Clergy
Rabbi Stephen Slater
sslater@agudasachim.org
I love being a rabbi and am passionate about inspiring the Jewish community to grow together in Torah, Avodah and Ma’asim tovim. Ordained in 2018, I have led congregations in Birmingham, AL and Glens Falls, NY, and now Columbus, Ohio. My passion is studying and teaching Torah. I am pleased to be part of this historic congregation, and look forward to developing a thriving center of Jewish life right here in Columbus, Ohio.
As I teach, I draw on multiple influences. I studied Hebrew and Second Temple Jewish literature and history at the Hebrew University, the Hartman Institute, the Conservative Yeshiva, and Yeshivat Hadar. I am particularly inspired by a young generation of Jews converging around Yeshivat Hadar who are seeking out a richly textured, egalitarian, halakhic tradition in Judaism that they can sink their teeth into. Here at Agudas my priorities are
exploring new ways of creating soulful prayer through cultivating private kavanna combined with communal singing and mumbling,
cultivating compelling Torah learning experiences,
building community wide collaborations ,
and engaging in Jewish-Christian interfaith theological discussion.
An unusual fact about me is that I grew up in West Africa. I met my life long hevrutah (study partner), Bethany, in undergraduate philosophy class. In my free time, I love to read and write non-fiction. And I especially love to go on adventures with my two young children, Anav and Emet . Please feel free to come see me on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday afternoons. Just sign up for a time using my Calendly.