Marcelo Bronstein was born in Argentina. He earned a degree in Clinical Psychology at the Universidad de Belgrano, and after concluding two postgraduate trainings he emigrated to the US to complete his rabbinic studies. He obtained a BA and MA in Jewish studies and attained Rabbinic ordination from The Hebrew Union College in New York City. He also studied at the Seminario Rabínico in Argentina and in Israel.

Upon ordination, he moved to Santiago de Chile where he founded a congregation at the Estadio Israelita Maccabi. After six intense and wonderful years in Chile, Bronstein moved back to New York where he became one of the senior Rabbis for the next 23 years full-time and 3 additional years part-time, at the world-renowned Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, better known as “BJ”. Together with his dear friend and colleague Rabbi Rolando Matalon, they revitalized their congregation which then had a significant impact in synagogue life in America and the world at large. As a way to amplify this innovative model, Steven Spielberg’s Righteous Persons Foundation decided to enable the creation of a rabbinic fellowship providing training and support to newly ordained rabbis. Bronstein has served on the boards of health, ecology, interfaith, special needs and social justice organizations in America and abroad.

Although his successful career, Marcelo in essence is a seeker. He never stopped learning and he never will. He always looks for immersive experiences that put him in places of discomfort and growth. This has taken him to do Vision Quests with native Americans, a Spiritual Trek in Nepal, participate in The Hoffman Process for change, to learn with Professor Otto Scharmer at MIT’s Presencing Institute and with educator and activist Parker Palmer at the Center for Courage and Renewal among other trainings.

As a part of his duties as a pulpit rabbi, Marcelo brought his passion for Jewish mindfulness to his congregation in partnership with his dear friend Rabbi Rachel Cowan. Today Jewish mindfulness at BJ is practiced in the form of retreats, Shabbat, and High Holiday services.

The English translation of the word Rabbi means “teacher”, and Marcelo is truly the embodiment of a teacher. While his education and interests in spirituality were originally rooted in Judaism, he now finds a high calling in combining life experience, psychology, and strategic human design into his work. A true miracle worker in his mentoring, Marcelo’s reverence for nature led him to move together with his wife, Karina Zilberman to “La Ecovilla”, Costa Rica, a 21st-century sustainable community, that he now calls home. He has his private practice as a Mentor/Coach online and leads Jewish Mindful.

Bronstein is currently part-time rabbi at congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York City. He has his private practice as a Mentor/Coach in Costa Rica where he sees clients in person and online.

The act of seeking guidance can be one of the most courageous decisions we make. Change is inevitable, and as Marcelo Bronstein says, “Change is a courageous act of radical imagination.”