Jacqueline Mates-Muchin

Jacqueline Mates-Muchin is a trailblazing American rabbi who has made history as the world's first Chinese-American rabbi. Born in San Francisco to a multicultural family, her heritage is a unique blend of Chinese-American and Austrian Jewish roots. Her father's family immigrated to the United States from Austria, having survived the Holocaust, while her mother is a second-generation Chinese-American. This diverse background has likely influenced her perspective and approach to her work in the Jewish community.

Rabbi Mates-Muchin's academic and professional journey has been marked by notable milestones. She was ordained by the prestigious Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in 2002. Following her ordination, she served as an assistant rabbi in Buffalo, New York, before joining Temple Sinai in Oakland, California in 2005. Her leadership and dedication earned her the position of senior rabbi at Temple Sinai in 2015, a first for a female rabbi at the temple. Rabbi Mates-Muchin is also a devoted family person, married with four children. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards in recognition of her academic achievements and service to the community.