Rabbi Sean Jensen, Youth Director of Great Neck Synagogue, grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He is also the Coordinator of Admissions at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School and in charge of student activities at the Middle School. Rabbi Jensen teaches Talmud/Mishna and Chumash for students in grades 6-8. He also works at the Mashadi Jewish Center of Great Neck and teaches students of all ages in a variety of Judaic subjects.
Until the age of ten, Rabbi Jensen was not affiliated with any religious organization. Everything changed when he began attending Yeshiva Chaim Berlin. He went to high school at a yeshiva in Scranton, PA and then he spent five years studying in Israel. Before returning to the United States, he ran programs that guided students at Yeshivat Ohr Yerushalayim.
In 1991, Rabbi Jensen began his career teaching at Great Neck Synagogue and North Shore Hebrew Academy. In 2001, when the high school opened, Rabbi Jensen was named Director of Admissions.
Due to Rabbi Jensen’s involvement, the GNS youth program has grown exponentially over the last two decades and is a great source of pride to him. Under Rabbi Jensen’s leadership the program is a source of learning, fun and teaching children the meaning of “community,” as well as a foundation of instilling a sense of responsibility and reward for good work. Those that have been involved continue to be leaders in their adult life. They are known to be active in college Hillel Houses, inspire others to participate in chesed and tzedaka initiatives and are also the ones that motivate peers to join in Shabbat and Chagim functions.
The outward camaraderie between rabbis, congregants, the board and our youth is second to none. The Youth Minyan, Junior Minyan and Yamim Noraim Minyanim are exceptional programs. Mishna Club and High School Cholent Kiddush, catering to older children, creates forums for learning and dialogue whose design is adopted by other youth departments. The festivities that we instituted for holidays such as the Sukkah Hop, Simchat Torah, Chanukah Luncheons and, of course, Purim Shpiel and Carnival are the talk of our community and beyond!
Rabbi Jensen has a strong commitment to Israel and has led and participated in many “missions” including running supplies to those families in the North impacted by the latest war with Lebanon. One of the highlights was in the summer of 2003, when Rabbi Jensen briefed the Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Anan, and Under Secretary General, Shashi Theroor, upon his return from a visit to Gaza.
Rabbi Jensen resides in Great Neck with his wife Aksana and family. All of his children have benefited from the GNS youth program and became leaders when they became of age.
As a youth director and teacher, Rabbi Jensen is unique and incomparable and the community is very lucky to have him.
