Avram Ellner is a final year rabbinical student at The Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. His studies at Ziegler culminated in his senior thesis which examined parallels between the literature of the Zohar and Indian philosophy.
Avram graduated from Tufts University in 2016, where he studied physics and philosophy. After graduation, he served as a JDC Entwine Jewish Service Corps Fellow as an informal Jewish educator for the Jewish community of Mumbai, India. His time and travels in India allowed him to realize that his path was not in physics, but in the rabbinate.
Having been deeply impacted by his experiences at Tufts Hillel, he strives to become a rabbi who works to create strong interpersonal relationships with community members and a vibrant, diverse Jewish community. Through relationship and community building, he wants to empower others to explore and craft their own authentic relationship with Judaism.
Prior to Ziegler, Avram worked for a year at Muhlenberg College Hillel as their Programs and Engagement Associate, supporting students in crafting innovative programming. From 2019-2023, he collaborated with the senior staff at Camp Ramah in Northern California as their Director of Teen Leadership Development, where he created and implemented the camp’s inaugural Jewish Leadership Program for high school-aged campers.
When not at Ziegler or HAMAKOM, you can often find Avram at a live music concert, enjoying L.A.’s rich music scene.
Email Rabbinic Intern Avram Ellner: aellner@hamakomLA.org
