Bionic Rabbi

At 79, there is a reason Jeffrey Schesnol is called the Bionic rabbi.

If ever there was a man who has nine lives and has shown great determination in pursuing his passion against all odds, it is Rabbi Jeffrey Schesnol

After intensive study to receive his Masters of Arts in Jewish Studies from the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, Rabbi Schesnol went on to be officially ordained by the International Institue for Secular Humanist Judaism this past April at the age of 79.

Although Rabbi Schesnol has been the spiritual leader of Or Adam Congregation for Humanistic Judaism for almost a decade, he is now their first Humanistic-ordained rabbi.

However, the road to becoming a Rabbi was not an easy one for Rabbi Schesnol. There have been many peaks and valleys along the way, but perhaps the most dramatic and serious hurdle began in 2007. That year, Rabbi Schesnol nearly died from a blood clot. He went on to receive a life-saving transplant at Georgetown University Medical Center. Today he is the oldest known living small-bowel transplant patient in world.

Although this transplant saved his life, it also left him immunosuppressed, which was especially dangerous during Covid. However, he continued to lead his congregation via Zoom, throughout the pandemic.

Although Rabbi Schesnol has been the spiritual leader of Or Adam Congregation for Humanistic Judaism for almost a decade, he is now their first Humanistic-ordained rabbi.

In addition to being the Rabbi of Or Adam Congregation, a 75 adult-member congregation in Phoenix, Rabbi Schesnol is also the associate director of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society. This is a position he has held for 10 years.