Name and Title: Rabbi Ilana Greenfield Baden, Senior Rabbi
What I Do: As rabbi, I have the honor of working with children and adults of all ages to create meaningful Jewish experiences. I provide pastoral care, teach in our educational programs, officiate at worship and life cycle events, and facilitate community in a variety of ways.
Why I Do It: Our world can be quite chaotic, and it is important to have an anchor to ground oneself. I believe that connections—whether it be with other people, tradition, nature, and/ or God—provide a way for us to find meaning and fulfillment. Our Jewish heritage is a treasure trove that we can build upon to infuse our lives with deeper purpose and joy. I believe this holds true for those who are born Jewish, who choose Judaism later in life, and who are part of a Jewish household. I am committed to meeting people where they are at, and I strive to provide spiritual, emotional, and intellectual sustenance in a respectful and personal fashion.
How I Got Here: My love for Judaism was sparked at a young age by my family and was further inspired by my experiences at Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute, NFTY teen programs, and my involvement at the University of Michigan Hillel. I have previously served at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, the historic Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Temple Beth-El of Battle Creek, Michigan. I also served as the Director of Community Engagement at the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. I have been honored to serve in leadership roles in several institutions, including as president of both the Greater Cincinnati Board of Rabbis and the Chicago Area Reform Rabbis, as well as a current Rabbinic Leadership Initiative Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute.
Favorite Holiday: I love Sukkot because we have a tradition of inviting the entire congregation to our family’s sukkah. It is wonderful to spend informal time with the community.
Hidden Talent: I am an avid crocheter. I am also known for making terrible puns.
Education: Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union Institute-Jewish Institute of Religion; Masters of Hebrew Letters; and BA in Near Eastern Studies-Modern Hebrew Language and BA in History from the University of Michigan.
