Rabbi Deborah Newbrun’s career as a Jewish leader spans more than 30 years. A nationally recognized, award-winning and innovative teacher and Jewish educator, she recently founded Divorce & Discovery New Visions for Jewish Healing. 

As Camp Director of Camp Tawonga for 24 years, Deborah designed and led their award-winning staff training curriculum and oversaw all camper programs. Deborah also created and co-leads Tawonga’s wildly popular Erev Rosh Hashanah Service, which attracts over 1,000 people annually.

Her groundbreaking work, Spirit In Nature/Teaching Judaism and Ecology on the Trail, bridged together Jewish values with environmental principles. Twenty years ago, she started the first Jewish LGBTQ Family Weekend in the country at Camp Tawonga, which she directs every year.

In 2018, Deborah received the prestigious Covenant Award in Jewish Education, and in 2021, she completed her rabbinic training through the Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary. Deborah is most proud of developing programs and best practices that are now industry standards and of building radically inclusive programs that are a model for Jewish resident camps across the country. For the past decade, she has also coached and mentored Jewish camp directors throughout the field. Deborah has two grown sons, Eli and Gabe, and lives in Sonoma County.