Rabbi Nathan Alfred
Hello! I'm Rabbi Nathan.
I grew up in London and studied Classics at King’s College, Cambridge. After graduating I moved to Budapest to play chess, a life-long passion, and gained the title of Fide Master. But then I made a different move: I trained for the rabbinate in London and Jerusalem. Upon ordination I worked as a community rabbi for twelve years, six in Europe, simultaneously in Brussels and in Luxembourg, and six in Asia, based in Singapore. In 2020 I made Aliyah and can now be found, with my wife and son, at home in Jerusalem. Meanwhile I work in New York City, where I am the spiritual leader of the Free Synagogue of Flushing, the oldest Reform shul in Queens.
I am a long-time member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, as well as a founding member and former Vice-President of Kerem (the Conference of Francophone Rabbis). I have also served as Vice-Chair of the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors (ARC) of Australia, New Zealand and Asia. I am a member of MARAM (Israeli Rabbinate) and the New York Board of Rabbis, and in 2023 was awarded a JJGI Fellowship for Rabbis and Senior Educators.
Being Jewish is a joyful expression of my identity. I enjoy bringing people together to build communities that support each other through good times and bad. We have much to learn from one another!
CURRENT PROJECTS
2022-PRESENT
2022-PRESENT
FREE SYNAGOGUE OF FLUSHING, QUEENS, NEW YORK
I am delighted to be working as rabbi and spiritual leader of the oldest Reform synagogue in Queens, the world's most diverse borough.
TORAH THROUGH ANIMALS
I have begun teaching a unique online Parashat Hashavua class - looking at the weekly Torah portions through the animals that are found there. Students participate across the timezones: from both coasts of the US, Europe, and Asia. With artwork by my talented friend in Taiwan, Leon Fenster.
2022-PRESENT
LIBERAL LITVAK COMMUNITY, VILNIUS
I have been visiting Vilnius as a volunteer, helping to build the first Liberal Litvak Community in Lithuania. We have conducted bar and bat mitzvahs, held regular Shabbat services, seen the first adult women reading Torah, and are building the formations for liberal Jewish life in Lithuania.
2021-PRESENT
DESTINATION WEDDINGS AND BAR/BAT MITZVAHS IN ISRAEL AND AROUND THE WORLD
I have partnered with my chess friend of twenty years, Peter Gokhvat, who is a qualified Israeli tour operator and guide. He would be happy to support people wanting to visit Israel and celebrate their simchas. Peter handles all the logistical arrangements, and I look after the rituals!
2019-PRESENT
THE IMAM AND THE RABBI
This project is still very much a work-in-progress. With my close friend and teacher, Imam Dr Mamadou Bocoum, the idea is to create a travelogue series around Europe in dialogue as Muslim and Jewish religious leaders. We made the trailer in July 2019 and were negotiating a deal with a commercial media company before the pandemic struck and everything was put on hold!
PREVIOUS PROJECTS
WORLD UNION FOR PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM
Based in Jerusalem, I worked for the umbrella body, aiming to support around 1200 congregations in more than 50 countries around the world.
2021
BAALEI TEFILLAH EUROPE 2021
I created, led and taught this innovative prayer training course for 29 lay leaders from across the European progressive communities. It was an opportunity to train new leadership especially for our communities that cannot afford to employ full-time rabbis.
2021-2022
INSTITUTE OF MODERN JEWISH STUDIES, MOSCOW
I assumed the role of Acting Principal for the Institute of Modern Jewish Studies in Moscow, Russia. There were fourteen students working towards their BA degree at the Russian State University of the Humanities, whilst taking additional courses at the Moscow Centre for Progressive Judaism. Some go on to Berlin to train as rabbis and cantors at the University of Potsdam and the Abraham Geiger Kolleg. They will become the next generation of progressive Jewish leadership in our Russian-speaking communities.
2015-2020
UNITED HEBREW CONGREGATION, SINGAPORE
I worked as the first resident rabbi of what has become the largest Jewish community in South-East Asia. Achievements include creating a Sunday school, increased worship (on Shabbat and a weekly minyan on Thursday mornings), and popular adult education programmes. We also focussed on interfaith activities, Tikkun Olam, and improved regional cooperation.
2016-2020
ASIAN BEIT DIN
With the cooperation of my colleagues in Hong Kong and Tokyo, I founded a regional progressive rabbinical court for conversion candidates, under the auspices of the Union for Progressive Judaism. We met at least once per year and welcomed new Jews from our communities and across South-East Asia.
2016-2020
ASIA PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM
I also played my part in developing regional cooperation amongst the different progressive communities in South-East Asia. Initiatives included teen trips to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai and Singapore, and young adults weekends in Bali, Yangon and Vientiane. I also helped to create new communities in Bali and Phnom Penh, and worked with smaller groups in Vietnam and Malaysia.
2009-2014
COMMUNAUTÉ ISRAELITE D’ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE, LUXEMBOURG
I helped to transform a moribund traditional community into a more liberal and lively congregation. Changes included counting women in the minyan and the first ever bat-mitzvahs in Luxembourg, where girls read from the Torah. Membership quadrupled and we became a synagogue for both locals and expats, anglophones and francophones, sephardim and ashkenazim, liberals and conservatives.
2007-2014
INTERNATIONAL JEWISH CENTER, BELGIUM
For seven years I was rabbi of this warm and dynamic anglophone community in the heart of Europe. We grew together in size and in Jewish experience. Highlights included the teen group, with trips to Israel, Hungary and Poland, as well as well-attended Shabbat services and their first conversion programme.
