Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez
Core Semikha, Class of 2018
Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez is a values-driven Jewish educator, relationship-focused community builder, and strategic visionary leader who brings her genuine joyful Judaism approach, based on her favorite verse “serve God with joy,” to all that she does to serve the community, both professionally and personally.
Rabba Melissa is a consultant focused on bringing her experience in experiential education, infusing Jewish wisdom, non-profit leadership, mentorship/coaching, and developing engagement strategies to organizations nationwide. She is also the Grants Manager for the Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta where she has previously been an involved lay leader and was amongst the first cohort of women in their ACT: Agents of Change Training fellowship. Rabba Melissa is also a dedicated community leader, currently serving on National Council of Jewish Women’s (NCJW) Rabbi’s for Repro Advisory Board, Atlanta Rabbinical Associaton’s Executive Committee, and is the inaugural Advisory Chair for A Mitzvah to Eat. She is also learning in M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education’s Senior Educators Cohort 7. Rabba Melissa most recently served as the Director of Family Education and Engagement at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, where she oversaw PJ Library, the Jewish Camp Initiative, and a number of other Jewish engagement-related initiatives.
Rabba Melissa received semikha (rabbinic ordination) from Maharat and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Illinois. She has also learned intensively at Nishmat and Pardes in Jerusalem and worked for JEWISHcolorado, JCC Manhattan, Hillel International, and Global Day of Jewish Learning. Rabba Melissa enjoys writing in her “free time” and has been published in a number of print and digital forums.
publications and media
Title | Type | Category | Topic | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
An Intention for Eating on Yom Kippur | Yom Kippur | September 29, 2022 | ||
Rosh Hashanah Message for 2024 | In the News | Rosh Hashanah | September 25, 2024 | |
I’m turning my rage about women dying from lack of reproductive care into action. You can, too. | In the News | Reproductive Rights | 2024 | |
Power Hour of Torah - High Holiday 5782 Edition | Multimedia; Dvar Torah | Video Divrei Torah; Panels and Discussions; Holiday | Yamim Noraim | 5782/2021 |
Abortion is a Religious Right | In the News | Abortion | February 16, 2021 | |
Life, Death, or Both? | Dvar Torah | Bereishit | Chayei Sarah | 2017/5778 |
Save the World - Together | Dvar Torah | Bamidbar | Pinchas | 2017/5777 |
Memories and Journeys | Dvar Torah | Devarim | Devarim | 2019/5779 |
Arba Minim, Arba Devarim | Dvar Torah | Holiday | Sukkot / Simkhat Torah | 2017/5778 |
Love, Light and Latkes | Dvar Torah | Holiday | Chanukah | 2018/5779 |
Celebrating Unity: How the Four Mitzvot Bring Us Together | Dvar Torah | Holiday | Purim | 2016/5776 |
International Women's Talmud Day - Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez | Multimedia | Video Divrei Torah | 2020/5780 | |
From the Beit Midrash to the Boardroom - An Exploration of Jewish Leadership | Multimedia | Panels and Discussions | 2018/5779 | |
Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez - 2018 Yeshivat Maharat Semikha Ceremony | Multimedia | Graduations | Sixth Semikha Ceremony | June 18, 2018 |
Aseret Yemei Teshuva 5779/2018 - Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez '18 | Multimedia; Holiday | Video Divrei Torah; Holiday | Rosh Hashana; Yom Kippur | 2018/5779 |
Metzora and Mashiach | Dvar Torah | Vayikra | Tazria; Metzora | 2018/5778 |
A Chanukah Message from Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez | Dvar Torah | Holiday | Chanukah | December 9, 2020 |
Framing Our Communal Grief | In the News | May 7, 2020 |
mentions
Title | Publication | Published |
---|---|---|
Jewish Law Invites Complex Questions On Abortion | Religion Unplugged | September 9, 2022 |
Groups launched to help Jewish couples with IVF face uncertain landscape after Roe reversal | Jewish Journal | July 13, 2022 |
Making the World a Better Place | Unorthobox | August 1, 2022 |
Abortion is a Religious Right | Atlanta Jewish Times | February 16, 2021 |