Ilana Mills, a 4th year rabbinic student at Hebrew Union College, is currently pursuing a Masters in Jewish Education. Growing up in Sherman Oaks, Ilana was actively involved in NFTY (the North American Federation of Temple Youth - the Reform Jewish youth movement). During twelve summers at Jewish summer camps, Ilana discovered her love of Jewish learning, which inspired her to become a Religious Studies major at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.
Subsequently, Ilana spent four years in Washington, DC, first combining her interests in social justice with Jewish values while working at the Religious Action Center, and later serving as a NFTY regional youth group director to help other Jewish teenagers experience the deep connection to Jewish learning and community.
After marrying in 2005, Ilana and her husband Colby moved to Phoenix, AZ, where she worked in the education department of Temple Chai. In 2006, Ilana entered HUC and started her path to becoming a rabbi. In February of 2008, Ilana and Colby welcomed their beautiful son Sammy into their lives.
Ilana spent the past two years serving as a student rabbi for a small congregation in Yuba City, an hour’s drive north of Sacramento. While she is sad to leave that community, she is incredibly excited to work with Mishpacha. Ilana explained, “I am so excited to be part of a program that values community, education, fun and family. I am honored to learn and grow with Or Ami, a congregational community that has already welcomed me with such open arms.”
