Who We Are
Here's a bit about me. I hope you'll get in touch and tell me about you!
I grew up as a cultural Jew, celebrating holidays with family and friends. My mother was Jewish, my father a lapsed Catholic. As an adult, I was curious about whether the Judaism I had learned about informally was the "real thing," so I took classes and tried out various informal Jewish groups that met for Shabbat dinners or services. As I experienced more of Jewish life, I was drawn to Judaism's openness to a variety of opinions, its wisdom about everyday life, its connections to social justice, the ways it can help people create communities of meaning and purpose, and much more.
Eventually I decided to become a rabbi. I was ordained in 1994 after attending rabbinic school in Jerusalem, Los Angeles, and Cincinnati. I served as rabbi at Leo Baeck Temple in Los Angeles, and then at Congregation Shir Shalom of Sonoma in the Bay Area. Besides serving synagogues, I've worked with many people who would like to learn more about Jewish life, but for whom synagogues are not the right entry point. I've also been aware of how difficult it can be to find a place in the Jewish community if you feel marginalized because you don't know much about Judaism, don't believe in God, are in an interfaith relationship, are a person of color, are gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender, or for a variety of other reasons.
After years of not knowing where to refer people who want an open-ended place to make Jewish connections, I decided to pursue my passion and start such a place myself! I founded Jewish Gateways in June 2006. I'm excited about reaching out and offering our hospitality to Jews, their family members, and others interested in Judaism. My mission is to get to know those of you who contact Jewish Gateways, to learn what you're looking for, and to help you take whatever next steps you'd like to in learning about Judaism and connecting to Jewish life and community.
I grew up in the Bay Area in a Reform Jewish family, going to synagogue and religious school, but didn't find much in it that was meaningful to me. As an adult I started attending a synagogue that had a wonderful community and rabbi. I discovered that it filled my need for ritual and for spiritual community. I wanted a place where people could know one another and find and give support, a place where we could help each other with the hard work of being more compassionate and loving people.
I delved more into Jewish tradition and have found myself working in almost every area I know in the Jewish community. I am an administrator, a teacher, a chant and service leader, and a musical director and composer. Currently, besides my work at Jewish Gateways, I serve as the cantorial soloist (musical service leader) for the Kol Hadash Community for Humanistic Judaism in Albany, and I direct the spiritual music ensemble Ya Elah. I am excited to be part of Jewish Gateways and to be working with Rabbi Bridget. Helping folks find their spiritual home in Judaism is the kind of work that truly inspires me.