Rabbi Michele Lenke was ordained in 1996 and has worked primarily with B'nai Mitzvot, helping the next generation of Jewish youth. She grew up in the Los Angeles area, where she was very involved in her synagogue, studying Torah and attending services more than participating in more "typical" Jewish youth activities. Michele went to Israel on a NFTY program when she was sixteen years old, which was very transformative for her. During her youth in the synagogue, Michele got to know her rabbis very well, inspiring her to go into the same line of work. She attended rabbinical school at Hebrew Union College, going to three of the four campuses (all except Cincinnati). Michele also earned her doctorate in Pastoral Counseling. At the time of the interview, she worked at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, Massachusetts, but has since moved back to California. Rabbi Lenke is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Women's Rabbinic Network, the Southern California Board of Rabbis, the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis, and The Sandra Caplan Community Bet Din, among others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as a chaplain to help her community.