Rabbi Bravo was born and raised in the Chicago area. She is a product of the Reform Movement, having been involved in her family’s Reform congregation and the regional Reform Jewish camp from the time she was quite young.

Rabbi Bravo graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Jewish and Near Eastern Studies. She was accepted to the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion immediately upon graduation, and attended classes in Jerusalem and then Cincinnati. Rabbi Bravo received a Master in Education from Xavier University in 1995, followed by a Master in Hebrew Letters and Rabbinic Ordination in 1998.

Rabbi Bravo served as the Assistant Rabbi at Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, DC. In this 3000-family congregation, Rabbi Bravo had the opportunity to participate in all aspects of congregational life, particularly focused on the children’s programs, family programs, young adult programming and adult education. She then served as both the Director of Religious Education and Associate Rabbi at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, NJ. While holding these positions, Rabbi Bravo was responsible for completely reinventing the Religious School curriculum and program, creating an upper school program, starting a family education program, developing a Tot Shabbat experience and working with all the members of the community.

While working as the Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El, Rabbi Bravo will be responsible for leading Shabbat and holiday services, teaching adults, families and students, working with the Cantor, Religious School Principal and administrator to create a vision and direction for the Temple and working with the lay leadership of the Temple.

Rabbi Bravo lives in Maplewood, NJ with her husband, David, and their two young children Samuel and Sophie.