Born and raised in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Rabbi Josh Knobel received a Bachelor of Science in Physics and a commission as a second lieutenant from the United States Military Academy in 2001. He served for seven years as a telecommunications officer on active duty, including deployments to Kuwait and Afghanistan, where he learned firsthand the profound impact that Judaism can have upon our identities and the ways in which we meet the opportunities and challenges that await us in all walks of life.

After completing his Active Duty service in 2008, Rabbi Josh began his studies at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Los Angeles. It was at HUC-JIR that he met and married his beloved wife, Lisa, who currently serves as a rabbi at Leo Baeck Temple. They share two insightful and curious children, Shifra, 5, and Shiloh, 3.

Upon becoming a rabbi in 2014, Rabbi Josh joined the Stephen Wise Temple community and Wise School as a rabbi and Dean of Student and Family Life. In 2019, Rabbi Knobel joined the Center for Youth Engagement.