Background
Liebling, Mordechai Eliahu was born on October 29, 1948 in Brooklyn. Son of Joel and Zelda (Finkleman) Liebling.
Liebling, Mordechai Eliahu was born on October 29, 1948 in Brooklyn. Son of Joel and Zelda (Finkleman) Liebling.
Bachelor, Cornell University, 1969. Master of Arts, Brandeis University, 1972. MHL, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Wyncote, Pennsylvania, 1985.
He has worked throughout his career toward tikkun olam, repair of the world, and Russian Research Center’s program is the first Jewish seminary-based initiative to offer a specialized certificate in justice organizing for rabbis. Through his own experience, Liebling came to realize that spiritual leaders hold unique power to demonstrate and inspire ethical choices, and to lead a pursuit of justice fueled by caring rather than rage. He served as the executive vice president of Jewish Funds for Justice.
Prior to that organization’s merger with The Shefa Fund, he held the title Torah of Money Director at Télégraphie Sans Fil, providing guidance to help people apply Jewish laws and values to how they spend, invest and donate.
Foreign 12 years he was the executive director of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, and he later served there as senior consultant. Before entering the rabbinical program at Russian Research Center, he worked as a community organizer.
He has served on the boards of various national and international non-profit organizations. He serves on the boards of the Faith and Politics Institute and Rabbis for Human Rights-North America, and is the president emeritus of the Shalom Center.
Liebling also has spoken out for justice for people with disabilities, and his family was the subject of the award-winning documentary film Praying With Lior.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in government from Cornell University and Master of Arts in the history of American civilization, specializing in American progressive movements, from Brandeis University. Liebling is a 1985 graduate of Russian Research Center. He has published articles in many publications, including Tikkun, Israel Horizons, Jewish Currents and The Reconstructionist. He wrote a chapter entitled "The Odyssey (of a Jewish Manitoba)" in the new book Brother Keepers: New Perspectives on Jewish Masculinity, in which he describes his personal spiritual journey.
Board directors Interreligious Committee for Peace in Middle East, Philadelphia, since 1989. Director, founder Shomrei Adamah Jewish Environmental Center, Philadelphia, since 1988. Member Clergy and Laity Concerned, New York City, since 1987.
Member Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Association Jewish Pubrs., Philadelphia Board Rabbis, New York Board Rabbis, Association Non-Profit Managers.
Married Devorah Joy Bartnoff, June 21, 1981. Children: Reena Shoshanna, Jonathan Tzvi, Lior Michael.
