Shalom! Welcome!
I’m glad you’re here.
הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, עַל שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד, עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה וְעַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים
Shimon the Righteous used to say: the world stands upon three things: the Torah, the service, and the acts of loving kindness.
Pirkei Avot 1:2
Al Shlosha D'varim
Al HaTorah
How do we take our sacred texts and translate them into a contemporary understanding? To me, Torah means diving in, then exploring what we can learn from our texts: humanity’s highs and lows, values of community and kindness, the duality of God’s judgement and compassion. The study of Torah should be accessible, rich and meaningful, and full of joy.
Al HaAvodah
The kind of service referred to in Pirkei Avot is now seen as contemporary prayer. As a rabbi, I have the sacred responsibility to create pockets of holiness- opportunities for divine connection. This can happen on the bimah by binding together the celebration of Shabbat and holidays with the circumstances of the day, in the classroom by supporting learners to understand and chant our liturgy, and during lifecycle moments by ensuring the Hebrew and translation used are personalized to the moment.
Al Gemilut Hasadim
Kindness, warmth, and compassion go far. In Genesis, God creates humanity בְּצֶ֥לֶם אֱלֹהִ֖ים, in God’s image. By recognizing the divine in each person, I understand that each and every one of us are essential- essential in our existence, essential in our roles in our community. I strive to act with lovingkindness, to bring my heart with me in my interactions with others.