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 Rabbi Menachem Levine joined our community in August of
2007. Originally from Miami Beach, Rabbi Levine graduated
cum laude from Yeshiva University and received awards for
outstanding performance in history and in Talmudic studies.
Upon graduation, Rabbi Levine relocated to Yerushalayim to
attend the world-renowned Mir Yeshiva, during which time he
also attended the lectures of the mussar giant, Rabbi Shlomo
Wolbe. At the Mir Yeshiva, Rabbi Levine’s primary focus was
on intense Talumudic study and in-depth learning of the
classic mussar (ethical) texts.
Rabbi Levine returned to the United States and attended Yeshivah Sha’ar HaTorah-Grodno, where he formed a close
relationship with the Rosh Yeshivah, HaRav Zelik Epstein.
Rabbi Levine met his wife during this time, Rachelli (Zakheim),
and they married and moved to Lakewood, NJ, where Rabbi
Levine was a full-time member of the Lakewood Kollel, and
began his studies towards achieving semicha (rabbinic
ordination), while Rebbetzin Levine taught computer graphics
in a girls’ high school.
The Levines subsequently moved to Philadelphia, where Rabbi
Levine attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School,
while concomitantly completing his semicha. Rabbi Levine
also became close with the Rosh Yeshivah of the Philadelphia
Yeshivah, Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky, and was a familiar sight
at the Philadelphia Community Kollel. Rabbi Levine began to
work in Jewish outreach at this time, and founded the Jewish
Heritage Club at the University of Pennsylvania, which had
over 120 students involved, and hosted weekly
“lunch-and-learns”, and other events. The Levines also
hosted many students as Shabbos guests, and appreciated the
opportunity to share their precious heritage with others not
familiar with it. Rebbetzin Levine taught 12th
Grade Honors Chumash in Torah Academy Girls’ High School and
also instituted a popular computer graphics course in the
school.
After graduating Law School, and passing the New Jersey Bar
Exam, Rabbi Levine and his family (which now included three
young daughters) chose to put aside the law degree, and
instead use his knowledge and talents as a rabbi. Rabbi
Levine joined Am Echad as its Rabbi, and is also a member of
the Jewish Study Network in Mountain View. In addition to
her family and community responsibilities, Rebbetzin Levine
is pursuing a Master’s Degree in education at California
State University.
An idealistic individual and a dynamic speaker, Rabbi Levine
looks forward to building on the foundations of his
predecessors. Rabbi Levine strives to help bring out the
greatness and unique potential within each Jew, and plans to
raise the level of Torah knowledge in the community through
classes, one-on-one learning and weekly drashos. Rabbi
Levine sees the tremendous potential of the shul and its
community, and anticipates the natural growth that will
result, B’siyata D’shmaya, as the shul continues to
represent Torah-true Judaism to the Bay Area.
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