Rabbi Robin Nafshi (also known as Rabbi Robin) joined Temple Beth-El as Associate Rabbi in 2008, and continues to enthusiastically teach in our Religious School. Rabbi Nafshi brings to our congregation her love of Judaism and Jewish education; her belief in Jewish healing through prayer and community; and her excitement for the opportunity to lead the congregation in Shabbat and holiday services.

Rabbi Nafshi embraces the definition of rabbi as “teacher” – in the classroom, from the bimah, during meetings, and in personal conversations and interactions. A deeply caring and compassionate individual, a powerful listener, and a non-judgmental person, Rabbi Nafshi sees pastoral counseling as another core part of her rabbinate.

Robin Nafshi was born and raised in northern New Jersey and attended New York University and Cornell Law School. After moving to San Francisco, she worked as an attorney, and as a legal author and editor.

While in California, Rabbi Nafshi became very involved in the Jewish community. In addition to being active within her own synagogue, Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, Rabbi Nafshi served on the regional board of the URJ, the Jewish Community Relations Council, the local San Francisco Jewish Community Federation, and the board of the Northern California Jewish News. She was also selected to participate in the Wexner Heritage Foundation’s adult learning program for Jewish community lay leaders.

In the late 1990s, Robin Nafshi realized her calling in her commitment to the Jewish people and Jewish life. In 2000, Rabbi Nafshi was accepted to Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and joined her class in Jerusalem for their first year of rabbinical school studies. Rabbi Nafshi was selected as a Wexner Graduate Fellow, a recipient of a full four-year fellowship and stipend while in rabbinical school. She was the first person in the country ever to be selected to both the Wexner Heritage Foundation lay leader program and the Wexner Graduate Fellowship program.

While in rabbinical school, Robin Nafshi was the Rabbinic Intern at Temple B’nai Or in Morristown, NJ. After her ordination in 2005, she served as the Assistant Rabbi at Temple Emeth in Teaneck, NJ and as a Hospice Chaplain for the Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey. From 2006-2008, she directed Rimon, a community collaborative adult Jewish education program housed at the JCC in West Orange, NJ. Beginning in 2008, not only did Rabbi Robin become Beth-El’s Associate Rabbi, but she also became the Community Rabbi/Community Chaplain for Ohr Tikvah Jewish Healing Center of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties.

Rabbi Nafshi shares her life with her partner, Cantor Shira Nafshi, who serves Temple B’nai Or in Morristown, New Jersey.

If you would like to contact the rabbi, you may call her at 908-722-0674, ext. 19, or you may send Rabbi Nafshi e-mail.