Ellen Lippmann (Interviewer & Narrator)

Ellen Lippmann is the founding rabbi of Kolot Chayeinu. She comes from a long line of synagogue starters. Her grandparents helped to build the Society for the Advancement of Judaism and her parents worked to revive a small synagogue in her home state of Virginia. Ellen received her undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature. It was around this time that Sally Priesand became the first woman to be ordained as a rabbi and Ellen began to consider this path for herself. It was nearly 15 years after this first consideration that Ellen entered rabbinical school at age 35. In the meantime, she received her masters in library science, became a librarian in both Boston and Brooklyn, and worked for non-profit organizations using her library science skill set. Ellen’s coming out as a lesbian happened concurrently with her coming out as a Jew who wanted to become a rabbi. Ellen is married to Kathryn Conroy, who is not Jewish but was a founding member of and remains active at Kolot. Ellen has long been active in various movements, particularly those that address poverty, low wage work, racial justice, and women’s rights. Ellen is proud of building Kolot Chayeinu, a congregation like no other that started with a few people that connected with her ideas and became a large and constantly-evolving community.

Rabbi Emerita Ellen Lippmann, interviewed by Lana Povitz, September 6, 2022, Brooklyn, NY. Full Interview. In this interview, Ellen discusses the relationship she had with Judaism throughout her life and her path to becoming a rabbi. She recalls her family’s history with building Jewish community and shares her earliest Jewish memories. Ellen discusses the various jobs she had taken on earlier in life including at a library, the 14th St Y, and Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Ellen talks about coming out as a lesbian around the same time as starting rabbinical school. She explains her motives in building Kolot Chayeinu and how she sought to maintain and develop an inclusive community that was united as one. Ellen describes the challenges of supporting a community that has grown tremendously in numbers and the challenging retirement process she had to undergo as founding rabbi.

“All the Jews are Jewish” Ellen Lippmann talks about inclusivity in creating Jewish community and bringing energy into services.


“Shalom Chaverim” Ellen Lippmann discusses collaboration at Kolot and keeping peace and wholeness through song.

Rabbi Emerita Ellen Lippmann, interviewed by BC Craig, October 6, 2022. Full Interview.

Listen to: Ellen’s interview with BC Craig

Listen to: Ellen’s interview with Hannah Forman

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