Zacharias Frankel College

Students

Netanel

“Das Judentum in unserer Zeit ist in einer tiefen Selbstfindungskrise. Die seit Beginn der Aufklärung meines Erachtens nur ungenügend aufgelösten Widersprüche zwischen Tradition und Moderne, wie Halacha und Individualität, Offenbarung und epistemologischem Fortschritt, erleichtern es den vielen gegenwärtig vom Traditionsgut entfremdeten Juden nicht gerade, eine intensiv und tiefsinnig gelebte Form der jüdischen Religion für sich wieder zu entdecken. Mit meinem Engagement in der jüdischen Gemeinschaft möchte ich helfen, allen Menschen, denen ich begegne, auf individuelle Weise die Schönheit der Tora näher zu bringen."

1994 in Berlin geboren und ebenda aufgewachsen hat Netanel nach kurzen Studienaufenthalten in Yeschivot in Israel und geisteswissenschaftlichen Übungen in Berlin seinen Weg ans Zacharias Frankel College gefunden. Nebenbei arbeitet er an einer Dissertation zu einem halachischen Thema an der Universität Potsdam.

Karen Engel

“Born in California as a first generation American of Polish-German immigrants, I moved to Europe in the 1990s to work as a radio journalist and covered Jewish and other issues as part of my work. I only decided to become a rabbi after many years of being involved with the Jewish community in Austria -- raising a family where there are few Jews and organizing many Jewish cultural and religious activities in southern Austria. I want to help strengthen Jewish life and values so that our children also have a place and a future here in Europe.”

Josh Weiner

"After living a life where my Judaism was taken for granted, I decided to take responsibility and bring it to the foreground of my life. My rabbinical studies were first of all for myself, giving me the fluency and vocabulary to be wholly Jewish, to express myself in the world in a Jewish way. I also think today's complex European Jews deserve a deep, passionate, honest and complex Jewish leadership, and I'm proud to be part of a community where that vision is becoming a reality."

Josh was born in Jerusalem, grew up in London, and studied Social Work at the Hebrew University. Since moving to Berlin, he's worked as a kindergarten-teacher, and been in Jewish community development projects alongside rabbinical studies at Frankel

Irene Muzas Calpe

My main goal is the preservation and recovery of our Jewish tradition in Spain. Lost and forgotten for many centuries our Jewish heritage is beginning to emerge in many fascinating forms and I am looking forward to learning and contributing to its renaissance, and give it a voice beyond its frontiers. My main interests are the study of aggadic literature, feminist Judaism and the irruption of popular culture such as comic-books in Judaism.
Born and raised in Barcelona, before I decided to become a rabbi and devote my life to learning and teaching Torah, I worked as an English and Latin teacher and as a publisher.

Andrés Bruckner

“I have been deeply marveled by Judaism and by Jewish history. I admire both the triumphs and the failures of our people and I believe we have always tried to do our best. That is what I see: a lot of hard work, contemplation, meditation, struggle, God and love. I desired it all to be present in my life.
Hey! I am Andrés originally from Colombia. Since I was 17 years old I knew I wanted to become a Rabbi, but before I really undertook this path I work in the stock market for about 3 years.

Naomi Henkel Gümbel

"People tend to look upwards, contemplating the mysteries of the heavens. They would do well to look inward and examine what’s happening within themselves." - The Kotzker Rabbi Pursuing the rabbinate is fulfilling a childhood dream of mine. On my journey leading to the Zacharias Frankel College, I have dipped into different fields that I hope to integrate into my work as a rabbi. Most importantly, I'd like to bring a voice from the field of psychology to the table as, in keeping with the sentiments of the Kotzker Rabbi, I believe we need a greater awareness of our personal concerns as well as our communal aspirations.

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October 25th 2020
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NEWS

Second Rabbinical Ordination

25th of October 2020 / 7th of Cheshvan 5781
The Zacharias Frankel College celebrates its Second Rabbinical Ordination

First Rabbinical Ordination

18 June 2017 / 24 Sivan 5777
The Zacharias Frankel College celebrates its First Rabbinical Ordination

STUDYING WITH US

Academic Learning

Of course, being a rabbi doesn’t just mean getting a university degree. The academic studies are complemented by additional Talmud, Torah, and halacha studies.

Jewish Theology Potsdam

The School of Jewish Theology represents a unique institution within German academia.

FAQ

What is Jewish life like in Berlin and Potsdam?

FACULTY, STUDENTS & ALUMNI

Faculty

When you know about the teachers you know a lot about our college.

Alumni

Passionate about finding a way to translate the ancient wisdom into a language that is relevant for twenty-first century Jews