Rabbi’s Page

A bit of who I am and how I got here…

Born in Bloomington, Indiana, I grew up playing in the creek down the street and going to Indiana basketball games. When I was ten, my family moved to Amherst, Massachusetts; an area that I still love deeply.  From my family and my many years at Young Judaea Summer Camp I developed a love for Judaism, which found new expression spending a year in Israel after high school.  Through the mystical tradition I found a Judaism that spoke to me as a spiritual seeker.

I went to Oberlin College, where I majored in Jewish Studies and had a minor in Studio Art, doing mainly film and video.  I also spent a semester in a Film Production program at Tisch School of the Arts where I had a chance to pursue that passion.  Music has always been a big part of my life.  I grew up playing classical and later jazz violin, and then at Oberlin studied sitar and jazz piano (messing around with banjo and guitar along the way as well).  At Oberlin I met my wife-to-be, Emily.

After college I spent time working on a film-musical project (a love story taking place in Brooklyn), then made my way back to Israel to study in yeshiva in preparation for rabbinical school at Hebrew College in Newton.  I love learning Torah, and I loved my five years of studying with amazing teachers and friends at Hebrew College.  I love teaching as well, and I also received a Masters in Jewish Education from Hebrew College.  During my time in rabbinical school I enjoyed teaching at Prozdor Hebrew High School and Gann Academy.

As a rabbi, I see my job as helping connect Jews with the richness and depth of our religious and cultural inheritance in a way that is relevant, meaningful and engaging.  I think Jewish ritual life should be fully participatory, and that Judaism is a lifelong path of learning and growth.

When I was just about to start work as Rabbi at Temple Sinai, the son of a congregant said to me passionately, “that shul has heart.”  I have found this to be true.  Sinai is a welcoming and caring community that is growing, and we welcome individuals and families of all ages and stripes.   I’d love to hear from you or for you to come check us out.

L’shalom, Reb Aaron
rabbifine.sinai@gmail.com