Rabbi Cheryl Peretz

Since ordination in 2001, Rabbi Cheryl Peretz has served as one of the deans of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, teaching, counseling, advising and programming. In addition to her work at American Jewish University, Rabbi Peretz has served as a pulpit rabbi in synagogues such as Los Angeles’ Sinai Temple, Adat Shalom, and Burbank Temple Emanuel El and has been a High Holiday guest rabbi in synagogues in Florida, California, and Texas. Rabbi Peretz is the Associate Dean of the Zacharias Frankel College in Potsdam, Germany, training Conservative/Masorti rabbis for Europe. She also teaches the broader community through in-home study groups, Adult Education, Talmud classes, and world-wide scholar-in-residence programs.

Rabbi Peretz is a graduate of the double degree program between Barnard College and the Jewish Theological Seminary where she earned degrees in Mathematics and Jewish Philosophy. She also holds a Master’s in Business Administration degree from Baruch College.

Rabbi Peretz is known for creating individually expressive lifecycle rituals, offering interactive and lively teaching, listening compassionately to facilitate insight and meaning in times of transition, and for guiding personal and professional development, integrating corporate principles with spiritual dialogue. She also brings experience from her MBA and years of corporate professional experience in marketing, creating safe space work environments, vision and planning, organizational leadership, personnel supervising, budget and finance, and staff/board development. For more than 20 years, Rabbi Peretz has been advising clergy, Jewish professionals, synagogues and organizations in conducting successful job searches, resume writing, interview skills and in creating and maintaining healthy, productive relationships.