let’s be who we are - together
I’ve been a youth worker and Jewish educator for actual decades, two of them in the Twin Cities. In 2018 I became a rabbi. I have had the absolute delight to be with so many of my former students as they have become adults even as I’ve continued to work with youth. I coach individuals and people who live together and families as they create Jewish lives and homes, I teach Hebrew and Judaics classes to students of all ages, I lead worship services and programs, and I write liturgy and books. My wife, Liddy, and I live mostly in Saint Paul, Minnesota and sometimes in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
What I do best is facilitate experiences of learning and exploration and meaning. As you find your way through this website, maybe you are thinking that there is something you want to learn or explore, maybe there is a moment or transition you want to mark with a meaningful ritual, maybe you are part of a community that you think could benefit from my guidance or facilitation.
Life is really big. We are here to live it well. Whatever your journey is, I would love to be part of it.
That's me and Liddy.
Things being equal, we got married under our own chuppah (that “ch” is pronounced like “Bach”) in August 2014 and during the summer of 2018 I finally got to go to Boston and Cape Cod with her and see where she grew up. I spent my childhood as a Jewish kid on a farm in Missouri. As you might imagine, I have some stories I could share about that! I am also immunocompromised after having had leukemia and a bone marrow transplant. My bone marrow is becoming b’mitzvah in May 2024! For these reasons and more I am “Still COVIDing” - meaning for us that both Liddy and I work online, we mask in public spaces, we test and ask others to test if we are going to be with other humans, and I value and honor the connections we can make in online and distanced spaces and places. My mom lives in Albuquerque, NM so to be with her Liddy and I spend part of our year in the Southwest.
“Rabbi Ariel has a knack for really seeing things - ideas, people, the way forward. She’s a talented writer, a gifted people whisperer, a creative educator.”
“This year was interesting and very fun. You are a great teacher and the list of why could be a mile long. Here are a few things: you are respectful, caring, and big hearted.”
“You’re a really fun teacher. I like that you never get upset at all. (Or at least you never show that you do!) You say that we’re the best (thank you!) but I feel that you’re the best!”
“[The lessons] were all very interesting and diverse and taught me things I didn’t know because they were rate things to be taught to kids. I really liked how some of the lessons you brought in an actual person that you knew that worked in the profession, like the therapist or your friend who worked with making meals for people, because we could ask them questions and it was very first-hand knowledge that we could get straight from that professional. Thank you so much.”