Matt Gewirtz

Matthew D. Gewirtz is the Senior Rabbi at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, New Jersey. He is the author of The Gift of Grief: Finding Peace, Transformation and Renewed Life after Great Sorrow” (Random House). A strong advocate of social justice, Rabbi Gewirtz is a founding executive committee member of the Newark Coalition for Hope and Peace, an interfaith organization of Jews, Christians and Muslims that is committed to ending gang violence in Newark. Rabbi Gewirtz strives to find joy and meaning in his daily life and is committed to helping do the same for others. His greatest joy comes from his wife, Lauren and their three beautiful children.


Articles by Matt Gewirtz

Grappling With the Mysteries of Creation

It happens every year like clockwork.I enter the kindergarten where the children are waiting in anticipation. Before I have a ...

Perhaps the Power is in Our Hands

Who in this day and age is free of worry? Anxiety is at it all time high in this country.And, ...

A Funeral for a Friend

In my second year of rabbinic school, I was asked to officiate at the funeral of a friend’s dog. I ...

Prepare, Otherwise We Might Just Miss It

I have felt particularly blessed lately. I just celebrated 10 years of service at my congregation. Thankfully, these 10 years have been ...

Does Prayer Ever Work?

The story is told about a family gathered around the dinner table.  There are many guests who have been invited ...

Let’s Be Free!

Although the winter in the Northeast was milder than the past few, I still struggle with the season of cold ...

AIPAC, Trump and Civility Through the Eyes of a Teenager

I was woken up last week, early Tuesday morning to be told by television producers for the news program on ...

I Am Spiritual, Not Religious

A couple of years ago, I finally fulfilled one of the dreams of my calling. I preached a Sunday sermon ...

More than Enough: So Hard to Say Thank You

I remember when my eldest child(now 11) first learned to say the words, “Thank you.” At first, I was happy ...

Being Imperfect is Spiritual

I was moved recently in speaking with one of my new students in the Religious School hallway looking sad. I ...