Rabbi Tom Samuels

Our Sages ask: From which place in the universe was this earth taken? Was it from Athens or Rome or Jericho? It was taken from all four corners of the earth, they answer, north, south, east, and west. And then they ask: What was the color of this clay that formed the human being? It was black, and white, and red, and yellow, they answer. Whatever color, whatever race, whatever ethnicity, prince or pauper, mighty or weak, God created every human being in His Image, with Divine Potentiality. 

I remember Shabbat afternoons learning the weekly Torah portion with my grandfather, my Zaida. We both loved these sessions: pure joy, connection, safety. He held my hand as I delved into the text, and I held his as he delved into his memories. 

Being a rabbi is my calling. I have a passion to inspire and to engage with others on co-creating meaningful and memory-making Jewish experiences. To help individuals, families and communities navigate times of transitions. To find our spiritual voices.

I am the rabbi at Congregation Kol Ami in Elmira, New York, a sacred place where a diverse group of people, with a wide array of backgrounds, traditions, beliefs, politics, personalities, interests, capabilities and the like… all come together. A meeting place for Holiness, Kedusha to fulfill the Torah's namesake, Sefer Ha’Chayim, the Book of Life. Where we seek together a Judaism that engages, integrates, and inspires the whole person: the world that we inhabit, and the world that we would like to build. Ultimately, a place which encourages embracing our obligations and responsibilities towards each other.

Please feel free to reach out to me, and let's share our search for meaning, purpose and for HaShem.
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B’Shalom,
Rabbi Tom Samuels