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Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn

Core Semikha, Class of 2016

Thomas-Newborn

From 2014 to 2022, Rabbanit Alissa served as a spiritual leader at B'nai David-Judea Congregation in Los Angeles and is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat and Brandeis University, with a degree in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and Classical Studies Archaeology and Ancient History, Magna Cum Laude.

Rabbanit Alissa is a Board Certified Chaplain and full-time staff chaplain at New York-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center where she specializes in end of life care, palliative care, and psychiatric care. She is the current president-elect of NAJC (Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains).

Rabbanit Alissa has worked at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Bellevue Hospital, Grateful Palliative Care and Hospice, The Center for Jewish End of Life Care at Metropolitan Jewish Health System, and My Jewish Learning, and is a prolific writer and speaker. In 2017, she was chosen as one of the Forward50, the Forward's annual list of the 50 most influential, accomplished, and interesting American Jews. Rabbanit Alissa is married to Akiva Newborn, and they live in Teaneck with their awesome toddler, Ella, and their poodle bichon, Judy.

publications and media

Title
Type
Category
Topic
Year
From a Day of Hate to a Home for God
Dvar Torah
February 28, 2023
Go Forth to an Unknown Place
Dvar Torah
Bereishit
Lech Lecha
November 3, 2022
Miscarriage and Loss During COVID-19
Article
May 5, 2021
Finding God In Death and Suffering: Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn
Multimedia
Podcasts
MaharatCast
March 21, 2021
Post-Partum Depression
Dvar Torah
Bereishit
Vayera
2015/5776
Let Me Tell You a Story: Questions and Answers in Parshat Bo
Dvar Torah
Shemot
Bo
2017/5777
The Need to Tell Our Difficult Stories: Chet HaEigel in our Wholeness and Holiness
Dvar Torah
Shemot
Ki Tissa
2017/5777
Letting the Light In
Dvar Torah
Vayikra
Shemini
2014/5774
The Toothpaste Sacrifice
Dvar Torah
Vayikra
Metzora
2017/5777
Elul Reflections
Dvar Torah
Holiday
Rosh Hashana
2013/5774
Table for Five - Weekly Parsha: One Verse, Five Voices - Beha'alotecha
Dvar Torah
Bamidbar
Beha'alotekha
2020/5780
Power Hour of Torah: The High Holiday Edition
Multimedia; Dvar Torah
Video Divrei Torah; Panels and Discussions; Holiday
Rosh Hashana; Yom Kippur
2020/5781

mentions

Title
Publication
Published
Miscarriage and Loss During COVID-19
Jewish Journal
May 5, 2021

books

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