Reviews of Jeff's Appearances
Jeff Salkin has spoken in more than a hundred communities – in North America, Europe, and Israel. He delivered the keynote on spirituality at the Chautauqua Institution, and has participated in interreligious dialogue with Christian and Muslim religious leaders – often on very sensitive subjects. Here are some reviews of his talks:
"We had Rabbi Jeff Salkin as a guest speaker on a Friday night to talk about his new book, Inviting God In: A Guide to Jewish Prayer. Rabbi Salkin's presentation was warm and thoughtful. Congregants remarked to me after it that he really made them think and gave them new and powerful ways to imagine God and prayer that they had not considered."
Rabbi Marc Katz, Senior Rabbi, Temple Ner Tamid, Bloomfield, NJ
"Rabbi Salkin has a special combination of brilliance, accessibility, and sensitivity. His presentations and personal conversations inspired a broad cross section of our congregation. I especially appreciated that even though Jeff has presented countless times, he tailored everything in ways that it made just right for our needs."
Rabbi Peter Stein, senior rabbi, Temple Brith Kodesh, Rochester, NY
"Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin speaks like you're having a one-on-one conversation with the village rebbe. He is candid, he is kind and he is wise. Our community left our session inspired and ready to linger on a prayer as long as we need to. As a Jewish educator, I was particularly inspired by his belief in "awe training" as the purpose of Jewish education. We can't wait to have him back!"
Susanna Grant, Director of Education and Programming, Temple Beth Israel, Fresno, CA
“Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin blends a depth of Jewish knowledge with a breadth of contemporary cultural savvy, providing a highly engaging and eminently relevant melange of style and substance. From the wisdom of the rabbis to deep dives into Dylanology, Salkin’s teaching spans the interests and passions of the generations, offering guidance and inspiration for Jewish communities in this challenging moment."
Rabbi Daniel Weiner, Senior Rabbi, Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle, WA
“Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin is the rare, original thinker, who presents his ideas with clarity, humor and uplift. He tackles important issues facing the Jewish future with a willingness to challenge accepted norms. You will leave his presentation with much to ponder.”
Rabbi David Woznica, Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin Chair, Stephen Wise Temple and Schools, Los Angeles, CA
“I want to thank you for dedicating your time to meet with our students. I spoke with some of them, and they really enjoyed your lecture and the concise presentation of the essence of Reform Judaism, as well as the diagrams illustrating the complexity and dynamics of the Jewish community in the United States. Your lecture greatly enriched our program, and I thank you for that.”
Professor Marek Suchar, University SWPS, Sopot, Poland
“It was a pleasure to host Rabbi Jeff Salkin at Congregation Sherith Israel for the weekend of Selichot. He calls upon so many sources— literary, historical, religious, political— to engage his audience members as learners and to think deeply about the complicated world around us. He is one of the great orators of modern Jewish life. It was a privilege to have him teach in our community. I look forward to having him return soon to Sherith Israel! ”
Rabbi Jessica Zimmerman Graf, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco, CA
“Rabbi Jeff Salkin was the 2023 scholar-in-residence at Congregation Keneseth Israel in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Over a three-day period, he delivered a series of five outstanding lectures to a variety of audiences about major issues facing the contemporary American Jewish community. His residency was a huge success. All of his programs were meticulously prepared and beautifully presented. Rabbi Salkin is a terrific speaker with a great sense of humor and he is able to deal with difficult subject matter in a clear and even-handed way. He is truly one of American Judaism's most articulate and dynamic leaders.”
Charles Richter, Chair, Life-Long Learning, Congregation Keneseth Israel, Allentown, PA