New York: New York City / Central Synagogue
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Rabbi Sivan Rotholz is a Rabbi in the Center for Exploring Judaism and serves as the Director of Adult Education for Central Synagogue in Manhattan.
Born in Haifa, Israel, and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sivan earned her B.A. in Literature from the University of California at Santa Cruz, her J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law, her M.F.A. in poetry from Brooklyn College CUNY, and her Master's in Nonprofit Management from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A recovering attorney, before being called to the rabbinate Sivan was a professor of gynocentric Torah (Torah that is centered on the stories and experiences of women) and creative writing. Called to serve others by making Judaism more joyous and accessible, Sivan began rabbinical school at Hebrew Union College in 2018 and has served as a student rabbi at Congregation Brith Sholem in Ogden, Utah; Brandeis Hillel; and for the JDC. A passionate Jewish educator, Sivan has taught at Brooklyn College; Tel Aviv University; Hebrew Union College; Columbia/Barnard & Brandeis Hillels; Temple Emanu-El (NYC); Temple Israel of the City of New York; Congregation Beth Israel (Portland); Camp Ramah; Wexner Institutes; Moishe House; At the Well; Pardes; the URJ; Ritualwell; and Melton. Her areas of expertise include adult education, creative midrash, work with conversion students, exploring Judaism, feminist Torah, and poetry. She always opts for discussion facilitation rather than frontal lecturing, believes in the power of hevrutah — studying in pairs or small groups — and learns most when teaching. Sivan is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship; the Froman Fellowship with the New Israel Fund; the year-long Hartman Institute Rabbinic Seminar; and Atra: The Center for Rabbinic Innovation. Sivan lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her two children, Aidan Avishai and Elsie Dani..
Carolyn Roesler is Manager of Operations for the Adult Engagement Department at Central Synagogue. She has been with Central Synagogue for over 5 years, in several different capacities. Prior to coming to Central, Carolyn worked primarily in higher education as a development officer in her home state of Vermont. She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College.