Lia Lehrer
Lia Lehrer fits the definition of "professional Jew" as well as anyone. She has been dedicated to Chicago's Jewish community since kindergarten, attending Solomon Schechter Day School and now serving on its alumni board. In high school, she participated in United Synagogue Youth and in college was involved at the Fiedler Hillel at Northwestern University. Today, Lia works at Temple Jeremiah in Northfield as the membership and communications director and will receive her Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies from the Spertus Institute for Learning and Leadership this August.
Committed to spreading a love of Judaism, Lia is a co-founder of Windy City Minyan, which brings young Jewish adults together on Friday evenings for egalitarian services followed by an oneg. As you might imagine, she met her fiancée at a Jewish event.
Lia also shares her thoughts about Judaism online, blogging for Oy!Chicago and for her own blog, lialehrer.com.
Age:
28
Primary gig:
Membership and Communications Director at Temple Jeremiah in Northfield, Ill.
On the side:
Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutor; co-founder and committee member for Windy City Minyan; blogger for Oy!Chicago and on my own at lialehrer.com; alumni committee member at Solomon Schechter Day School
Relationship status:
Engaged :)
Describe yourself in 10 words or less:
An advocate for Jewish community and Jewish pluralism (and chocolate)
If time and money were limitless, I would:
Help make Jewish day schools and synagogues more affordable for everyone who wants to attend, and with any remaining money, buy a nice camera and travel the world.
Chicago's Jewish community in 10 years:
Chicago Jewish community members will feel empowered to create their own personalized Jewish experiences, both inside and outside synagogue walls. Synagogues will be thriving alongside smaller, independent communities and Jews of all shapes and sizes will find their homes.
