
Not required
Mikvah:
Required (Natural mikvah — Ocean or river)
Beit din:
Not required but recommended (Rabbis, cantors, and/or lay leaders)
Conversion location:
Santa Fe, N.M.
Mentoring sessions available in:
English, Spanish, A different language
Conversion requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Brit milah/Hatafat dam brit:
Not required (No change)
Mikvah:
Required (No change)
Beit din:
Not required but recommended (Virtual beit din via video conferencing is also acceptable.)
I am happy to work with
Families with children, People who identify as LGBTQ+, People in interfaith or dual-faith relationships
Personal statement
Shalom, and Welcome! I fell in love with Jewish music and the Hebrew language at a young age. I grew up hearing about my grandfather who formed his own synagogue and served as the rabbi at Grossinger’s in Upstate New York, and his legacy shaped me.
I have been on a spiritual quest for a long time. In my search for meaning, I encountered Buddhism, which I delved into for ten years. In the course of my Buddhist training, I returned to Judaism and found profound connection to my lineages: rabbinic, chassidic, and Israelite priesthood. In 2015, I received Smicha (Ordination) from Rabbi Mark Siedler in a private hand-to-hand ceremony.
Personal and collective healing are paramount to my relationship to Judaism. So are the universal values that come through Judaism, such as truth, love, kindness, and beauty. My orientation is spiritual, contemplative, experiential, natural, and creative. Simultaneously, I am deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition.
Translation is very important to me, and I have translated the beginning of Genesis into English. I love to be in nature, sing, dance, hang out with friends, and make calligraphy.
For more information, please visit lisabfriedland.com, or you may find my Hebrew music on any platform.
Education
The Jewish Theological Seminary
Smicha (Rabbinical Ordination)
Private Rabbinic Ordination by Rabbi Mark Siedler
Omanaya Center for Hebrew Spirituality
Hebrew Bible, Jewish Liturgy, Jewish Lifecycle
Middlebury College Hebrew Language School
Biblical and Modern Hebrew
Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
Hebrew Bible
Upaya Zen Center
Chaplain Ordination
St. John’s College
Master of Arts, Eastern Classics