Rabbi Drorah O’Donnell Setel is best known as the co-author (with Debbie Friedman) of the “Mi Shebeirach” prayer sung in congregations throughout the world. Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, Rabbi Setel grew up in Buffalo, New York. A fifth-generation Reform Jew, her Jewish commitment was formed through involvement in synagogue and regional youth group programmes and Reform summer camp.
She is a graduate of Swarthmore College, Harvard Divinity School, and SUNY Buffalo Law School, with additional studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Yale University’s Religious Studies doctoral programme, and the Leo Baeck College in London. In 1996, Rabbi Drorah became the first person in Jewish history to be ordained by a rabbinical court comprised solely of women.
After serving communities in Los Angeles, California, Seattle, Washington, Niagara Falls, New York, and Rochester, New York, Rabbi Drorah arrived at North West Surrey Synagogue in January 2026. Her rabbinate focuses on integrating spiritual practice, study, and social justice within congregational life. As a spiritual leader and teacher, she encourages members to pursue meaningful Jewish life through her intelligence and enthusiasm. As a scholar, she has published book chapters and articles on topics ranging from Jewish theology to domestic abuse prevention.
Rabbi Drorah has been an innovator in enlarging the tent of contemporary Judaism, developing new Jewish life cycle ceremonies for ageing, mourning, and welcoming children into a non-gendered Covenant of the Jewish People. In the 1980s she served as Rabbinic Liaison to the Los Angeles Jewish Family Service Alcohol and Addiction Outreach programme. In 1990, she co-convened the first gathering of Jewish professionals and activists working to prevent sexual and domestic violence in the Jewish community, subsequently leading trainings for rabbis, community leaders, and domestic violence programme staff. Whilst serving the Kadima community in Seattle, she initiated The Women’s Torah Project which resulted in the first Torah scroll written by women scribes.
For nearly forty years, Rabbi Drorah has been involved in engagement and reconciliation across differences of religion, race, and gender. As a trained mediator, she has developed dispute resolution educational programmes for clergy and led workshops on constructive conflict.
While in the US, Rabbi Drorah was a member of the T’ruah Network of Rabbis and Cantors, and the J Street Rabbinic Cabinet. She served on Faith In Action’s advisory Cohort on Religious Diversity, and the boards of the FaithTrust Institute, the Shefa Fund (now Bend the Arc) and the National Havurah Committee.
Rabbi Drorah welcomes the opportunity to meet anyone seeking a connection to Jewish community. Please get in touch so that she can arrange a time to get together: rabbi@nwss.org.uk.
