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Rabbi Mark Wildes

Founder & Director

Rabbi Mark Wildes is the Founder and Director of Manhattan Jewish Experience. He was ordained from Yeshiva University, but before becoming a rabbi, he received a JD from the Cardozo School of Law and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University. Prior to becoming a rabbi, he also worked for the Coalition to Free Soviet Jews alongside Senator Patrick Moynihan and Congressmen Gary Ackerman. Before founding MJE, Rabbi Wildes served as Outreach Director at the Queens Jewish Center (1991-1994) and Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Ohab Zedek (1994- 1996) and later at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun (1996-1998).

Since founding MJE 18 years ago, Rabbi Wildes has become one of America’s most inspirational and dynamic Jewish educators. He actively blogs for The Times of Israel and Huffington Post, runs a youtube channel, and has made appearances on Huffington Post Live, Fox News, and PBS Channel 13. He lives with his wife Jill and their children Yosef, Ezra, Judah and Avigayil on the Upper West Side where they maintain a warm and welcoming home for all. He is a hard core Beatles and particularly John Lennon fan, and enjoys rocking out on the drums whenever possible. Growing up, Rabbi Wildes played drums for rock, blues and klezmer bands.
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