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Natan's life up to today
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Nathan is curious about faith...
I was born into a Christian family, with no known Jewish ancestry, in South Louisiana. I was always a spiritual and curious person. When I was around 12 or 13 I seriously began to question the religion of my birth, and was looking for what was right for me. I had always been drawn to the stories of the Tanakh and quickly found my self learning as much as I could about Judaism. -
First time at shul...
When I was in boarding school in North Louisiana I had the oppurtunity to attend services for the first time. One of our teachers offered to bring students with him and his family to the Reform shul in Alexandria for Rosh Hashana services. I remember for the first time really feeling at home in a spiritual environment. Feeling like my values and beliefs were reflected in the spiritual life of a community. -
Off to college...
When I was in college I became an active member in both of the Reform congregations in Baton Rouge. I went to community learning sessions, shabbat services, local events like the Jewish film festival, etc. I also began learning with Rabbi Jordan for my conversion. -
Nathan gets a new name...
After 2 years of study and participating in my Jewish community I was officially welcomed into the covenant on May 20, 2012. Soon afterwards I had a bar mitzvah where my parents and my sister, along with friends and community members, attended to show their support and welcome me along this new chapter of my journey. -
Natan's first Nehirim East...
In search of queer Jewish community I went on the annual Nehirim East retreat at the Isabella Retreat Center in Falls Village, Connecticut. I had my first shomer shabbat experience with community, and it was made even more special by being in queer Jewish community for the first time. I left this experience knowing that I wanted to make a professional commitment to the Jewish community. -
Working at Uri L'Tzedek
After the suggestion came from one of my rabbis to apply for a summer fellowship with Uri L'Tzedek (an Orthodox social justice organization in NYC), I applied and got accepted. I spent the summer living and working in the Modern Orthodox (mostly of the YCT/Open Orthodox variety) for food worker justice. It was a summer of learning Torah and living Judaism in a totally new way for me. -
Off to the Holy Land...
In my last year of college I was dedicated to two things, graduating on time and spending the next year learning at Pardes. I accompleshed both goals and flew into Israel for ulpan in July of 2014. It was my first time in Israel. My year at Pardes was one of the, if not the most influential years of my life. It was during this year that I knew I wanted to work in Jewish Education, and took steps to begin shaping that future. -
Off to NYC...
After my year of Torah lishma at Pardes, and having been accepted to PEP cohort 2016, I continued my studies at Yeshivat Hadar in the summer. It was great being back in NYC, learning with old and new friends, and growing in a traditional egalitarian space. -
Mikva: Part II...
In my year at Pardes I was also in communication with an Orthodox rabbi in NYC about affirming my conversion to Judaism. I spent the year in dialogue with him about this, and in the summer while I was learning at Yeshivat Hadar we completed the process. -
Return to the Holy Land...
After the summer I returned to Eretz Yisrael to start PEP, and couldn't be more excited for what's to come!
