Sam Arnold

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Feb 6, 2022, 5:55 AM

Parshat Terumah: Using Our Gifts to Build (And Rebuild) Sanctuary and Community

"Ve'asu Li Mikdash Veshachanti Betocham" (Shemot 25:8). "Va'anachnu Nevarech Yah Me'atah Ve'ad Olam" (Tehillim 115:18). When I first came to Kalamazoo and interviewed to be a part of the OKCJS Religious School, something that I was really excited about (and...

Jan 30, 2022, 4:23 AM

Parshat Mishpatim: What Jewish Life at CoM (And Everywhere) Can Be

Shabbat Shalom!! If you travel with me to last Shabbat, you might recall that we stood together for the recitation of the Aseret Hadibrot, the Ten Commandments. Out of all ten commandments, one of the hardest Mitzvot for our daily...

Dec 12, 2021, 4:49 AM

Embracing Gen Z and Beyond: An Insight into 21st Century American Judaism

Shabbat Shalom!! First, I would like to begin with saying thank you to Rabbi Estrin for inviting me to share words of both what I will call Torah and what I hope will be an inspiration with all of you,...

Aug 21, 2021, 12:40 AM

Parshat Ki Teitzei: Words or Actions or Both?

If one was to ask if words or actions (or both) were more (equal if both) important, what would you choose? For the past eight weeks, I have taken a Leadership Education class that has very much focused on what...

May 15, 2021, 12:53 AM

Blossoming mitzvot: Shavuot 5781

Two weeks ago, a teacher and mentor of mine published an amazing new story for Shavuot titled “A Gift for Shira." Excited to share with my students during drop-ins, I eagerly downloaded the book and with the students (all...

Dec 2, 2020, 11:56 PM

Secular and Jewish Education: Better Together

During the Year, I always strive to open my eyes to new ideas in the world. Sometimes, these ideas relate specifically to my Jewish Identity, and sometimes they relate to my excitement for Early Childhood/Elementary Education. But, recently, I found...

Jan 21, 2020, 10:48 AM

Conservative Judaism: Time to Balance the “What” with the “Why”

This past December, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Rabbinical Assembly partnered together for a collaborative convention titled 20/20 Judaism. This convention, meant to bring together Conservative Rabbi's, Cantors, Educators and members from all across the United...

Oct 25, 2019, 11:17 AM

One Small Voice: A Letter to the Cantor from His Student

Cantor Gutman: As an Early Childhood/Elementary Education Major, my peers (or as I like to call them: Future Colleagues) in my Education Cohort and I have been discussing how impactful certain T.V shows have been on our childhood. We were...

Sep 26, 2019, 10:14 AM

Keter Melucha: The Call to Balance

My Congregational Hazzan, Hazzan David Propis, posted one day on Facebook a video highlighting the Spirit Series, thirteen CDs made up of traditional and contemporary Tefillot and Songs from the members of The Cantors Assembly. Seeing the post, I...

Jun 27, 2019, 10:52 PM

The comfort of Judaism within an ever-changing world

The complexity of being in high school can be quite insane. There is a need to fit in to maintain social dialogue, while at the same time, trying to find oneself to figure out how they, as an individual,...

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About Me

Sam Arnold is a Magna Cum Laude and Presidential Scholar graduate from Western Michigan University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education with a minor in Comparative Religions. While at the University, Sam taught various grades at the Marvin and Rosalie Okun Kalamazoo Community Jewish School – a joint Religious School between the Congregation of Moses and Temple B’nai Israel. Additionally, Sam was a part of the first-ever NEWCAJE College Cohort, the second HUC Teaching Impact Fellowship, was a past Hadar Davening College Fellow, and is a Past President of the Western Michigan University Hillel. Sam currently lives in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

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