AMA: Ask the Rabbis 5786
Join us on THURSDAY, SEPT 03, at 4:00pm ET (NYC) in this thread for our SIXTH ANNUAL Ask the Rabbis with some of our community rabbonim!
This thread is being posted early (i.e. now) for anyone who is concerned about missing this very splendid and worthwhile AMA event. However, no one should expect any answers to their questions until the date and time noted above, below, and elsewhere.
Here are the previous group AMAs:
- First year: https://www.reddit.com/r/Judaism/comments/pei666/ama_ask_the_rabbis/
- Second year: https://www.reddit.com/r/Judaism/comments/xib66l/ama_ask_the_rabbis/
- Third year: https://www.reddit.com/r/Judaism/comments/16fxk1x/ama_ask_the_rabbis_5783/
- Fourth year: https://www.reddit.com/r/Judaism/comments/1fp754m/ama_ask_the_rabbis_5784/
- Last year: https://www.reddit.com/r/Judaism/comments/1niev3b/ama_ask_the_rabbis_5784/
These Redditors have provided proof to the mod team that they have smicha/Rabbinical ordination. Some have committed to the AMA. Some might respond after the scheduled time, due to other responsibilities, time differences, and not prioritizing reddit as we all should. Others might not participate at all, because they have what we call a "life."
Any of the rabbis, even if they didn't respond, can participate if they see the thread and want to participate. You can find some of their bios in some of the previous AMAs.
The goal of this panel is to answer your questions about Jewish law, thought, community, and practice, from a variety of viewpoints within beit (beis/beth) Reddit. You are welcome to ask more personal ("regular AMA") questions alongside those deeper queries.
It is the rabbi's prerogative to answer any questions.
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Bios written/submitted by the subjects.
- u/rabbijonathan [Reconstructionist, Reform, Welcoming] - Jonathan Freirich was ordained at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1999. He holds dual affiliation with both Reconstructing Judaism and the Reform Movement. He earned an Executive Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University in 2023. His work blends rigorous scholarship, pastoral wisdom, and a lifelong commitment to justice and healing with a compassionate understanding that we all need to be seen for who we are.
- u/billwrtr [Reform] - billwrtr is a 79 y/o dude who grew up Orthodox, ordained Reform, member of Conservative, so feels qualified to dump on all three equally. He's had a few pulpits, written a couple of books, run a few marathons, worked in mental health and information technology, raised a few kids, plays with a group of grandkids, and still with original wife. To say more would make self-doxxing too easy.
- u/AngelHipster1 [Reform] - CCAR member, former pulpit rabbi. Rational mystic encountering the depths of our wisdom as a feminist mom. Person with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, too disabled to work.
- u/SF2K01 [Orthodox] - Originally from Columbus, Ohio, I was exposed to a variety of denominations growing up, from Reform to Orthodox, before settling on Modern Orthodoxy as a teenager. I only attended public schools and went straight to college after high school, attended the University of Cincinnati and got my undergraduate degree in Jewish Studies. Afterwards, I spent 2 years in Israel learning in Shapell’s Darche Noam before coming to Yeshiva University for my graduate degree in Jewish History at Revel and achieved Rabbinic Ordination through YU’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. After completing my studies, I worked in outreach for a few years before working as a fundraiser for Jewish institutions, and now oversee nonprofit operations in my professional and personal life as president of the shul board. Aside from my Rabbinic and Academic interests, I am a longtime gamer, sci-fi and tech enthusiast, and reside in Washington Heights, Manhattan, with my wife, two daughters, and two Siamese cats.
- u/NewYorkImposter [Chabad]
- u/theislandjew [Chabad]
- u/NetureiKarta [Hasidic] - NetureiKarta grew up in a family connected to a particular Hungarian chasidus but drew close to Breslev as a bochur. Today he maintains warm connections with several additional chasidic groups as well. His rebbe shlita (a prominent mekubal in Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh) would greatly prefer if he were not on the internet. While NetureiKarta was indeed a member of a faction of Neturei Karta as a young man, his stance has softened over time. While still entirely opposed philosophically to zionism, this has no connection to how one should relate to individual Jews, all of whom are precious holy gems of the highest quality.
- u/rabbifuente [Traditional/Halachic Non-Denominational] - I grew up in the Reform movement in the Chicago suburbs. After years of independent study and learning with a number of wonderful rabbis, I received smicha from a small, independent program in 2021 and am currently working on orthodox smicha. I am a "non-denominational" rabbi in the sense that I don't belong to one particular movement, however I fall somewhere around MO in terms of theology. I like to think that having grown up Reform and now being on the more traditional end of the spectrum gives me a certain perspective that many find helpful. Currently, I am focusing on small group/1:1 study and "religious" counseling. I am always more than happy to talk to anyone about Judaism, answer questions, etc. Outside of rabbinics, I am an avid bread baker and microbakery owner, cigar enthusiast, passionate home cook, pickle maker/snob, and hockey fan.
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Note: If you are a rabbi with a smicha and would like to be recognized here with a special flair, please message the mods with your smicha. Learn more here. The flair is generally just Rabbi - denomination.
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The AMA will start:
- 4:00p ET (NYC)
- Thursday, September 03, 2026 / Yom Chamishi, 21 Elul 5786