Strassfeld, Michael J. 1950-

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STRASSFELD, Michael J. 1950-

PERSONAL: Born February 8, 1950, in Saratoga Springs, NY; son of J. Meyer (a rabbi) and Ruth (a researcher; maiden name, Goldstein), Strassfeld; married Sharon M. Nulman (in real estate), 1970 (marriage ended); married Joy Levitt (a rabbi); children: (first marriage) Kayla Judith, Noam Natan. Education: Attended Rabbi Isaac Elhanan Theological Seminary, Yeshiva University; Brandeis University, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1971, M.A., 1972, doctoral study, 1972-75. Religion: Jewish.

ADDRESSES: Home—New York, NY. Offıce—Society for the Advancement of Judaism, 15 West 86th St., New York, NY 10024.

CAREER: Real estate manager of apartment units, beginning 1979; ordained rabbi, 1991; Society for the Advancement of Judaism, New York, NY, rabbi. National Havurah Committee, founding chair, 1979-82, and founder of Havurah Resource Center; Temple Ansche Chesed, member of Revitalization Project, beginning 1981, later rabbi, executive director, and director of program and development; Abraham Joshua Heschel Hebrew Day School, member of founding board of trustees, 1983, then vice president; Beyond Shelter, founding member and member of board of directors; Learning, founding chair; Metivta, Los Angeles, CA, faculty member. Lecturer and leader of retreats for community groups, synagogues, and federations, beginning 1974.

WRITINGS:

(Editor, with Sharon Strassfeld) The First Jewish Catalog, Jewish Publication Society of America (Philadelphia, PA), 1973.

(Editor, with Sharon Strassfeld) The Second Jewish Catalog, Jewish Publication Society of America (Philadelphia, PA), 1973.

(Editor, with Richard Siegel) The Jewish Calendar, Universe Books, 1975, 12th edition, 1986.

(Editor) A Passover Haggadah, Rabbinical Assembly, 1979.

(Editor, with Richard Siegel and Sharon Strassfeld) The Third Jewish Catalog, Jewish Publication Society of America (Philadelphia, PA), 1980.

(Compiler) A Shabbat Haggadah: For Celebration and Study, Institute of Human Relations Press, American Jewish Committee (New York, NY), 1981.

The Jewish Holidays, Harper (New York, NY), 1985.

(Editor, with Joy Levitt) A Night of Questions: A Passover Haggadah (in Hebrew and English), illustrated by Jeffrey Schrier, Reconstructionist Press (Elkins Park, PA), 2000.

A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice, Schocken Books (New York, NY), 2002.

Also recorded the album Songs to the Soul: Hassidic Nigunim, Society for the Advancement of Judaism.