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Jay Rosenbaum
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Jay Rosenbaum
The Blogs

Jay Rosenbaum

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Sep 11, 2023, 2:32 PM
Featured Post
Why I’m optimistic about Israel’s future
A protest in Seattle against the judicial overhaul. July 23, 2023 (courtesy)
What began as a protest movement could become a movement to forge an exciting new vision for the Jewish people
Mar 1, 2022, 5:33 AM
The Jewish Cinderella: A Tale of Chosen People
Many years ago, my home shul of Temple Beth El in North Bellmore, NY put on a hilarious Purim shpiel called “Estherella” in which Esther appears as the Biblical version of Cinderella. It’s natural to compare the two women....
Feb 9, 2022, 12:40 AM
Featured Post
Blacks and Jews have unfinished business
For both groups, the Bible is our Romeo and Juliet. (Bishop Garry Tyson (l), Dr. Mark Jones (ctr) and Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum)
Despite good reasons to be allies, our communities have been struggling with the relationship. Exploring Biblical stories together can help
Jan 20, 2022, 9:48 PM
Caught Between Helplessness and Invincibility
Parashat Yitro describes a precedent which can guide us in understanding the impact of the recent events in Colleyville. As the parasha opens, Moses’s father in law pays a visit to Moses in the desert. He sees Moses is...
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About Me
Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum is rabbi emeritus of Herzl-Ner Tamid Congregation in Mercer Island, WA after serving 17 years as HNT’s senior rabbi. He currently chairs the Seattle JCRC's Intergroup Relations Committee. As a congregational rabbi for 39 years, he has often been called upon to bring together people with opposing agendas. His work as a pastor is rooted in the central Jewish spiritual practice of Torah study which at its core is about harmonizing diverse opinions. Rabbi Rosenbaum has devoted his life’s energy to making peace between ancient texts with modern sensibilities. He believes that if you can close the gap between two ideas, you can overcome the barriers between two human beings. In recent years, he has concentrated on deepening understanding between the Black and Jewish communities, Muslims and Jews, Christians and Jews, and Israeli Jews and American Jews.