Shalom Aleichem – Peace to You!

Welcome2

As a congregational rabbi my most fulfilling work is leading bar and bat mitzvahs, baby naming ceremonies, end of life rituals, and traveling to perform spiritually centered destination weddings. I have been the spiritual leader of Havurah Shir Hadash Synagogue, a Jewish Renewal synagogue in Ashland, Oregon since 1996. It is a privilege to serve G-d and the Jewish people in this way!

L’cha Dodi: A Prayerbook for Friday Evening

A one-of-a-kind prayerbook featuring full transliteration and translations of prayers, and hymns for the Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv services by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi zt”l. Compiled by Rabbi David Zaslow and Rabbi Emanuel Ben-David

To purchase a hard copy or PDF of L’cha Dodi.

Rabbi David Ingber said this:

“The siddur is remarkable. I’m blown away by it…every page feels like an immediate immersion in Reb Zalman’s own heart and soul. I feel him on every page and in every word. This siddur is like praying inside of a master’s own heart/mind as he felt G-d’s presence and imbued the words with his own intentions. It’s so beautiful and necessary. Medicine for those who yearn to pray Jewishly…with feeling.”

Rabbi Diane Elliot  said this:

“Rabbis Ben-David and Zaslow have done a great service for those drawn to Judaism as a living, evolving tradition. Leha Dodi is a liturgical treasure trove for all who wish to celebrate the Shabbat evening service in a gloriously melodic, deeply inspirited way.”

My book, Reimagining Exodus: A Freedom Story, is based on solid, academic scholarship. It attempts to bridge the gap between Judaism and Christianity without diluting the unique features and spiritual practices of each religion. The  Exodus is the most influential freedom story ever told. It has served as both an inspiration for Puritans, American revolutionaries, abolitionists, Mormons, the modern civil rights movement, and revolutionaries the world over. In Jewish tradition, the Exodus is also applied to every individual’s life journey. The book is available now and orders are being taken now by Amazon, your local bookseller like Bloomsbury Books that we are fortunate to have in Ashland, Oregon, or by your favorite online bookseller.

I am honored that the book has been endorsed by Rabbi Goldie Milgram, Rabbi Julie Danan, Rabbi Arthur Green, Rabbi Wayne Dosick, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Marriane Williamson, Rodger Kamenetz, Father Mike Walker, Dr. Sam Edelman, Rev. Anne Bartlett, and Rev. Barbara Campbell. 

   Father Richard Rohr said this:

“Rabbi Zaslow weaves a connective tapestry for people of faith who no longer want their religions to divide them from each other. Reimagining Exodus takes the reader on a timeless journey. It shows how the Passover story has been a roadmap for both spiritual and personal liberation for thousands of years. As the foundational story beneath Judaism and Christianity it is time to reimagine how this seminal story relates to our world and our personal lives today.”

The transliterated siddur (prayerbook) that I edited, Ivdu et Hashem B’simcha, is available as a PDF eBook perfect for your laptop, iPad, or smart phone, or in hard copy book form from Amazon. The book has been adopted as the siddur in synagogues and havurot all over America and contains contemporary and inspiring new translations and easy to follow transliterations.

About this Website

I hope you find the website educational and and enjoyable. Some of the pages reflect my earlier career working with teachers and children in public schools that began more than forty-six years ago, as well as my current work as a congregational rabbi, writer, and guest lecturer. You are invited to check out my books, essays, and poetry.

Over the years I have had the honor of recording some wonderful Jewish songs and children’s poetry that are available for FREE downloading here. In partnership with composer/pianist Patti Moran McCoy I wrote and produced original children’s poetry set to the fabulous blues and jazz she composed and arranged. We recorded them the early 1980’s, and they are now available to you free for the first time in over thirty-six years. You’ll be able to download the poems/music along with the PDF of the corresponding text under the heading Kid’s Poems on this website. Along with poet Lawson Inada we were awarded the American Book Award in 1988 for our double LP called Shakin Loose with Mother Goose. In recent years some of my most important work has been in organizing interfaith gatherings with representatives of all religions and spiritual paths.

In addition, on this website you’ll find books of poetry that I’ve written for both adults and children.

 • Follow me on Twitter @shalomrav18