Rabbi Lerner—born in London, England—has since lived in Israel, Chicago, and New York, and now serves as the Rabbi of the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates.

Following three years of study at Yeshivat Har Etzion he graduated from Yeshiva University with a BA in English Literature, and went on to receive Semikha from their Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. After serving as a Rabbinic Intern for two years at Lincoln Square Synagogue and spending a year as a Tikvah Fellow, he moved to Chicago to pursue graduate studies. Rabbi Lerner received an MA in religion from the University of Chicago’s Divinity School and served as the Orthodox Student Advisor at Hillel on campus. While in Chicago, Rabbi Lerner also served as the Assistant Rabbi of Congregation K.I.N.S. in West Rogers Park.

Rabbi Lerner is currently pursuing his doctorate at the University of Chicago—focusing on the Malbim’s exegetical pedagogy—and serves as a Resident Scholar at Yeshiva University’s Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, where he teaches, mentors, researches, and receives continued  training from the best writers, thinkers, and speakers.

Rabbi Lerner married Miriam (Weiss) in 2012, having met on a YU Summer Kollel in LA. Miriam earned both a BA and MA in Jewish Education from Yeshiva University, while serving as a Legacy Heritage Foundation Scholar. Together they could not feel more blessed to have Ariella (b. 2016) and Orly (b. 2018) in their lives, and feel truly grateful and inspired to be part of this special community.

Contact Rabbi Lerner at rabbilerner@yije.org