Rabbi Adam Kligfeld: Marrying Tradition With Spiritual Innovation – Jewish Journal

Its not every day that you meeta rabbi who has gone on not one, but multiple meditation and yoga retreats let alone ones in Guatemala, India and a tiny island off the coast of Scotland. But Rabbi Adam Kligfeld is not your typical spiritual leader.

While Kligfeld, the senior rabbi at Temple Beth Am (TBA) in Los Angeles, cherishes the Jewish tradition, he is open to new and innovative ways for people to connect to the sacred.

Its the difference between religion being a club, or religious practice being a profound spiritual experience.

Its the difference between religion being a club, or religious practice being a profound spiritual experience, he said. Most people in the Conservative community are involved in a Jewish life because they think God is demanding them to be. If youre not involved in religious life to appease a particular God, there has to be some other profound reason for your behavior. Its there to help you develop your spirit.

Kligfeld was raised in a traditional Conservative home in Connecticut. His family was involved in the community; they went to synagogue regularly, and his mother was a volunteer with Soviet Jewry movement and resettlement efforts.

Becoming a rabbi was not something Kligfeld planned. He always enjoyed learning Jewish texts, but he decided to pursue a degree in psychology and Jewish history from Columbia College. From there, he was considering going into a pre-med program.

I spent a lot of time in college trying to convince myself to do anything but become a rabbi, he said. I figured Jewish learning couldnt be a vocation, even though it was always in my life.

Still, Kligfeld wanted to continue his Jewish learning, so he enrolled in the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and focused on Talmudic studies. And then, while he was in school, he had a change of heart.

I met rabbis in the field and tried to get a sense of what their lives were like, he said. I saw myself potentially doing that, if I could stay in long enough to be ordained. I thought I wouldnt be a pulpit rabbi, and certainly not in a big city setting. But here I am.

Kligfeld has been the rabbi at TBA, where he serves 900 families, since 2009. During his time there, he set up a prayer room and incorporated meditation and chanting into his services.

We did this to increase the chances of people not just trying to get to the last page of their prayer book, but also having a spiritual experience, he said.

The design of TBA is also intentional. The sanctuary, which was recently renovated, is round. Instead of the rabbi standing at the front of the congregation, he stands in the center. The acoustics amplify peoples voices whether theyre speaking or singing.

I think space matters, Kligfeld said. We set up the chairs in a circle so that prayers are magical. Frontal presentations of prayer leave people lacking. We designed TBA to be intimate and warm.

Kligfeld was introduced to meditation five years ago, when he traveled to the Holy Isle of Scotland for a retreat. Since then, hes gone to other international retreats to reinvigorate his soul.

I recharge my batteries and then try to deliver that to my congregants, he said.

The rabbi acknowledged that its a challenge to serve so many families and thankfully, he has a staff of rabbis and rabbinical interns to meet the needs of his community. However, especially in the wake of the pandemic, he strives to make personal connections with everyone and let them know they are seen.

My ultimate goal is to live with purpose and wonder and help others do the same, Kligfeld said. Despite all the challenges in this generation, I hope we can come together. I also want people to know that when they encounter me, I care about them.

Jewish Journal: What is your favorite Jewish food?

Adam Kligfeld: My synagogues vegetarian cholent.

JJ: How about your favorite non-Jewish food?

AK: Almost anything on the menu at Nics on Beverly. Its vegan, and Im plant-based.

JJ: What job would you be doing if you werent a rabbi?

AK: Id be a play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees.

JJ: Whats your perfect Shabbat look like?

AK: We have a nice crowd in shul and there is lots of singing and harmony. I eat meals with my family and friends, take a long nap and have the opportunity to teach.

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Rabbi Adam Kligfeld: Marrying Tradition With Spiritual Innovation - Jewish Journal