The Authors

Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He earned an M.H.L. degree from the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati as well as rabbinical ordination from that same institution in 1994. Rabbi Cukierkorn was one of the founders of Kulanu, an organization that reaches out to lost and dispersed Jewish communities. In that capacity he has led missions to Uganda and Brazil to search for lost Jewish communities. Rabbi Cukierkorn is a member of the Computer Technology and the Rabbinate committees of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

Rabbi Cukierkorn is the author of HaMadrij, a basic guide to Judaism in Spanish. The English version, Accessible Judaism: A Concise Guide, is now available as well. He was featured in the 2007 documentary by Gabriela Böhm, "The Longing: The Forgotten Jews of South America," and is president of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City.

Rabbi Cukierkorn is spiritual leader of the New Reform Temple in Kansas City, Mo. He is married to Denisse, a school psychologist, and they have two daughters, Raquel and Dahlia. They reside in Overland Park, Kan. Rabbi Cukierkorn descends from a long line of distinguished rabbis from the eastern part of Poland.