Science & Religion

Rabbi Michael Lotker is a second career rabbi having been ordained at 
age 55 from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion 
(HUC-JIR) in 2003.  He is a physicist who spent his first career in 
Alternative Energy focusing on wind, solar and geothermal energy.

He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Physics from Queens 
College in New York City and from the University of Illinois.  Prior to his 
ordination from HUC-JIR (the Reform movement's rabbinic seminary) in 
2003, he received his Master of Hebrew Letters degree from this same 
institution.  An entrepreneur, he started a number of alternative 
energy firms including a wind power development company that 
installed and operated wind farms in Hawaii and California.  He is widely 
published in the alternative energy field.

He is presently Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Ner Ami in Camarillo, 
California, Rabbi of the Jewish Community of Ojai, and the Community 
Rabbi for the Jewish Federation of Ventura County.  He is a member of 
the Central Conference of America Rabbis and the Board of Rabbis of 
Southern California. His interest and participation in interfaith dialogue 
stimulated his rabbinic thesis entitled "Ezer Knegdo: Toward a Theology 
of Jewish-Christian Partnership."  He is a sought after speaker at 
synagogues, churches and campuses.  In June, 2014, he offered the 
opening prayer at the United States House of Representives