Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kellman teaches that prayer is like jazz. If the prayer leader knows what they are doing, a change in words, music, rhythm, or even location can enhance the experience. I love to create prayer experiences in the most beautiful places. We do Rosh Hashanah on the beach, Shabbat in the park, hiking services, meditation services, rock services, and more. Changing the experience enriches our connection to the Divine.

Travel is a bonding experience for everyone involved, from the person along for the ride to the person who organizes everything. Travel to Israel is a sacred pilgrimage. Travel within the United States can open our eyes to the variety of people and places that call our nation home. Travel should always be done with justice in mind, and the social impact we can have on locals and on the planet.

Jewish learning is what brings us all together. All ages, all abilities, all areas of interest, we can all find things to learn from our sacred texts and from each other. In addition to weekly Torah Study and Talmud Study, I choose a “study theme” every year for the whole congregation. Here are some of the classes I have taught over the years:

Change Through Middot (Jewish Values)

Reel Judaism (Watching movies with Jewish eyes)

Cooking

Jewish Superheroes

Bamidbar (“in the Wilderness”) Camping Experience

Adult B’mitzvah

Jewish Women Authors Series

So much more!

If it were not for Camp Livingston in Bennington, Indiana, I would not be a rabbi today. Camp has meant so much to my wife and me (we met at Gindling Hilltop Camp in Malibu, CA), and going to camp and serving on faculty is the least we can do to give a little back to the institution that has given us so much. In addition to Hilltop and Livingston, I have served as faculty at Crane Lake Camp, Camp Coleman, Camp Newman, and Six Points West. I also serve on the Advisory Committee for Six Points West.

It is my greatest hope that somewhere out there are children that I have inspired with my love for camp. The idea that some of my past campers could be Jewish professionals today is the greatest blessing I could hope for.

I have a podcast! Torah Smash! is a bi-weekly podcast where I chat with Barak Malkin and Ethan Lane-Miller about how our nerd culture hobbies intersect with our professional Jewish lives. You can find Torah Smash! at torahsmash.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Since my first movie that I remember in a theater (The Dark Crystal, 1982), to a VHS collection, a DVD collection, and now a digital collection, I have always loved the escape of cinema. In 2005 I took a course at HUC taught by Dr. Eugene Borowitz (z”l) and Dr. Wendy Zierler called “Reel Theology,” during which we watched several movies and discussed the Jewish values represented (often unintentionally) by the films. I have adapted this course and turned it into “Reel Judaism,” and I have over 50 movies prepared for Jewish movie lovers of all ages who want to watch movies through Jewish eyes.

Every time we sit at a table to dine, we create a mikdash me’at, a tiny altar on which we offer our best as cooks, and fill our souls as we satiate our appetite. Cooking is an expression of love, and I love to invite people to my home, my sukkah, the park, or anywhere we can enjoy a good meal together.

Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kellman teaches that prayer is like jazz. If the prayer leader knows what they are doing, a change in words, music, rhythm, or even location can enhance the experience. I love to create prayer experiences in the most beautiful places. We do Rosh Hashanah on the beach, Shabbat in the park, hiking services, meditation services, rock services, and more. Changing the experience enriches our connection to the Divine.

Travel is a bonding experience for everyone involved, from the person along for the ride to the person who organizes everything. Travel to Israel is a sacred pilgrimage. Travel within the United States can open our eyes to the variety of people and places that call our nation home. Travel should always be done with justice in mind, and the social impact we can have on locals and on the planet.

Jewish learning is what brings us all together. All ages, all abilities, all areas of interest, we can all find things to learn from our sacred texts and from each other. In addition to weekly Torah Study and Talmud Study, I choose a “study theme” every year for the whole congregation. Here are some of the classes I have taught over the years:

Change Through Middot (Jewish Values)

Reel Judaism (Watching movies with Jewish eyes)

Cooking

Jewish Superheroes

Bamidbar (“in the Wilderness”) Camping Experience

Adult B’mitzvah

Jewish Women Authors Series

So much more!

If it were not for Camp Livingston in Bennington, Indiana, I would not be a rabbi today. Camp has meant so much to my wife and me (we met at Gindling Hilltop Camp in Malibu, CA), and going to camp and serving on faculty is the least we can do to give a little back to the institution that has given us so much. In addition to Hilltop and Livingston, I have served as faculty at Crane Lake Camp, Camp Coleman, Camp Newman, and Six Points West. I also serve on the Advisory Committee for Six Points West.

It is my greatest hope that somewhere out there are children that I have inspired with my love for camp. The idea that some of my past campers could be Jewish professionals today is the greatest blessing I could hope for.

I have a podcast! Torah Smash! is a bi-weekly podcast where I chat with Barak Malkin and Ethan Lane-Miller about how our nerd culture hobbies intersect with our professional Jewish lives. You can find Torah Smash! at torahsmash.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Since my first movie that I remember in a theater (The Dark Crystal, 1982), to a VHS collection, a DVD collection, and now a digital collection, I have always loved the escape of cinema. In 2005 I took a course at HUC taught by Dr. Eugene Horowitz (z”l) and Dr. Wendy Zierler called “Reel Theology,” during which we watched several movies and discussed the Jewish values represented (often unintentionally) by the films. I have adapted this course and turned it into “Reel Judaism,” and I have over 50 movies prepared for Jewish movie lovers of all ages who want to watch movies through Jewish eyes.

Every time we sit at a table to dine, we create a mikdash me’at, a tiny altar on which we offer our best as cooks, and fill our souls as we satiate our appetite. Cooking is an expression of love, and I love to invite people to my home, my sukkah, the park, or anywhere we can enjoy a good meal together.