I've been blessed with the opportunity to work with hundreds of families crafting unique, meaningful celebrations to reflect their specific needs and circumstances. Rabbi Steve Burnstein is the spiritual leader at Kehilat Birkat Shalom at Kibbutz Gezer. Birkat Shalom is a member of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism serving the central Israel. Previously, Rabbi Burnstein was Director of Global Leadership Development and Education of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, the international umbrella organization of Reform and Progressive Judaism. He was responsible training and cultivation of lay and professional leadership. Rabbi Burnstein has been working in Jewish and Israel education for over 30 years. He has a BA in Jewish History and MA in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary, is a Reconstructionist rabbi, and has been working in the Reform Movement since 1989. Originally from Kansas City, Rabbi Burnstein made Aliya in 1996 and served as the Associate Director of the Pinat Shorashim Israel-Diaspora Seminar Center. Previously, he served as Educator at URJ Congregation Beth Torah in Overland Park, Kansas; as Israel Education Consultant at the Central Agency for Jewish Education in Philadelphia; and as Director of the Education Division at Israel Experts. Steve lives at Kibbutz Gezer with his wife, Varda Livney; son, Micah; and daughter, Gavriella. They enjoy watching baseball games at Gezer’s “Field of Dreams,” campfires, and playing guitar.
