Joshua Ratner
Rabbi Joshua Ratner is the rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami in Cheshire, CT. Ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in May 2012, Rabbi Ratner was a Joseph Neubauer Fellow and also earned a Master's Degree in Midrash and a Certificate in Pastoral Care. He also worked as an attorney for five years prior to entering rabbinical school. Rabbi Ratner is passionate about the interplay between Judaism, public policy, and American culture. He has received training in congregation-based community organizing and was part of the original rabbinical student cohort of Rabbis Without Borders fellows. He and his wife, Dr. Elena Ratner, are the proud parents of Dimitri, Eli, and Gabriella.
Articles by Joshua Ratner
Putting God On The Geirut List
I recently had the privilege of serving on a Beit Din (Rabbinic Court) for an individual who was converting to ...
The Sunrise Of A New Year
I am emotionally fatigued by all the heartbreak of this past summer. I am drained by the tragedy of the ...
The Audacity Of Celebrating Happiness
We Jews are great at gathering together in times of crisis, but how often do we get together to celebrate ...
How Should We React To Our Oasis Of Acceptance?
I used to think that there were two different mindsets when it came to living Jewishly: the experience of those ...
Let It Go
I don’t normally see myself as a curmudgeon. Ever since I can remember, I have erred on the side of ...
#BringBackOurYouthEngagement
On Sunday I helped organize a rally at our JCC in support of the three teenagers, Naftali Fraenkel, Eyal Yifrach, ...
Requiem for a Suburban Shul
How do you close a synagogue? This is the question I have been confronting for the past few months as ...
An Israel Parade for All Who Love Israel
On June 1, tens of thousands of Jews will flock on 5th Avenue to participate in the 50th annual Celebrate ...
To Snip Or Not To Snip? Why I Say “Yes” To Circumcision!
To snip or not to snip? That, apparently, is becoming a major question for some 21st-century American Jews.I have to ...
Why Jews Should Care About The Donald Sterling Controversy
I have had many reactions so far to the recently leaked audio of comments made by Los Angeles Clippers owner ...