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
What Does “Dayenu” Mean Today?
One of my favorite parts of the Passover seder is the singing that takes place after we finish eating. There are so ...
The Torah of March Madness
Have you filled out your bracket yet? Yes, “Madness” is in the air as the most exciting two weeks of ...
Is Relational Judaism Only For Large Jewish Communities?
I recently had the privilege of listening to Professor Ron Wolfson give several talks to my community about his new ...
When Did Preemptive War Become a Jewish Value?
How many emails have you gotten recently urging you to “take action” to get new, tougher sanctions imposed on Iran? ...
Seeking Shelter From The Cold
Much of the Eastern and Midwestern U.S. is ensconced in a ferocious cold spell today and tomorrow. Known as the ...
Does The Jewish Community Need A Nelson Mandela Today?
World leaders today have assembled to mourn the death of Nelson Mandela. As tributes are paid to Mandela’s towering legacy ...
Why Thanksgivukkah Is Important For Jews And Non-Jews Alike
By now it seems that the entire Jewish world is abuzz about Thanksgivukkah, the once in a lifetime convergence of ...
Confronting The Incognito Within Each Of Us
Can a 6’5’’, 310 pound man be bullied? Prior to this week, many of us probably thought such a question ...
A Halloween With Jewish Values?
Lately it seems like Halloween has becomes a Rorschach test for how Jews feel about assimilation. As expressed in this eloquent blog ...
It’s Not You, It’s Me: The Pew Study and Talented Tenth Judaism
By now, if you are reading this, you undoubtedly have been inundated with punditry about the meaning of the Pew ...