Jonathan Blake helps us center our stories within the master story of Judaism and the Jewish people.
As rabbi of Westchester Reform Temple, a position he has served since 2003 (Associate, 2003-2011; Senior, 2011-Present), Rabbi Blake shares his love of God, Torah, and Israel through education, preaching, writing, public advocacy, and sacred relationship with the congregational community.
Rabbi Blake is a prominent commentator on Judaism and spiritual life. He has appeared in The New York Times, GQ Magazine, the documentary films 51 Birch Street and 112 Weddings and has authored numerous essays and articles for print and online publications. He regularly shares reflections on his blog, rabbiblake.org, and as a host of the podcasts Everything is Connected and The Clergy Pod.
He currently serves on the Boards of UJA-NY and Zioness, as the Co-Chair of the Annual Giving Campaign of the CCAR, and on the President’s Rabbinic Council of HUC-JIR. He is also a chaplain of the Police and Fire Departments of the Village of Scarsdale.
A summa cum laude graduate of Amherst College (1995) and ordained from HUC-JIR (Cincinnati, 2000), Jonathan’s journey to the rabbinate began in a loving and vibrant Reform Jewish home in Allentown, PA and included three years of rabbinical service to Temple Beth-El in Providence, Rhode Island, upon ordination, before moving to Westchester to serve WRT.
Under Rabbi Blake’s leadership, WRT is shaping itself to meet the unique demands and opportunities facing the 21st-century Jewish community. An avid singer and lover of music, Jonathan is married to performing artist Kelly McCormick, whom he met singing at Shabbat services in Cincinnati.
To contact Rabbi Blake, please email Suzanne Saperstein to assist you.