Connections - The Jewish Marriage Institute
  • About
    • Us
    • Endorsements
  • Services
    • Pre-Marital Education & Marital Counseling
    • Kallah Teacher Training
  • Refresh Your Marriage
    • About the Course
    • Reserve Your Spot
  • Donate
  • About
    • Us
    • Endorsements
  • Services
    • Pre-Marital Education & Marital Counseling
    • Kallah Teacher Training
  • Refresh Your Marriage
    • About the Course
    • Reserve Your Spot
  • Donate

Who are we?

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About Us

Connections offers relationship seminars, pre-marital education, dating guidance, and marital counseling for the Chicagoland Jewish community and beyond. Whether you’re single, dating, engaged or married, we offer a wide range of services that provide critical guidance and practical solutions!


We are endorsed by Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst, shlit"a, Dayan of Agudath Israel of Illinois, and Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz, shlit"a, Rosh Beth Din of the Chicago Rabbinical Council.

Who We Are

Rabbi Yitzchak and Julie Lurie, The Founders


Dynamic teachers, deep thinkers, and compassionate counselors – Rabbi Yitzchak and Julie Lurie present a unique and powerful approach to relationship education and coaching.  Their sought-after style synthesizes a deep understanding of the Torah’s insights into relationships and marriage, along with secular wisdom culled from their training with John Gottman, Laura Doyle, the Relationship Coaching Institute, and the Prepare/Enrich Relationship Assessments.  Both Rabbi Lurie and Julie also received training from Rabbi Beryl Gershenfeld and Rabbi Yosef Brown – two experts in the theory and practice of relationship dynamics from a Torah perspective; and Julie additionally trained with Rebbetzin Yonina Gruner.

In addition to their labor of love of helping marriages flourish, Rabbi Lurie and Julie are beloved and highly respected Torah teachers to men and women across the globe.  Rabbi Lurie spent 9 years learning hashkafa and machshava under Rabbi Beryl Gershenfeld, a talmid muvhak of Reb Moshe Shapiro zt"l.   He has developed a broad and deep understanding of Jewish philosophy and theology and is known for his inspiring classes on these topics.  He received smicha (rabbinical ordination) in 2006 from Rabbi Moshe Halberstam z”l, following time spent learning at Yeshivas Ateres Yisrael (R. Baruch Moredchai Ezrachi, Rosh Yeshiva) and the Mir Yeshiva.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the University of Illinois and received his Professional Educator License from the State of Illinois.  Rabbi Lurie has previously served as Rabbi and outreach educator for Meor at Brown University and Northwestern University where he taught courses on Jewish Philosophy, Business and Medical Ethics, Relationships, Chumash, and Gemara.

In 2003, Julie completed Moreshet, an advanced Jewish outreach and leadership training course.  She simultaneously majored in education and subsequently taught Chumash, hashkafa, and middos at numerous post high school seminaries (Beer Miriam, Meor HaTorah, Afikei Torah, Michlelet Esther, Machon Gold).  She has also served as a Jewish outreach educator for Meor at Brown University and Northwestern University.  Her classes are always known to be practical, down-to-earth, and inspiring.

Rabbi Lurie and Julie are both widely respected chassan and kallah teachers, keynote speakers, and mentors to men and women of all ages.  In 2012, they launched their acclaimed Refresh Your Marriage international teleconference series, followed by the launch of Connections in 2014.  In January of 2017, Julie was featured in Mishpacha magazine!

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   6721 N Mozart St Chicago, IL  60645           Info@ConnectionsMarriageInstitute.org​          (773) 299-6575 ​
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