Pronouns: He / Him / His
What do people call me? Rabbi Werbow
Organization: Tifereth Israel Congregation
Denomination: Conservative
Where was I ordained? Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies
Where am I located? DC
What do I love most about my work? I love the opportunities to connect with people. These opportunities come on all different occasions. When I am meeting with a family who recently lost a loved one they will often say, “This must be the hardest part of your job.” I share that it isn’t hard because I get the opportunity to get to know them and their loved one better. Whether I am meeting with someone for a Bar/Bat/Kabbalat Mitzvah, a wedding a Bris or a Baby Naming, I see it the same. I get to meet people, I get to share the richness of our tradition and I get to make their lives more meaningful.
How is Judaism valuable in my life? Judaism is not meant to be lived in a vacuum. Almost every observance is enhanced by being done in community. We have a minyan for prayer, we have meals with family and friends around our Shabbat table and we have a whole host of obligations regarding how we interact with others around us. The community that I find, steeped in Judaism, is enriching. It lifts up my joys to new heights and helps to temper my sorrows when they occur.
Why did I decide to become a Rabbi? In short, I was doing it already. Following many years teaching in a religious school and working at Jewish summer camps, I was working as a youth director at a synagogue. I found that they were asking me to be the rabbi for the teens (just as the parents had the rabbi) but I didn’t feel prepared. So, I went to rabbinical school.
What services do I offer? Weddings/Other Lifecycle Events, LGBTQIA Counseling, Conversions, Holiday Services, Young Family Opportunities, Counseling, Group Learning, 1:1 Learning Opportunities, Shabbat Services, Couples Classes, Adult B’nai Mitzvah
For more information, email me!
