Rachel Barenblat
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Through the gift of her poetry and prose, as posted on her highly popular “Velveteen Rabbi” blog site, Rabbi Rachel Barenblat inspires thousands of followers all around the world in addition to her congregants at Congregation Beth Israel. I would never say that I have been a “poetry person,” but I find that Rachel’s gifts with words have the ability to reach right into the deepest longings of my soul. Whether it be a reflection on a specific Jewish practice or a poem on the changing of the seasons, Rachel always has the right words to make us all think a bit deeper and look at our lives through a different, more perceptive lens. In addition to her writing, Rachel is a highly gifted and sought-after teacher, mashpia (spiritual director) and national Jewish leader. She inspires me every day.
— Shoshanna Schechter-Shaffin
+ 1 other nomination
Why I became the Forward’s Editor-in-Chief
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
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