Our Senior Rabbi

Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe Bernhard
I am a Torah loving, evolution believing, husband, father, son and brother. I was raised in a loving, supportive, completely non-observant home by parents who valued and modeled education, respect, communication, passion and love.

So, on the one hand, my family still has no idea how they raised a Rabbi. On the other hand, given my family life, it makes perfect sense that I not only became a Rabbi but also have been a Rabbi at Adat Ari El since 1996. What drew me to Judaism was a language, ritual, and vision of how to be in this world that reflected the values instilled in me.

What has made Adat Ari El the place for my wife Laurie and me to live, raise our three boys and plant our roots, is a community of people who share these values and believe this is a way to live and make the world a better place.

You can connect with me at: rabbijjb@adatariel.org