Our Rabbi

Menashe East – Senior Rabbi

A New Jersey native, Rabbi Menashe’s family instilled a love and reverence for Judaism. Rabbi Menashe was blessed to study Torah with his father and grandfather. Rabbi Menashe’s mother directed a Jewish Family Service in New Jersey. Commitment to the Jewish community and Jewish wisdom was part of Rabbi Menashe’s upbringing.

Following his upbringing in Elizabeth and Teaneck NJ, Rabbi Menashe studied at Yeshivat Shalaviim, beside young Israelis who would serve in the IDF. After Israel, Rabbi Menashe attended Yeshiva University, where he studied Torah, Literature and completed master’s level course work in Jewish thought.

Rabbi Menashe then attended Yeshivat Chovevei Torah (YCT), founded by Rabbi Avi Weiss. In YCT’s study hall, Rabbi Menashe was exposed to rigorous Torah scholarship, spirituality and an open mindedness to the breadth of Jewish thinking and people. Alongside his Rabbinical studies, Rabbi Menashe pursued an MSW at Wurzweiller School of social work.

After ordination, Rabbi Menashe and his wife Donna, moved to San Diego, CA to serve as the first spiritual leader of a fledgling synagogue, Kehillat Ahavat Yisrael (KAY). Rabbi Menashe helped KAY gain synagogue membership into the OU. KAY was the first YCT-led synagogue in the US to gain OU membership. Alongside his role as KAY's rabbi, Rabbi Menashe served on the Upper School Judaic studies faculty of San Diego’s community day school, the San Diego Jewish Academy.

While in SD, Rabbi Menashe was selected as a Fellow for the 3rd cohort of the prestigious Rabbinic Leadership Initiative at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. The program focused on pluralism within Judaism and Torah study with rabbis from across the Judaic spectrum.

In 2009, Rav Menashe was selected as the Spiritual Leader of the Mt. Freedom Jewish Center.  He has become a valued member not only of the synagogue, but also of the greater Jewish and secular community. Rabbi Menashe completed his LSW and currently works as a part-time clinician and is completing his LCSW.

Rabbi Menashe’s greatest joy is his family. Rabbi Menashe and his wife, Donna, are blessed with five children – Ayala, Erez, Elisha, Alon and Ariel. Their toy poodle, Nanku, is part of the family too. Rabbi Menashe loves to play guitar and tries to play soccer with his kids.

Please contact Rabbi Menashe at the shul: (973) 895-2103 or via email: rabbi@mtfjc.org

Rabbi Menashe will meet you in shul, at your home, for coffee, on a  bike ride, on FaceTime, Zoom or text…Most important is to reach out and Connect!