Hampshire College

Rabbi Steven Nathan was ordained in 1994 from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in suburban Philadelphia. He has lived for most of the last 20 years in the progressive Philadelphia neighborhood of Mt. Airy, which was recently profiled in Oprah magazine for its racial diversity. Prior to attending RRC, Nathan received a B.A. in human development from Boston College (perhaps the only rabbi to have graduated from that particular school) and an M.A. and M.Ed. in counseling psychology from Teacher's College-Columbia University.

In addition to his pursuits in the area of counseling, Judaism, theology, and spirituality, Nathan studied mindfulness meditation at Elat Chayyim Jewish Retreat Center with Sylvia Boorstein and Rabbis Sheila Weinberg (of Amherst) and Jeffrey Roth. He has also studied creative storytelling and midrash (rabbinic legends) with noted storyteller Peninnah Schramm. Nathan is also a singer, drummer, writer, and sometime actor who loves to combine his passion for music, writing, and the arts with his passion for Judaism and spirituality. His original creative poetry and prose combining Jewish themes with mindfulness teachings can be found at Mindful Torah on Yahoo groups. You can also sign up at that site to receive Nathan's weekly Torah commentaries. He is thrilled to be a part of the Spiritual Life staff of Hampshire and looks forward to working with students, faculty, and staff of all religions, faiths, and creeds as we all search and question together the meaning of God in our lives.        
Last, but certainly not least, he is the proud father of Shira, Eitana ,and Noah. His partner is Rabbi David Dunn Bauer of the Jewish Community of Amherst.