Meet Rabbi Kaiman

Rabbi Ari Kaiman

rabbikaiman@shearithisrael.com

Rabbi Ari Kaiman loves just about everyone he meets. He cherishes relationships with people from all backgrounds and in all stages of life. He considers the opportunity to share the Jewish tradition with people and, together, shaping it one of the greatest blessings of his life.

Rabbi Kaiman was raised in Pensacola, Florida in a multi-generational Jewish family that had grown from an immigrant peddlar to a multi-branched family business of a scrapyard and manufactured steel plant. Though the Jewish community was very small, the extended Kaiman family was always celebrating Jewishly together. From a very young age, Rabbi Kaiman found meaning in teaching his non-Jewish peers the meaning of Judaism. Others knew he would be a Rabbi well before he did.

The institutions of the Conservative movement; Ramah, USY, KOACH, and the Conservative Yeshiva nurtured Rabbi Kaiman's Jewish commitment, and provided him with lifelong friends and his partner in life, Emily.

The Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies gave Rabbi Kaiman the mentorship and guidance to discover his own Rabbinic voice. He remains a proud student of his many teachers who all contributed an essential part of his Torah. Rabbi Kaiman was ordained in 2011.

Rabbi Kaiman's first rabbinic position was working with Rabbi Carnie Rose at Congregation B'nai Amoona in St. Louis. It was there that Rabbi Kaiman developed a deep understanding of the ways synagogues thrive.

In 2016 Rabbi Kaiman was honored to assume the position of Rabbi at Congregation Shearith Israel. In this Congregation, Rabbi Kaiman has overseen a period of tremendous growth and excitement. Shearith Israel is a congregation that thrives because of its incredible culture of volunteerism. The congregation is full of talented members with so much wisdom to share. Rabbi Kaiman strives to enable every member to have the opportunity to be seen and known by the whole congregation.

He believes that all people are fundamentally equal, unique, and dignified by the presence of the divine within them. Meaningful living through Judaism is best achieved through a commitment to practice, and that meaningful practice is different for different people. For some people, a prayer or meditation practice is the way into meaningful living. For others, a learning practice is primary. Still others find that their practice is through their hands working to make the world a little bit better for those less fortunate and for our children and grandchildren. Rabbi Kaiman values diverse experiences and diverse thoughts, especially with those he disagrees with.

He finds deep personal meaning in the belief that the Jewish people with Jewish ideas matter to the world. He is a proud Zionist, believing that the Jewish people in our national homeland have the greatest opportuntiy to contribute to the world through the State of Israel. He works toward the day that the Palestinian people live in peace and dignity alongside the State of Israel. When we work for the collective interest, the self interest is ultimately served.

Ari and Emily are blessed with four awesome and unique children that inspire and challenge them. He enjoys long hikes in beautiful places, lifting heavy weights in Crossfit, and reading great books.

Rabbi David B. Helfand, [He,Him,His] Engagement Rabbi

rabbihelfand@shearithisrael.com

Rabbi David Helfand is a master community builder, a passionate experiential educator, and gifted storyteller. Rabbi David is thrilled to be part of the Shearith Israel community as Engagement Rabbi. Rabbi David completed his rabbinic training at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles, CA, where he also received a Masters in Jewish Education. During his third year of rabbinical school in Israel, Rabbi David learned at the Conservative Yeshiva. It was in the Holy Land that David met his best friend and now wife, Rebekah.

Rabbi David was an AIPAC Leffell Fellow, a Hartman Clergy Student Fellow, and received a Masters Concentration in Israel Education from the iCenter. Rabbi David completed a 400 hour unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Research Medical Center in Kansas City as well as a summer as a Spiritual Counselor at Beit T'shuvah- a Jewish rehab and addiction center. Rabbi David has always been a camp person at heart. Having spent many summers at Camp Sabra as a camper, Rabbi David was a part of the inaugural summers at Camp Ramah in Northern California. Rabbi David continued his experiential education and programming as the Program Director for Limmud North America where he authored the curriculum for the Global Day of Jewish Learning.

Rabbi David is a diehard Kansas City sports fan. When he’s not watching the Royals or Chiefs, you can be sure to find him preparing a delicious cholent for his Shabbat guests, reading, traveling the world, or admiring perhaps one of the greatest kippah and sock collections this side of the Mississippi. Rabbi David and Rebekah are proud parents to Pardes Lev. Be prepared to learn, laugh and deepen your love for Judaism.

Schedule a Meeting with Rabbi Helfand!