Biography

Michael Witman currently serves as the Director of Family Life and Learning at B’nai Jeshurun in New York City. He previously served as the Director of Education at Temple Beth-El of Great Neck. Michael is a graduate of the Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford. Upon graduation, Michael joined the staff of Central Synagogue in Manhattan, initially as a member of the first full-time teaching team for supplementary religious school education. He then served as their Assistant Director of Informal Programming and worked as a liaison to the World Union for Progressive Judaism in Belarus. Michael also previously worked at Temple Beth Shalom of Roslyn, where he helped redefine the way in which families engage in Jewish life through the use of experiential learning.

In 2012, he became the first winner of the Jewish Education Project’s (JEP) Young Pioneers Award for Congregational Learning. The JEP recognized Michael for creating “a passionate and inspirational vision of what a Congregational School and Congregational education can look like,” and for having “translated that into powerful learning experiences for children and families.” In June 2013, The Jewish Week recognized Michael as one of its “36 Under 36,” citing, in particular, his role in making Temple Beth-El a warm and welcoming house of gathering in the days following hurricane Sandy. Michael lives in Manhattan with his wife Rabbi Melissa and three daughters Josie, Lily and Nessa.