Biography of Naomi Levy

Naomi attended Cornell University where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude. She was in the first class of women to enter The Jewish Theological Seminary's rabbinical school. At the seminary, Naomi received honors as outstanding underclass student of Talmud and outstanding underclass rabbinical student. She became the first female Conservative rabbi to head a pulpit on the West Coast. She helped revive Congregation Mishkon Tephilo and transform it into a center of life and learning.

Naomi left her pulpit to begin work on her book, To Begin Again, (Knopf) which became a national bestseller. Naomi has appeared on NBC's Today Show and on Oprah, and has been featured in Parade, Redbook, Self, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe and Los Angeles magazines.

Naomi serves on the faculties of the Wexner Heritage Foundation and the Academy of Jewish Religion. She lectures widely on the topics of the strength of the human spirit, revitalizing faith, spirituality, healing and prayer. Naomi's second book, Talking to God, (Knopf) teaches us how prayer can transform all our days.

Naomi has been keynote speaker at the Harvard School of Public Health on healing the violence in our society. She has been a repeat keynote speaker for the American Cancer Society on the issue of healing and resiliency. Naomi has also been keynote speaker to rabbis and cantors both Reform and Conservative on the issue of revitalizing synagogue life, prayer, sermons and ritual. Naomi was chosen by her movement to teach Conservative rabbis nationwide how to breathe life into the High Holidays.

Naomi was selected by the Los Angeles Times Outlook as one of the 100 most influential people in LA. Her writings and prayers have been excerpted by numerous organizations including the American Jewish World Service, which recently distributed her Prayer for Overcoming Indifference encouraging people to recite it at their Passover Seders.

Naomi has served on the boards of the Rabbinical Assembly (Pacific Southwest Region), Westside Interfaith Council, The National Conference for Community and Justice (LA Chapter), and The Publications Committee of the Rabbinical Assembly.

Rabbi Levy lives in Venice Beach, California with her husband, Robert Eshman, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Jewish Journal and their children Adin and Noa.

The Following is a List of Lecture Topics:

Finding Stability When Life Seems to be Spinning Out of Control

Women's Spiritual Journeys

Prayer and Healing: How prayer can help mend our bodies and souls

Talking to God: Personal Prayer and Reaching God

The Power and Comfort of Memory

The importance of prayer for our bodies, our souls and for our world

Prayer and Work: how prayer can infuse our work days with meaning, passion, courage and creativity

Prayer Works: How prayer can help mend our souls and our society

You Are a Spring: How do we realize our enormous god-given potential?

Mentors in Unlikely Places: Learning from all people

Saving God's Life: Becoming God's Partners

Life Under Construction: Learning How To Begin Again