Ritual Creatix, Bibliophile, Enchanted by Torah
Rabbi Dr. Janet Madden received rabbinic ordination from The Academy for Jewish Religion-California.
A widely-published writer and frequent conference presenter, Janet is Rabbi of Fountainview at Gonda Westside, a Continuing Care Retirement Community affiliated with the LAJ Health. In the spirit of transdenominal-postdenominaltional Judaism, she leads Torah Study at Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue, teaches and leads services for the non-denominational O’ahu Jewish Ohana, serves as Rabbi of Saint John’s Medical Center, provides Spiritual Direction to rabbinic students at Hebrew Union College’s Los Angeles campus, serves as adjunct faculty of Kavod v’Nichum’s Gamliel Institute and for Open Temple’s Soul Journey program and is a member of the Board of Governors of Reconstructing Judaism.
In addition to her certification in Jewish End of Life practices through the Gamliel Institute, Janet completed 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education, is certified in Jewish Spiritual Direction through Yedidya and trained in Jewish Sacred Chant through Koi Zimra. She earned the Rabbinic Certificate in Gerontology and Palliative Care from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Licensed as an attorney through the Federal Maritime Commission, she received a Fulbright Teaching Fellowship and is a three-time research fellow of the National Institute for the Humanities. Her earned doctorate in Anglo-Irish literature was conferred by the National University of Ireland.
A dedicated hand quilter and gardener, Janet lives in Santa Monica CA with her husband, attorney Michael Berger, dog Ziva, cat Zenga and a flock of backyard chickens.