Rachel Margolis, RJE, is a Senior Program Manager with the URJ, focusing her work on building networks to bring innovation, and improving the relationship between educators and their lay leaders. She has worked with multiple networks across the congregational education spectrum, including the Chicago Early Engagement Leadership Initiative (CEELI), including managing the SPARKS learning sessions for the 2nd career teachers cohort. Rachel also helped with the PEECE project, including teaching the congregational coaches.
Rachel is a graduate of Cornell University and has a joint masters in Jewish Education and Jewish Non-Profit Management from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. After serving as the Director of Education for University Synagogue in Los Angeles, Rachel helped write curriculum and re-envisioned youth involvement and teen learning for family schools, Religious Schools, synagogue day camps and retreats at synagogues and community programs around the country.
When not working with synagogue communities, Rachel sat on the Temple Beth Or Preschool Board (Raleigh, NC),and has served as the chair of the HUC-JIR Alumni Leadership Council and been a member of the HUC-JIR Board of Governors. Rachel is the wife of Rabbi Ari Margolis, of Congregation Or Shalom in Vernon Hills, IL, has three daughters, Laila, Adaya and Eliora, and a sweet puppy Kenobi.