May 21 – June 25, 2025

Rabbi Frankie Sandmel

Frankie is the rabbi of Base Bay Area and is so excited to build community with you here! They are originally from Chicago, but under the close tutelage of partner, Elaina, Frankie has come to love all the Bay has to offer.

Frankie is a deep believer that there are as many ways to be Jewish as there are Jews, no question is too basic or too big, and Judaism has space for every person who wants it. They’ve lived out these values as a teacher for SVARA, bringing Talmud to the masses, as an educator at the Jewish Enrichment Center, exploring Torah through play and curiosity with children, and facilitating conversations about antisemitism and social justice for community organizers. They love the moments where their house is buzzing with learning, whether it’s friends studying Talmud for the first time, neighbors diving into socialist Jewish history together, or just a Shabbat dinner conversation where someone asks, ‘why do we do that?’. They love to bake and crochet, play board games, and maximize opportunities to be outside.

Frankie can’t wait to see what kind of community will blossom when they can bring their knowledge as a rabbi and educator into conversation with the ideas and passions of their neighbors in the East Bay!