How to Find a Rabbi
Finding a rabbi who speaks to you personally can be an important part of your religious experience. Different rabbis practice different denominations of Judaism, such as Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative, but beyond these broad categories, each rabbi has a personalized approach to worship and study. It is good to find a rabbi who makes you feel comfortable in your congregation, but it is also important to find one who makes you feel challenged. Judaism is a religion that encourages you to think and ask questions, and a good rabbi stimulates your intellect as well as your spiritual sense.
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Instructions
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Attend congregations in your area. Observe the rabbis, asking yourself whether you would want to look to them for spiritual guidance. Listen to their interpretations of the text, as well as their intonations, body language, and general demeanor. Do their words make you think, and encourage you to see your daily experience in a religious and spiritual context? Do their words challenge you and stay with you after the service? Would you feel comfortable sitting in this particular rabbi's congregation on an ongoing basis?
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Call the synagogues of the rabbis you liked and respected, and ask to make an appointment to speak to their rabbi. Interview several rabbis one-on-one, asking yourself whether you would be comfortable coming to them to discuss personal issues and religious concerns. Choose a rabbi who you could envision working with on a long-term basis.
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