On the way to the rabbinate, she spent several years living in Jerusalem, where she devoted her time to human rights and peace education work, as well as intensive Jewish learning. During her rabbinical training she worked as a chaplain, a teacher, a student rabbi and a cantor in various communities. She was ordained through the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 2005.

Since then, she served as a Marshall T. Meyer Rabbinic Fellow at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in New York City, a Visiting Rabbi for Kehilat Kol HaNeshama in Jerusalem, and as Sabbatical Rabbi for West End Synagogue, also in New York City. In August of 2007,she became the Rabbi of Or Shalom Jewish Community of San Francisco.

Rabbi Katie considers social justice work, Torah learning, gardening, yoga, music, kindness, and time in the natural world to be integral parts of her spiritual practice. She is deeply moved by the privilege of sharing life’s moments of greatest joy and sorrow with her congregants. She feels tremendous gratitude for the gift of being a rabbi – living and working with the intent to nurture justice, holiness and peace in our world and in ourselves. Rabbi Katie is very thankful for the ongoing love and support of her family and friends and her devoted husband, Raj Abbasi.

Reaching the Rabbi

Rabbi Katie is available most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1 - 6 pm for non-urgent appointments and telephone meetings, or at other possible times as arranged on a case by case basis. Should you want to schedule some time with her, please contact her directly at (415) 242-9992 ext 3#, or at rabbi@orshalom.org.

The Rabbi's sacred day of rejuvenation is Tuesday of each week.