Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn

Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn, BCC is the Rabbanit at Congregation Netivot Shalom in Teaneck, NJ. She is a Board Certified Chaplain and staff chaplain at NewYork-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where she has specialties in Palliative Care, Critical Care, and Emergency Psychiatric Care, and she is the president of NAJC (Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains). Rabbanit Alissa is also an Atra fellow in the inaugural Northern New Jersey Rabbinic (re)Design Fellowship. From 2014 to 2022, Rabbanit Alissa served as a spiritual leader at B'nai David-Judea Congregation, as the first Orthodox female clergy in a shul in Los Angeles. A writer and speaker, she received her ordination from Yeshivat Maharat and her BA from Brandeis University. She is the author of the newly released halachic and pastoral book, Shabbat Guidebook for Parents: Halacha of Caring for Infants, Toddlers, and Young Children on Shabbat and Yom Tov. Rabbanit Alissa and her husband Akiva live in Teaneck with their children, Ella and Liam.