RENCONTRE

Rabbi Phil Miller

Hi everyone, I’m Phil Miller. I’m excited to be a part of JLC and to have an opportunity to learn and journey through Jewish texts with some of you. I worked for 23 years in Jewish Community Centers in St. Louis, New York City and Baltimore. Along the way, I did budgets, basketball tournaments and building inspections. However, the beating heart of my work was creating opportunities for people from all walks of life to explore the personal, communal and global aspirations of Judaism and Jewish texts. With the exception only of my time with my wife, children and grandkids, this work has been the joy of my life. I’m originally from northern New Jersey. I have a BA in Latin American Studies from Columbia. After college, I spent two years at Pardes in Jerusalem; a very special and diverse Jewish learning community. My next stop was Yeshiva University’s seminary. I learned Talmud and Jewish legal codes there for five years and received rabbinic ordination. During those years, I participated in the Wexner Graduate Fellowship program. I’m retired now but spend much of my time in one on one Torah study with a wonderful array of artists, rabbis, neighbors and family. I’m a life long art museum lover and an avid sports fan who’s a gym rat at heart. I’m also a devoted reader of great fiction and African American history. Speaking of Judaism‘s aspirations, I’m a district co-captain for the Baltimore branch of Jews United for Justice. I deeply believe that sharing the stories of our lives are essential to the Torah study experience. I look forward to getting to know and study Torah with you.