Rabbi

Rabbi Dr. Jana De Benedetti has been the Spiritual Leader and Rabbi at B'nai Zion Congregation since 2006. She has also been the Cantorial Soloist at B'nai Zion and has led services in many states and in Israel. At B’nai Zion Congregation Rabbi Jana teaches all aspects of Judaism, including: Jewish music, Hebrew and other Jewish languagues, Jewish studies, and Torah studies.

"Dr. J" has been teaching Hebrew and Jewish Studies since the mid 1970s at synagogues, other public institutions, and as a private tutor. She has taught Hebrew at the State University of New York at Albany (SUNYA), Spertus College of Judaica in Chicago, Illinois, LSUS and Centenary College in Shreveport. While in Shreveport she was Educational Director at  Agudath Achim Synagogue, and was the Hebrew instructor at the Christian Center Montessori School.

She was head songleader for summer sessions at Greene Family Camp in Texas, Eisner Camp in Massachusetts, and Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Mississippi. She was songleader for retreats at those camps and also at Kutz Camp in New York, Camp Harlam in Pennsylvania, and Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute in Wisconsin. 

She has published scholarly texts and articles, and helped to produce record albums and songbooks of Jewish music. Doctor Jana has earned a B.A. in Judaic Studies, an M.A. in Philosophy, and a Doctor of Arts in Humanistic Studies with specialization in Linguistics from University at Albany - State University of New York. She was ordained a Rabbi at Rabbinic Seminary International.

In Shreveport she served on the advisory board of Step Forward, and was the President and continues to serve on the Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) at Red River Radio. She has served other volunteer roles at Red River Radio including on-air and behind the shows, including being one of the core clergy on the popular "About Faith" program that airs every other Sunday since 2021.

Rabbi Jana makes learning Hebrew and Judaism enjoyable, joyful, and meaningful. She is beloved in the interfaith community. The worship services she leads are warm and welcoming.

Rabbi Jana is originally from New York State, and has lived in Shreveport since 1992. Along the way she has also spent a year in Israel, lived for a few years in Chicago, IL, and a few more in Lexington, KY. She has two awesome sons, Max & Ron.