Building Bridges: Social Justice Through Sacred Partnership

As a rabbi deeply committed to the intersection of faith and justice, I believe that authentic Jewish life demands active engagement with the moral challenges of our time. My approach to social justice is rooted in the Jewish principle of betzelem elohim - the radical understanding that every person bears the divine image within them - and the conviction that transformation happens when we marry together the text and rituals of our tradition with the call for tikkun olam, repairing the world. This commitment takes concrete form through grassroots organizing and interfaith collaboration. In sacred partnership with Congregation Etz Chaim and our Social Justice Committee, we work to support initiatives through partner organizations such as RAC-IL (Religious Action Center-Illinois), DuPage United (Metro IAF affiliate), DuPage PADS, the People’s Resource Center, and other local initiatives.

In our era of toxic polarization, I see social justice work as inherently about healing the fractures in our civic fabric. Through my involvement with the One America Movement, I work to reduce polarization by creating spaces for authentic dialogue across political and religious difference - work that was recognized in 2025 with the inaugural Voices of Integrity: Challenge Award. Working with organizations like Resetting the Table and the One America Movement and bringing in learning opportunities like the American scripture project, exemplify this approach of bringing people together to discover shared values that transcend division. This is the work of our generation: creating transformative encounters where ancient wisdom illuminates contemporary challenges.