Humanistic Judaism
Conversion requirements
Brit Milah/Hatafat: Not required but available, upon request
Mikveh: Not required but available, upon request
Bet Din: Recommended but not required
Conversion Location: New York, N.Y.
Additional Languages: French, Hebrew
Students Accepted: Mitzvah, Chai, Scholarship
Conversion requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic
Brit Milah/Hatafat Dam Brit: Not required but available, upon request (No change)
Mikveh: Not required but available, upon request (No change)
Bet Din: Recommended but not required (Virtual bet din via video conferencing is acceptable.)
I am happy to work with
Families with children
LGBTQ+ candidates
Interfaith or dual-faith relationships
Personal statement
I became a Humanist rabbi, because I feel a deep investment in making Jewish texts and traditions meaningful to people through the lens of their own life experiences. Before I was a rabbi, I was a Jewish Studies academic, but I became deeply frustrated at the “ivory tower” approach to knowledge and spending so much time writing books and articles that interested only a handful of people. I wanted to connect more meaningfully to people and to the communities to which I belonged.
My favorite activity in the world is to craft personalized ritual. One of the most poignant interactions I’ve had in my life is when a person I did not know contacted me to ask whether a Humanist Sabbath blessing for children existed. I told him that I did not know, but I would be happy to compose a personalized blessing for his baby girl. Three years later, the same person contacted me and said that my blessing had become a meaningful part of their Sabbath observance and asked me whether I would compose a blessing for their second daughter. I stared at my computer screen overcome with tears of joy — I had just been paid the greatest compliment of my life.
I will perform conversions in almost any circumstance as long as the desire to connect with Jewish culture is genuine and deep.
Education
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Doctor of Philosophy, Bible
University of Toronto
Doctor of Philosophy, Bible
