Rabbi Miriam E. Hamrell was honored by councilman Zev Yaroslavsky at a gala held on May 4, 2013 in Los Angeles. This award was granted by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles for, “Ten years of service as a motivational leader, teacher and founder of Ahavat Torah synagogue” and signed by Zev Yaroslavsky.
She holds the unique and distinguished honor of being the first and only Israeli born and raised woman to head an American Jewish congregation for the past ten years. Her life story reads as a fascinating journey through a great variety of spiritual and cultural expressions of contemporary Jewish life.
She is a leading personality, spokesperson and ethicist for the Jewish community, served in the Israeli Defense Forces and has counseled, taught and inspired numerous women with her prison work.
This year, Rabbi Miriam celebrates her tenth year of service in the rabbinate as a motivational leader and teacher whose spoken messages express a unique wisdom. Her activist approach reflects both her deep and personal concern for the spiritual and material welfare of every Jew, to support the State of Israel and to nurture a vibrant Jewish future in dialogue with interfaith communities.
She is the founding Rabbi of Ahavat Torah congregation, a warm and spiritual Jewish community in West Los Angeles where each person’s presence is acknowledged and valued. Members are drawn together by a love of Jewish prayer, ethics, culture and tradition – 343 Church Lane, Los Angeles, CA 90049 310.362.1111 (www.ahavattorahla.org) – New members are welcomed.
