Asking how a rabbi is inspirational is like the story of the blind men in India describing the elephant. Each described the part that they felt. I believe that Rabbi Amy Wallk Katz is inspirational in the way she leads her congregation. She encourages her congregation to confront challenges such as the shrinking of Jewish population and communal financial issues. She pushes members of her congregation to consider hard ethical and religious issues such as end-of-life decisions. She first raised the issue in a High Holiday sermon and then followed it up with a workshop and interactive panel discussion that she participated in along with an attorney and a geriatrician. To me personally, she has been most inspiring in bringing adult education to the community by introducing the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning. Over the past five years, hundreds of individuals have enrolled in daytime and evening courses. At our shul, Rabbi Katz leads adult education classes, including one on Sunday mornings focusing on the essays in the back of the prayer book and a “Lunch and Learn” on Wednesdays. She is an outstanding educator. What’s more, her slogan, “Just show up,” has changed the feeling of Shabbat morning services. Congregants are welcome at any part they wish to attend, dressed as they wish. Rabbi Katz meets each individual where they are and draws them into the synagogue community from there.

— Marian Broder + 9 other nominations

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount