Rabbi Becky is visible from the shoulders up. He is wearing a pink v-neck t-shirt, and is smiling with his head tilted slightly to the right. He is standing in front of a blurred bushy background, with some flowers visible.

Becky Silverstein

( he/him )
SVARA Faculty

Rabbi Becky Silverstein believes in the power of community, Torah, and silliness in transforming the world. He strives to build a Jewish community and world that encourages and allows everyone to live a life that reflects their inherent divinity / dignity. Becky is a Schusterman Fellow, and co-initiator of the Trans Halakha Project. He currently serves on the boards of the Jewish Studio Project and The Shalom Center. Becky grew up in New York, holds a B.S. in Engineering from Smith College and Rabbinic Ordination from the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College. Becky resides in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts with his spouse, Naomi Sobel, and kiddos, Edie Gefen and Charlie Alon.

 

Blog posts by Becky Silverstein

Waking Up to Divine Purpose

The mornings come quickly these days. A combination of a 5:15 a.m. alarm, the desire to have adult time after…

Seeking an Incomplete Comfort

One of my earliest memories from my time at Gann Academy, a pluralistic Jewish high school where I taught before…

Love. Awe. Holiness. Wholeness.

Over the past few months, ever since we published the wisdom of the Trans Halakha Project, I have wondered how…

A Force for Deep Connection

A few months ago, we added reciting the Shema to our toddler’s bedtime routine. Edie had experienced a language explosion…

Go Out and See

The Torah serves as the backbone of Jewish life, laying out a communal origin story and providing the foundation of…

Resetting the Ritual Clock

This week, I’ve heard the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris described in several ways: as a new…

Investing in Queer & Trans Torah

We have heard from y’all time and time again that the most powerful, connected moments of learning happen when we…

Say Little. Do Much.

  …שַׁמַּאי אוֹמֵר עֲשֵׂה תוֹרָתְךָ קֶבַע אֱמֹר מְעַט וַעֲשֵׂה הַרְבֵּה Shammai used to say: Make your learning fixed. Speak little,…

Speaking Our Vision For Liberation

With gratitude to Beyn Kodesh l’Chol “Learning for Liberation” Bet Midrash for deepening my understanding of this text. As Passover…