Rabbi Jeffrey Wildstein is a passionate rabbinic leader and educator who enjoys engaging with diverse people from all faith backgrounds. He served as rabbi for fourteen years in congregations in Minneapolis, Indianapolis and Massachusetts. Over the course of his rabbinate he has officiated at hundreds of lifecycle events including brit milah, baby namings, b’nei mitzvah, weddings and funerals. In every lifecycle event, he focuses on providing an individualized experience, adapting Jewish traditions to the needs and desires of the celebrant or mourners and his or her family. Rabbi Wildstein takes special personal and professional pride in creating spiritual, enriching and meaningful moments for Jews of all levels of observance, interfaith couples and families, parents and children, and all who wish to celebrate the joys and blessings of life.
Rabbi Wildstein is the author of Judaism in the “Idiot’s Guides” series from Alpha books, a Penguin Random House Company. He has taught adult learning courses on Basic Judaism, Torah Study, God and Theology, Jewish History, and Talmud. In addition to having taught courses for beginning and advanced learners, he has frequently presented to and hosted diverse church communities, counseled interfaith families, and led an interfaith clergy association and interfaith programming.
Rabbi Wildstein’s education includes a Rabbinic Smicha (ordination) and a Master in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, Ohio; a Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School, Ithaca, New York; a Bachelor of Art in History from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management for Rabbis from Hebrew College/Boston University Institute for Non-Profit Management and Leadership.
Rabbi Wildstein grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, in an active Jewish family. He was involved in his synagogue and youth group while growing up. He is married to his wife of over twenty years, Andrea, and has a long-haired miniature dachshund named Mischief.