Rabbi Alicia Fleissig Magal grew up in White Plains, NY, the elder child of Holocaust survivor parents. Her early years at the JCC (now Kol Ami), a Reform congregation, instilled in her a love of Judaism and Israeli songs and dances, but also left her with the feeling that Judaism was a private matter for home and Religious School, not for one's "outside life." After receiving her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College in French, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Wesleyan University, she taught French in High School until she found herself responding to burning questions about the importance of deepening her commitment to living a Jewish life inside AND outside: "How can I justify the miracle of my parents' surviving and giving birth to me? Why am I devoting myself to teaching a Catholic culture to rich students? How am I helping my own people?"
Within a few months she began a totally new path that has led to her ordination as a rabbi. The first step was to study on a kibbutz ulpan in Israel where she met her husband Itzhak, and next steps included settling in Jerusalem, working in Israel Television, and becoming a licensed Israeli tour guide. After moving with her husband (they just celebrated their 29th anniversary) and children, Tali (now 27) and Amir (now 25), to Los Angeles, she held several creative positions in the Jewish community: Director of the Commission on Jewish Arts at the Jewish Federation Council, Education Coordinator for the Skirball Jewish Museum, and Program Director of Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills. She led numerous workshops for educators through the Bureau of Jewish Education, integrating art, text, movement, and music.
Alicia studied for Smicha with the inspiring encouragement of Reb Zalman, and the mentorship of Rabbi Marcia Prager, Rabbi Judith HaLevy, Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, and Rabbi Elliot Ginsburg, and with the support of many rabbis and teachers from a wide spectrum of denominations. She received ordination in the first class of rabbinical students at the Academy for Jewish Religion in Los Angeles, California in the spring of 2003, before receiving Smicha from the Aleph Renewal Rabbinical Program in the summer of 2003.
Alicia served as Rabbinic Intern for three years at the Reconstructionist congregation Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades in the Los Angeles area. She also served as Rabbinic Intern at Makom Shalom, a Renewal congregation in Chicago where she is now serving as Rabbi.
Alicia writes of her vision as a rabbi:
"Reb Nachman of Breslov teaches: Mitzvah gedolah lihyot b'simcha tamid: "It is a great mitzvah to be joyful always." My vision as a Rabbi is to offer paths to joy and fulfillment through Hiddur Mitzvah, beautifying each point of connection with the Divine through Jewish study, practice, and ethics. I delight in integrating art, music, movement, contemplative practices, writing, and creative techniques to each class, service, or event I lead."
