Rabbi Avram Mlotek

Avram Mlotek is a rabbi, cantor, writer, Yiddish actor and licensed social worker. 

In 2015, Mlotek founded Base, serving as rabbi of its Manhattan site as well as director of spiritual life for the Base movement. 

The New York Jewish Week has called Mlotek a “leading innovator in Jewish life today” and in May 2016, Rabbi Mlotek was listed as one of America’s “Most Inspiring Rabbis” by The Forward. 

His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Daily News and every major Jewish publication. He has authored two books, Why Jews Do That or 30 Questions Your Rabbi Never Answered (Skyhorse Publishing) and Passover in a Pandemic (Ben Yehuda, English and Yiddish).

A grandchild of Holocaust refugees and Yiddish cultural leaders, his new play, Amid Falling Walls, a collaborative project with his father, Zalmen Mlotek, tells the story of the Jewish people during the Holocaust through Yiddish songs of the period. 

Mlotek graduated cum laude from Brandeis University and has studied at Sarah Lawrence College, Yeshiva University’s Cantorial School, Yeshivat Hadar, City College’s Educational Theatre department, Clinical Pastoral Education at The Jewish Theological Seminary and received his Masters of Social Work from Fordham University. 

Mlotek has worked as a therapist at Blanton-Peale Institute and Counseling Center and now as a therapist at The Jewish Board. He serves as rabbi for Mary Manning Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center and has served as a Chazzan for congregations in Melbourne, Australia, the Prospect Heights Shul, The Carlebach Shul, Isabella Freedman and Pearlstone Retreat Center.  

He is married to Yael Kornfeld and proud Tati to Revaya, Hillel Yosl and Shabtai. 

Website: avrammlotek.com

Instagram: @avrammlotek

Twitter: @RabbiAvMlotek