Am Echad Shul - San Jose Orthodox Jewish Synagogue

The Rabbi

Rabbi Menachem Levine joined our community in August of 2007. Originally from Miami Beach, he 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, his primary focus was on intense Talmudic 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, and he formed a close relationship with the Rosh Yeshivah, HaRav Zelik Epstein. Rabbi Levine met his wife, Rachelli (Zakheim), during this time, and they moved to Lakewood, NJ, where he was a full-time member of the Lakewood Kollel. He began his studies for 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. He 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 held 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 chose to put aside the law degree, and instead use his knowledge and talents as a rabbi. He joined Am Echad as its Rabbi, and is also a member of the Jewish Study Network in Palo Alto. In addition to her community responsibilities and full-time occupation in raising their family (the Levines have three daughters and a son), Rebbetzin Levine is pursuing a Master’s Degree in education at California State University.

An idealistic individual and a dynamic speaker, Rabbi Levine strives to help bring out the greatness and unique potential within each Jew, and works to raise the level of Torah knowledge in the community through classes, one-on-one learning and weekly drashos. He also works with other local communities in strengthening the Jewish infrastructure of the Bay Area. In this regard, Rabbi Levine has arranged for noted rabbis and communal leaders to visit and address the community on a broad spectrum of topics.

Rabbi Levine marvels at the tremendous growth that he has seen within the community in the years since he has moved here. He anticipates that, B’siyata D’shmaya, the natural growth will continue as the shul represents Torah-true Judaism to the Bay Area.