Joel Landau (rabbi)

Joel Landau (born in Queens, New York) is a Modern Orthodox rabbi. He is associated with Yad Ezra V’Shulamit, an organization providing help to people in need throughout Israel, and The Kemach Foundation whose mission is to make positive impact in Israeli society, by contributing to its economic development, and providing resources and support for the members of the ultra-Orthodox community. Currently he serves as the executive director of “Israel Up Close Productions”, a non-profit film production company that researches and reports on how Israeli innovations improve the everyday life of people across the world.

Life and career Early life and education Joel Landau was born in Queens, New York, to a religious Zionist family. He spent his childhood in New York and Israel. In 1974 he and his family moved to Kefar Hanoar Hodayot, a village in Israel, and a few years later they moved to the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. This allowed him to get involved in the reclamation of Jewish-owned property in the Moslem Quarter. Upon finishing high school he joined the "Shvut Yisrael" Hesder Yeshiva in Efrat.

Landau has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Empire State College, a teaching credential from Lipshitz College, ordination from the Chief Rabbinate in Jerusalem, and a post- graduate degree in Judaic Studies issued by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. He was a founding member of the Charleston County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, which provided personal and spiritual counseling. Four years later he became the Rav of Beth Jacob Congregation of Irvine, California. The non-profit film production company identifies, researches, and reports on how Israeli innovations improve the daily lives of people throughout the world. Their humanitarian initiatives and outreach projects around the globe, demonstrate Israel's concern for people in need.

Personal life Landau is married to Johni née Rakov, and the couple has three sons, three daughters and seven grandchildren.