About Our Rabbi

I grew up in Argentina, in a family that was very involved in Jewish life. My father was a rabbi, my mother was a Jewish educator, and my siblings were engaged in the Jewish community and Zionist youth organizations. I was active in my congregation, went daily to a supplemental religious school after public school, often led services, was part of a youth group, and worked in the congregation as a madrich for younger children.

After high school, I decided to move to Israel and study at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. I lived, studied, and worked there for seven years, during which I obtained a BA in International Relations and a BA in General Studies in Humanities. More importantly, there I met Andrea, my first wife, and together we moved to Mexico City, where we lived for the next five years working as Jewish educators. Andrea taught the toddlers in the day school, while I taught middle and high school classes in a Jewish day school. Once again, I became involved in my congregation, assuming several roles. This led me (now with our five-month-old twins, Eyal and Maaian) to move again to join the Rabbinic School at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio.

I learned and enjoyed serving different congregations throughout the Midwest as a Student Rabbi. But, being a Spanish speaker, I was encouraged to serve in a Spanish-speaking country, where Reform Judaism is still small and in need of help. So, after four years in Cincinnati, after I obtained the Masters of Arts in Hebrew Letters and the Rabbinic Ordination, our family moved to Spain. There, I became the rabbi of the country’s first and sole Reform congregation, in Barcelona.

In Barcelona I spent three intense years of great experiences, with challenges, growth, good friendships, and several goals met. But I realized that the family life I wanted, the Jewish life, and the professional life I wanted were best found with a certain type of congregation and social environment back in the USA.

In 2004, now with my youngest son Dylan, I became Beth Shalom’s rabbi. Here I found a congregation with which I had shared goals: to create a warm community in which Judaism is explored, learned, lived and enjoyed. We developed here our shared approach and priorities for building a congregation: with an open mind and welcoming attitude, aware and appreciative of our diverse personal backgrounds; with an understanding that a congregation and community are built and sustained by each of us making commitments and becoming involved, each in our own ways and according to our abilities.

Beth Shalom has a vision, which is also my vision: To live with tradition, education, community, religion, and Mitzvah; to add meaning and purpose to our life; to connect with nature, people, community, and God.

After years of living in Holly Springs, now my home is in Apex, with my wife Micha and my two step-daughters Ciara and Ariana. 

I have varied personal interests, which include archeology and ancient history, Mediterranean food, nature, science, playing tennis, soccer, world music, and writing. I enjoy being a rabbi because, in addition to all that I have already mentioned, it also allows me and encourages me to be permanently engaged with people of all ages and all styles. Just as you now know a little about me, I look forward to knowing a little about you. My door is always open, and I will be glad if you stop by to say “hello” at any time. And I hope you find being involved and part of our congregation as rewarding as I do.