Faces of TJE: Lisa Berkow – A Journey of Growth, Connection, and Jewish Joy
If you’ve ever walked into The Jewish Experience and felt immediately at home, chances are you were lucky enough to cross paths with someone like Lisa Berkow. Warm, thoughtful, and always ready to learn, Lisa embodies the quiet strength of Jewish continuity—one class, one conversation, one community at a time.
Lisa’s Jewish journey didn’t begin at TJE—but it found one of its deepest and most meaningful expressions here. Growing up attending a conservative synagogue, Lisa recalls dutifully attending Hebrew school and becoming a bat mitzvah, but feeling like something essential was missing. “We didn’t know how to implement all the Jewish stuff into our lives,” she reflects.
Things began to shift about 25 years ago, when Lisa and her husband, Stephen, discovered that Rabbi Meyer of Aish Denver was leading services practically in their backyard. They started attending classes and fell in love with the meaningful, relevant, and heartfelt approach to Judaism. Their kids loved it too, which, as any Jewish parent knows, is no small feat.
From there, the Berkows began attending programs across the Jewish learning spectrum, including at The Jewish Experience. They were drawn in by the inviting warmth of the community and the quality of the teaching—classes that didn’t just impart facts but transformed lives.
One such class left a lasting mark: a series on the Jewish afterlife taught by Rabbi Raphael Leban. “It was mind-blowing,” Lisa says. “I had no idea Jews believed in life after death. It helped me not be as scared about dying.” She now recommends the book they read in the class to others navigating grief or loss, paying the comfort forward.
Lisa’s connection to TJE deepened when a friend invited her to a Wednesday night class taught by Gila Ross. “I said, ‘I’ll go at 7:45 a.m., but I’m asleep by 7:45 p.m.’” Lisa laughs. Her friend reached out to Gila to ask if she’d consider a morning version. Gila said no to 7:45—but yes to 8:45. And just like that, the popular Wednesday morning class was born.
“We started with just the two of us,” Lisa recalls. “Now there are about a dozen women. We have breakfast together. It’s such a lovely group.” That gentle nudge from Lisa—identifying a need and making space for others—speaks volumes about her impact at TJE.
Whenever we go there, it just feels like home,”
It’s this sense of inclusivity, warmth, and growth that defines Lisa’s experience. “Whenever we go there, it just feels like home,” she says. “They’re welcoming no matter your level of observance or knowledge. And they’re always willing to help you grow—on your terms.”
When asked what inspires her to continue learning as an adult, Lisa is clear: “It’s the educators. People like Rabbi Meyer, Lori Palatnik, Rabbi Leban, and Gila. They teach you more than just history—they show you how to use Judaism to be a better person.”
That personal evolution—steady, thoughtful, and full of heart—is what makes Lisa such a vital part of our TJE community. “We’re very slow,” she jokes. “But we’re growing and learning more each year. It’s not a race.”
Her advice to others on the journey? “Wherever you are in your Jewish journey, there’s always something to learn and ways to grow—at your own pace.”
Lisa Berkow’s story is a reminder that there’s no single path to Jewish connection—only the courage to keep walking it, with an open heart and a curious spirit. We’re grateful she’s chosen to walk part of that path with us.
For more: You can listen to Rabbi Leban’s full 10-part series on the afterlife here
