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
So Now What?
As a synagogue rabbi, I feel as if we have been running a religious marathon for the past month. since. ...
Taking It To The Streets
Sukkot was never a big deal for me when growing up. Coming so soon after the pomp and circumstance of ...
Do We Go to High Holiday Services for the Comfort of the Boredom?
At the conclusion of Yom Kippur services, the rabbi was standing at the door shaking hands as the congregation departed. ...
Patrilineal Pandemonium: What’s Behind All The Emotion?
Wow. It has been quite a busy week here at the Rabbis Without Borders blog discussing patrilineal descent and its ...
Give Peace A Chance?
When news broke last week that Israelis and Palestinians had agreed to a new round of peace talks, how did ...
Why I hope a Right-Winger Becomes the Next Chief Rabbi of Israel
There is a big election coming up on Wednesday, one many American Jews might not be aware of. In response ...
Am I Still A Rabbi When I Am On Vacation?
I am off for several weeks of rest and relaxation. Which brings to mind a puzzling existential question: is a ...
What Matters More: Our Day Schools Or Our Commitment To Religious Neutrality?
I am an unabashed advocate of Jewish day school education. I attended day school from kindergarten through eighth grade, and ...
Should Jews Care About Government Monitoring Our Phone Calls?
The NSA knows who you called last Tuesday at 8:00pm—should you care? From an American civil liberties perspective, we have ...
Deprogramming our Children as a Means to Jewish Continuity?
I just got back from a weekend “family camp” retreat. One of the most remarkable aspects of the experience was ...