I have been teaching adult Jewish education and interfaith spirituality since the mid-1990s. I completed the three-year Union of Reform Judaism (URJ) / Hebrew Union College “para-rabbinic fellows” program in Aug 2003 and also completed the URJ Outreach Fellows Certification program (support group facilitation) in 2004. Since 2002, I taught interactive classes on the basics of Judaism, Jewish Mysticism, Meditation and Torah Yoga in the Atlanta Jewish community, as well as classes on spirituality for the Interfaith Community Initiatives.
To enrich my work as an adult educator, outreach professional and inter-spiritual leader, in 2008 I earned my Master of Arts degree in Judaic Studies. My studies at Siegel College focused on Jewish Education and outreach to interfaith couples.
Since 2002, I have been the spiritual leader of Congregation Shalom B’Harim (Peace in the mountains) in Gainesville, GA, an unaffiliated congregation of about 70 families from across north Georgia. I wanted to formalize my work as a lay spiritual leader and studied at the Mesifta Adath Wolkowisk Rabbinical Academy in New York. I was ordained as a Rabbi in June, 2012.
My focus is on non-dual theology, (i.e., there is no separation between God and existence; everything is God and we all have Divine Light inside us), supporting the spiritually independent and meeting people where they are on their journey. I am deeply involved in inter-spiritual work with people of all faith traditions. In 2015, I served as the Jewish leader of an interfaith “World Pilgrims” trip to the Grand Canyon / Navajo Reservation / Sedona, Arizona.
I graduated from the Zeitgeist Spiritual Direction Program in 2019, an Inter-spiritual approach to supporting people of all faith traditions. It is my intention to support anyone on their individual spiritual journey, regardless of their beliefs or past observance of a faith tradition.
From 1998 – 2002, I participated in the Mastery of Coaching program, offered by the Center for Leadership Design, and was certified as a Life Coach in Nov, 2002. The focus of my Coaching practice includes: mid-life “stuckness” and general life transition. However, after the death of both my wife and my mother in 2013, I decided to focus my life coaching practice on Grief, Loss and Life Transition.
Some of my spiritual teachers include Adyashanti of the Open Gate Sangha, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, and Dr. James Hollis (a Jungian Depth Psychologist). My daily spiritual practice includes Contemplative Hebrew prayer, hatha Yoga and silent meditation. As I clear away more and more stories / myths / illusions, more of my truth gets revealed.
In my secular world, I work as a construction-related professional and pollution liability insurance broker. I earned my Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering (BCE) from Georgia Tech in 1981. I live in Decatur, GA, and am the proud father of three adult sons: Dr. Zach MD, Dr. Jordan, DPt and Eric, MS. I have three bonus daughters (to whom some might refer to as daughters-in-law, but I don’t) and five grandchildren.