Born and raised in New York City, Lowenthal has enjoyed two distinctly different careers—college professor and organizational director.
Having received his B.A and M.A in English Literature at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and his Ph.D in English from New York University, Larry taught Literature at Western Washington State University, New York University, and Gettysburg College before moving to Israel with his family in 1970. From 1970-1975, Larry taught English and American Literature at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and at Tel Aviv University.
Drafted into the Israeli Army after the Yom Kippur War, Larry went through basic training on the West Bank and anti-aircraft gunnery training on an air base in Herzlya. As part of his military obligation, he served on night time guard duty in Sharm el Sheik at the tip of the Sinai Desert.
Upon his return to America in 1975, Larry became Executive Director of various Jewish organizations in Boston, including the American Zionist Federation, The Israel Cultural Center, The Metro West Jewish Federation and – for 20 years - the New England Region of the American Jewish Committee, the oldest human relations organization in America.
In his 34 years as Jewish organizational director, Larry became known as an intergroup relations specialist, bringing together members of the Boston Jewish community with African- Americans, Latinos, Germans, Greeks, Albanians, Palestinians, Arabs, Indians, Muslims, Africans, and Poles.
Retired from the American Jewish Committee since 2008, Larry is currently an Adjunct Professor at Northeastern University in Boston where he teaches a course on The Impact of Jews on Popular American Culture: The Hollywood Film, The Broadway Musical, Literature, Poetry, Stand-Up Comedy, Drama and Television.
To schedule, contact: Tori Bentkover, Director of Public Relations pr@boston.mfa.gov.il