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

Why Jewish Time Still Matters In The Age Of Covid-19

Today marks the end of the most prolific counting of days in the Jewish calendar. S’firat ha’Omer, the Counting of ...

Why Must This Passover Seder Be Like All Others?

Passover 5780 is going to be one we all remember for a long time. The world is reeling from the ...

Grieving for Kobe

I assumed it was an internet hoax at first. Driving my 13-year-old son back from his basketball game, an alert ...

Kosher Money?

Judaism obligates us to call out our fellow’s unethical behavior and encourage them to change it.

Life After Redemption: Why Counting the Omer Is A Quintessential Jewish Experience

I also think this is but one of many different ways we can dedicate ourselves to deriving spiritual nourishment from these 49 days.

When Is Something Not A Jewish Issue?

Jewish organizations, along with other faith-based and secular social justice organizations, have been ablaze with statements and action alerts during ...

The Torah of the Stateless and the Marginalized

What does it mean to be part of a social change movement?I recently was privileged to learn first-hand one way ...

Prophets, Pastors, or Pariahs

So here we are, three weeks after the presidential election, and it ain’t an easy time to be a Jewish ...

Day of Judgment

Well, folks, here we are. Just a few days out from arguably the most important election for the future of the ...

A New Year’s Resolution to Be Proud Of (That You Actually Can Keep!)

Rosh Hashanah is a time for many things. Reflection. Spiritual rejuvenation. Eating large meals with family and friends. And making ...