Jonathan (Yoni) Jaffe is an assistant rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El. Before ordination from Hebrew Union College in 2007, Jonathan served as the Education Director for URJ Camp Newman in Santa Rosa, redesigning the curriculum for the 1,500 camper program. He has also served as Education Director for Temple Beth Torah of Fremont. Jonathan has taught at the San Francisco Bureau of Jewish Education and Congregation Sherith Israel and interned at Congregation Aitz Chaim of Great Falls, Montana, and Congregation Ner Tamid of Las Vegas. He currently serves on the boards of the Jewish Community Federation's Peoplehood Commission and the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis. He is a regular faculty member at Camp Newman and a representative of HaMoetzet - newly ordained rabbis serving as consultants to Hebrew Union College. Along with his regular duties, Jonathan leads the traditional Circle Minyan and teaches in the Tauber adult education program, from weekly Talmud to longer courses in Jewish history and philosophy. Jonathan was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He received his BA in philosophy from Duke University and studied at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His rabbinic thesis was on Jewish liturgy and ritual as mythological narrative. He lives with his wife, Yael and daughter, Mali.
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