Jewish life coaching

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU TO LIVE YOUR BEST JEWISH LIFE?

What if you find yourself in your 40s with a vague understanding that you are Jewish, a deep desire for something more, and no idea where to start? What if you just moved into your own apartment and can barely afford the rent much less afford a mezuzah? What if you aren’t getting married - not now, not ever? What do you do when spring is overwhelming and you just can’t do it all to make Passover for your family? What if you don’t have kids, have no plan to have kids, and want a vibrant Jewish life for yourself? How can you be your whole self, your queer and trans and nonbinary Jewish self? What if you have kids and they are little and you have no idea how to give them a Jewish childhood before religious school? What if you are really, deeply Jewish, religiously or spiritually, but have no idea how that fits into your life right now?

The truth is, Jews have been figuring these things out for thousands of years. Wherever you are right now, you aren’t alone. You never have been. If you are here, you might be looking for a guide. Let’s talk.

See, we have the Torah (first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible), sure. And we have the Talmud (the central text of rabbinic Judaism and our primary source of Jewish law and theology from about 200-500CE) which is absolutely helpful. We’ve got a long written legacy of thinking grand and specific. There are so many right and wonderful ways to be Jewish. Sometimes it helps to have someone help us find our own way.

I’m not officiating weddings right now, but I am also a certified in Prepare/Enrich coach and we can talk about that, too, if that’s what you are looking for. A life coach helps us with specific projects and goals. As a community rabbi I meet you where you are each time we talk. A session is one hour and we usually meet every other week or so for a few months. We start by establishing what you want to get out of our time together online or over the phone and then we go from there.

Because I do not work in a congregation, I can be available for you and you don’t need to be a member anywhere. Because I do not work in a congregation, I am not paid a salary. My sliding scale for coaching is $35-135/hour.
If you need me, and $35 is still out of your range, contact me anyway. We will work something out.

If you think having your very own rabbi might help you right now, let’s find some time to spend together.

“Rabbi Ariel has changed our family's relationship to Judaism. She has helped us to bring Judaism back into our home rather than just something we do at synagogue. The traditional synagogue model did not work for our family. Through Rabbi Ariel's great care and guidance, we now feel more connected and have become more observant, on our own terms, than ever before. Rabbi Ariel helped us to see Judaism in new ways never before taught in the traditional model. Our children love meeting with her and learning about their heritage and the Hebrew language. She is so patient, kind, and understanding. She sees our children for who they are and meets them at their level. Learning Hebrew with Minecraft?! - yes, please!! We cannot recommend working with Rabbi Ariel enough. We feel blessed to have found her!” Carrie J.

Four Days of the Omer

Netzak of Chesed
Determination of Lovingkindness

Erev Shabbat/Shabbat
Evening of April 26 through April 27

I wonder if they still dream of water. After 40 days and 40 nights of rain, 150 days of flood before the water receded I think even all these years later I might still dream of water. Water as endless as this desert. On the other hand, walking through day 202, 150 days feels . . . different. Sighing heavily, I notice that Na’amah has linked her arm through Noah’s and she is regaling him with a story. With her free arm she gestures dramatically and when she pauses he chuckles. It’s a very Jewish chuckle and it carries over the din of people walking and chatting.