Religious Life
Our rabbis are dedicated to the spiritual needs of our residents. They create meaningful opportunities for reflection and contemplation, enriching the spiritual lives of all who call Ovation home.
Our community sanctuary serves as a welcoming space for residents to gather for daily minyan, Shabbat services, and High Holiday observances. In addition to leading these religious services, our rabbis provide spiritual guidance and pastoral care to residents and their families, offering support during times of joy, grief, illness, or life transitions. Whether celebrating a holiday or navigating challenging moments, our rabbis are here to offer comfort, wisdom, and compassionate care.
Meet Our Rabbis
Rabbi Steven Adams
Director of Pastoral Care
Rabbi Steven Adams, a native of Chicago, Illinois, holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, a master’s degree, and Rabbinic Ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was later awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree from HUC-JIR and a Master of Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University.
Rabbi Adams has served congregations in Florida, Ohio, and Wisconsin and has also worked as an on-call hospice chaplain. He has been a valued member of Ovation Communities for 15 years, most of which has been spent as Director of Pastoral Care. In this role, Rabbi Adams leads memorial services, the weekly Kabbalat Shabbat program, Israel and Holocaust commemorations, and classes for residents. He also provides staff education on Jewish traditions and related topics and offers spiritual support to staff when needed.
Rabbi Levi Emmer
Director of Traditions & Jewish Enrichment
Rabbi Emmer serves as the Director of Traditions and Jewish Enrichment at Ovation, servicing the spiritual needs of all our residents and ensuring that traditional Jewish practices and observances are maintained throughout the facility while respecting the diversity of residents and their personal preferences.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Rabbi Emmer earned a Master of Hebrew Letters from Yeshiva Gedolah Rabbinical College of Miami and received his rabbinic ordination from the Machon Chaim Semicha Academy in Melbourne, Australia. He has also completed Clinical Pastoral Education and is on the path to Board Certification in Chaplaincy. Additionally, he serves as the Jewish chaplain at the Zablocki VA Medical Center, offering spiritual support to veterans.
Rabbi Emmer has shared the joy of Yiddishkeit with Jewish communities around the world, bringing warmth and inspiration to individuals in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Ukraine, Germany, Japan, and the U.K. His experience includes prison chaplaincy and serving diverse Jewish populations.
At Ovation, Rabbi Emmer provides a personal and compassionate pastoral presence for residents and their families. He leads services at the Kohl Family Synagogue, coordinates daily and Shabbat synagogue services, and facilitates weekly Yiddish groups, discussion classes, and Jewish holiday celebrations. Whether through personal resident visits, leading a social gathering or teaching Torah, or offering emotional support, he brings an uplifting spirit to the community, ensuring that Jewish life remains vibrant and accessible for all.
