Yisroel

Everyone needs a
Rabbi sometimes

Rabbi Yisroel Finman

Rabbi Yisroel, founder and director of Nishmat

Kol Chai

innovative jewish

solutions

, has been involved in Jewish spirituality for over 35 years.

Rabbi Finman received ordination

from

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach

and

one

his leading disciples.

His approach to

Judaism has also

been

greatly

inspired

by Rabbis

Shlomo Halberstam

(the Bobover Rebbe),

Shloime

Twerski

(the Hornisteipler Rebbe)

and Zalman Schachter-Shalomi

(founder

of Jewish Renewal).

Rabbi Yisroel Finman is well versed in the spirituality of kabalah, chasidus

and Jewish mysticism. His approach to contemporary kabalah has been

influenced by Harav Avraham Brandwein (the Strettiner Rebbe).

Rabbi Yisroel's journey has been rather nonconventional.

He was born in

Newark, NJ and raised in a typical post war

setting: Orthodox grandparents

who produced Conservadox

children who in turn produced modern

Ameri

can children.

As a teen Yisroel questioned diluted Judaism and social

conventions,

and

initiated a search which traversed the worlds

of eastern religions and

alternative lifestyles and lead him to a

strengthening of his roots.

While in college in San Francisco he encountered

Rabbi

Shlomo Carlebach

The

House of Love and Prayer,

the only Jewish presence in Haight

Ashbury.

His experiences with the Singing Rabbi kindled a dormant flame,

and he

became Shlomo Carlbach's student.

His increased involvement in Jewish practice

and The House of

Love and

Prayer led to his

becoming its Assistant Director.

As his thirst

for Torah

knowledge grew, he

realized that

needed a structured study

program, so

attended

yeshiva in Denver

for two years

under the tutelage of the

great Rabbi Shloime Twerski.

Subsequently he moved back to San Francisco

and

became Director of

House of Love

and Prayer

through whose

doors

countless searching Jews

began a journey of reconnecting to their

souls,

experienc

ing

the ecstasy of

G*dliness

and

bec

oming

reacquainted

with

their heritage

Although he realized that

his true calling

was

to be a Rabbi,

his familial

responsibilities necessitated his

working in

physical labor such as

underground construction, home

remodeling, truck driving, production

plant, restaurant

and retail

management.

Eventually Rabbi Yisroel became involved in the kosher food industry,

supervising the production of dairy

products in Lancaster County,

Pennsylvania, and working in a kosher slaughterhouse in Denver.

This evolved into positions as Director of the Vaad Ha-Ir of Syracuse,

Inspector for New York State Dept. of

Agriculture/ Kosher Law Enforcement,

and Mashgiach for the OU, OK, StarK and Satmar kashruth

organization

In due course Rabbi Yisroel was able pursue intensive Rabbinic studies

leading towards Rabbinic ordination,

which he received from Rabbi Shlomo

Carlebach on his fortieth birthday

subsequently ser

ved as a

congregational rabbi

for eleven years.

During this time, h

e taught throughout New York

organized Carlebach

Shabbos

retreats, published the weekly Torahs of the

Heart, contributed to

the "Ask-

a- Rabbi" web site, and

coordinated

community services for the

victims of domestic violence and

treatment of

substance abuse.

Rabbi Yisroel

also

established

The

Family Learning Center, which

is a

model for small Jewish

communities.

He has five gorgeous children

and is

also a

grandfather

He is

married to Yehudis Kaplan Finman, a Certified Nurse Midwife, and

mother of

ten children, grandmother of ten.

Spiritual Rejuvenation Center

Telephone:
305-304-0290

EMAIL

Everyone Needs a
Rabbi sometimes