A Really Great Day For Another Proud Jew

This past September, What Came After traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with Rabbi David Wolkenfeld, the rabbi of Ohev Shalom. Rabbi Wolkenfeld, who began his tenure only a few months before October 7th, reflected on the unique challenges of stepping into leadership in the shadow of that day.

He spoke about the wide range of pastoral needs that emerged within his new congregation—from helping people reclaim spaces for Jewish joy after tragedy to supporting families across multiple generations who hold very different perspectives on Israel. He also addressed the dangers of nationalism and how religious Zionism must grapple with what it means for God to have returned the Jewish people to a  fully inhabited land, which is currently home to seven million Jews and seven million Arabs.