36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism
“When I sought out a synagogue at which to convert to Judaism, I went through a number before I found Kolot Chayeinu. Built on Rabbi Lippmann’s dream of a coffeehouse and the understanding that doubt can be an act of faith, I immediately felt at home. But it was when I actually heard her speak…
“Rabbi Sirbu directs the Rabbis Without Borders program, coordinates all of the conferences and facilitates all of the learning experiences and communication without which these RWB rabbis could not function. Because her job often requires her to function behind the scenes and to shine the spotlight on her colleagues, one might easily overlook or dismiss…
“As my Hillel rabbi at Northwestern University, Rabbi Balinsky showed me that it was possible to guide young people toward Jewish observance with a sense of tolerance, openness and patience. He was sensitive to the fact that college students endure many ups and downs, and he approached each student with a proper mix of honesty…
“Rabbi Lopatin is an intellectual, but his legacy is in what he accomplished on the ground: building a warm and growing community, a mikvah, a community day school and a non-profit kosher restaurant; bringing a female clergy member on staff; collaborating with rabbis from other denominations; speaking against worker abuse, and building relations with the…
“I first met Rabbi Brent Spodek in 2010, about a year before he became the rabbi of Beacon Hebrew Alliance. As a recent arrival to our town, he was soon awakening a dormant but spiritually hungry community of Jewish children and adults with his monthly Shabbat sing-alongs, contemplative hikes and Talmudic study groups in his…
“During the six years Bradd was in town, my wife grew close to her faith and had her bat mitzvah at the age of 50. Bradd taught her and presided at the event. I couldn’t be more proud. There is another way he made a difference. I am a practicing attorney with a full-time job….
“Rabbi Janet Marder’s work with interfaith couples is truly inspirational. I will never forget her High Holiday thank you and hug on the bimah to our non-Jewish spouses several years ago. She has similarly reached out to our LGBT community, ex-Soviet émigrés, Israelis, veterans and people with disabilities. Recognizing that participation is critical, and that…
“The congregation Rabbi Shira built at Sixth & I is large, thriving, innovative and almost entirely filled with Jews in their 20s and 30s. She’s the EXACT right rabbi at the exact right time, making a home for young Jews that is both intellectually and theologically challenging while also being contemporary and popular. Also, she…
“Upon moving to Jackson last June, I was expecting to find a dearth of Jewish life and Jewish learning. Instead, I found the complete opposite: a weekly Talmud class; a weekly Torah study; Reform-style Friday night services; Conservative-style Saturday morning services, and diverse events and speakers almost every Shabbat — supported and organized by Rabbi…
“Rabbi Yosef Wolvovsky’s energy and motivation have created a community committed to the beauty of traditional Judaism. Originally numbering hardly a minyan of individuals, today it’s not unusual to find 60 or 70 at a community function. The rabbi’s followers come from a wide range of backgrounds and represent points of view that can be…
“I met Rabbi Cukierkorn this year, 30 years after discovering my Sephardic Jewish roots. I spent 30 years investigating my surname, searching the archives, hearing stories of family and how we come to Costa Rica and why. That was 30 years of receiving “NO” for an answer every time I tried to get close to…
די „שלום־עליכם לעקציע“ וועט מען קענען הערן אויפֿן אָרט אָדער דורך דער אינטערנעץ.
