Nathaniel Helfgot

Nathaniel Helfgot (Netan'el Helfgot) is an American rabbi. He leads Congregation Netivot Shalom of Teaneck, New Jersey, and serves as president of the International Rabbinic Fellowship.

Rabbi

Nathaniel Helfgot
Personal
ReligionJudaism
Children4
Alma materYeshivat Har Etzion
PositionRabbi
SynagogueCongregation Netivot Shalom
SemichaRabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary

Early life

Helfgot studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion for two years, where he was a close student of Aharon Lichtenstein, even serving on the yeshiva's board. He later attended Yeshiva University, the Azrieli Graduate School, and the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, where he obtained his semikhah (rabbinical ordination).[1]

Career

Helfgot is the rabbi of Congregation Netivot Shalom, a left leaning synagogue that many contend is akin to the Neo-Conservative Movement's synagogues although the synagogue does identify as Modern Orthodox ,[2] and serves as president of the International Rabbinic Fellowship.[3] The synagogue is in Teaneck New Jersey.

Helfgot has taught at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education, the Frisch School, the Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School, and the Torah Academy of Bergen County, currently teaching at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and SAR High School, where he is also a department chair.[4] He has served or continues to serve on the steering committee of the Orthodox Forum, as the plenum of the Orthodox Caucus, and on the board of the Association of Modern Orthodox Day Schools.[5]

Helfgot has published articles in various journals such as Tradition, Tehumin, Jewish Action, Ten-Daat, Beit Yitzchak, Megadim, Alon Shvut, Or HaMizrach, The Orthodox Forum Series, The Jewish Week, The Jewish Standard, and Hamevaser.[6]

In February 2019, a three quarters majority of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County's (RCBC) board voted, after meeting twice, to amend its bylaws in order to remove Helfgot and Netivot Shalom from its affiliation over his hiring of a female rabbinic intern from Yeshivat Maharat. Helfgot, who was present at both meetings and addressed the council, issued a statement both praising the RCBC as an institution and expressing his "disagreement and disappointment" with its decision.[2]

Personal life

Helfgot is married to Rachel Brenner.[7] They have four children.

Published works
  • Helfgot, Nathaniel (2012). Mikra and Meaning: Studies in Bible and its Interpretation (1st ed.). Jerusalem: Maggid Books. ISBN 9781613290019. OCLC 779489142.
  • Helfgot, Nathaniel. Divrei Berakah U’Moed: Halakhic Essays on the Topics of Holidays and Blessings. Yeshivat Har Etzion.[1]
  • Community, Covenant, and Commitment: Selected Letters and Communications of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (ISBN 9780881258721). Toras HaRav Foundation.[1]
  • The YCT Companion to the Book of Samuel

References
  1. "Depression in the Orthodox Community: An Interview With Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot". www.vosizneias.com. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 2017-10-29.
  2. Yudelson, Larry (February 12, 2019) "In NJ, Orthodox Rabbis Vote to Bar a Colleague for Training Female Clergy", The Times of Israel. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  3. "IRF Leadership |". internationalrabbinicfellowship.org. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
  4. "Directory - TEMPLATE: New Client Site (Custom)". www.saracademy.org. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
  5. Helfgot, Nathaniel. "Dimensions" (PDF).
  6. "Ask the Rabbi - Netivot Shalom". www.netivotshalomnj.org. Retrieved 2017-10-29.
  7. Schwartz, Bracha (May 4, 2017) "Teaneck Students Place in Top Ten at Chidon HaTanach in Jerusalem", Jewish Link NJ. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
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