Rabbi Benjamin Barnett

Benjamin Barnett was ordained at RRC in 2006 and is currently the rabbi of Havurah Shalom in Portland, Oregon. In that role, he strives to listen deeply and serve as a loving presence, supporting growth, healing and connection in the lives of individuals and within the community. He is passionate about building relationships across religious and cultural lines. As a devoted practitioner and teacher of contemplative Jewish prayer and meditation, he works to inform his pursuit of justice alongside others with the wisdom and compassion born of spiritual practice. Prior to becoming a rabbi, Benjamin worked with mentally ill adults and led wilderness expeditions for teenagers. He lives in Portland with his wife, Rachel, and their children, Lev, Arava and Judah. He teaches on various contemplative retreats in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere. For information about them, he can be reached through the Havurah Shalom website

Essays

Hineinu: Being Here with Truth

January 6, 2020

Acknowledging uncomfortable truths can be liberating. White-identified American Jews can look directly at the fact that they have benefited from government policies and programs that were granted at the expense of people of color.

Rabbi Benjamin Barnett

Essays

Hineinu: Being Here with Truth

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