Rabbi Dorith Hodayah Steinberg

I grew up in a typically secular Israeli family. We resented Judaism as we experienced it practiced in Israel with the infringement of Jewish Orthodox laws on the lives of secular Israelis.

After my compulsory army service I studied Computer Sciences and moved to Southern California where I worked for two years as a programmer. Life/God/The Mystery very gently opened doors to aspects of reality that can not be measured and are not linear. The work of psychologist Carl Rogers opened the doors to inner landscapes and group work. I spent two months at Esalen, a cutting-edge New Age community in Big Sur, California, where I encountered spirituality, yoga, massage therapy, veganism, Gestalt psychology and more. I became conscious of my spiritual yearnings.

Years later, while deeply involved with Living In Process work, I realized how important feelings are and got more in touch with my own. I did 12-Step work, lived in an intentional, spiritual community, and experienced Native American spirituality and culture. When I wanted to delve deeper into Native American wisdom I was told I should first study my own tradition, however I did not believe that Judaism had anything meaningful to offer me.

Yet The Mystery continued to guide me in unexpected ways. I joined Congregation Shaarei Shamayim (CSS) in Madison, WI, mostly to have a Jewish community with which to celebrate holidays. With CSS’s support and a friend’s encouragement I went to an ALEPH’s summer Kallah. I chose a class with Reb Marcia Prager since I’d had a good experience with her when she and Hazan Jack Kessler, of blessed memory led a shabbaton for CSS. To my surprise the class was about leading services. I loved the class and felt drawn to take DLTI, a two-year prayer leadership program. I followed this call not understanding why I was doing it. During DLTI, I deeply connected with my Jewish roots and the seed of the possibility of rabbinic training was planted.

The dancer in me was unearthed when I did several workshops with Gabrielle Roth. Dancing is one of the main ways I access The Mystery. Gratitude to Rabbi Diane Elliot’s Embodying Spirit En-spirited Body program for giving me a Jewish context in which to experience the Divine through dance.

Now here I am, with an overflowing heart, getting ordained more than 10 years after cautiously dipping into Jewish ritual life!

At CSS I serve on the Ritual Committee, lead some services and, and our Torah Study havurah. We share deeply and our experience is always unexpected and rich. A journey into the unknown, with trusted friends, with guidance from generations of Jewish wisdom, sprinkled with Divine dust. As is written in שיר השירים/Song of Songs: ”חֲבֵרִים מַקְשִׁיבִים לְקוֹלֵךְ הַשְׁמִיעִנִי/ Friends are listening to you, let me hear your voice.”

I am grateful to The Mystery for guidance, love, and support. I am grateful to my family and friends, to Congregation Shaarei Shamayim community, the Aleph community – teachers, students and staff, and to my Madison dance community. You walked with me through many challenges and joys. I could not have done it without you. Thank you.