Sasha Baken was raised here in Scarsdale, NY. Growing up, Sasha realized the value of community and her love of Jewish History. Her evolving curiosity and enthusiasm guided her as she received her B.A. in Jewish Studies, graduating cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In Wisconsin, Sasha learned with various Jewish communities, stirring in her a fascination for the Jewish-American experience across denominational boundaries.
Prior to her education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), Sasha worked for a Jewish organization entitled “Matan,” devoted to creating environments supportive and inclusive of children and adults with disabilities. During her studies at HUC-JIR, Sasha served as an Educator and Rabbinic Intern at Westchester Reform Temple (WRT) and as a Rabbinic Intern at both Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City and Congregation B’nai Israel in Bridgeport, CT. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic during the summer of 2020, Sasha worked as a Chaplain at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, tending to patients and their families in the Emergency/Trauma Center, Cardiology Department, Behavioral Health Center, Adult Services and Rikers Unit. Most recently, Sasha functioned as the “Tisch Intern,” aiding Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman, Rabbi Joseph Skloot and Rabbi Shira Milgrom in their leadership of the Tisch Fellowship of which Sasha was a member and is now an alumna. Sasha was also a Jewish Innovation Fellow at the 92nd Street Y.
Since her youth, Sasha has been an avid learner and facilitator of Mussar, a contemplative and spiritual Jewish practice. Sasha is thrilled to have shared this passion with the WRT community over the past few years and to have devoted her rabbinic thesis to the relationship between Mussar and Halakha. She hopes to continue utilizing this rich resource at WRT.
Sasha is incredibly excited to return to the WRT community where she looks forward to sharing with you life’s pivotal moments. In Sasha’s spare time, she enjoys being with friends and family, watching movies, crafting, baking, exercising and enjoying nature – particularly in the Catskills. Sasha currently resides in New York City with her fiancé Roie Rennert.
To contact Rabbi Baken, please email Suzanne Saperstein to assist you.