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JEWISH

learning

questioning

healing

WELCOME

Judaism does not need to be either / or.

It can be &

Jewish and unsure,

Jewish and grieving, Jewish and joyful. Jewish and interfaith. Jewish and queer.

There is room for all of us in &

This is Judaism that listens, adapts, and heals.

Jewish & is for people who need a rabbi—even if they’ve never had one.

Rabbi Jonathan Freirich draws from Torah, Talmud, and Jewish thought not to dictate but to guide.

Whether you are Jewish or just questioning everything,

Jewish & is for you.

ABOUT

Rabbi Jonathan Freirich

Rabbi Jonathan Freirich with short, salt-and-pepper hair and light skin smiling at the camera against a plain light-colored wall.

Jonathan Freirich is a rabbi for people who aren’t sure where they fit, but know they still need meaning, connection, or care. Through Jewish &, he offers spiritual counseling and lifecycle guidance rooted in Jewish tradition, but radically open to the fullness of real life.

Jonathan doesn’t believe Judaism is either/or. He works from the heart of Jewish learning, Torah, Talmud, Hasidic texts, philosophy, and modern commentary, to help people navigate grief, transformation, joy, and everything in between. His approach is intellectual and soulful, grounded and expansive. No gatekeeping. No pretense.

He’s especially committed to people who have felt excluded from life whether that’s Jewish spaces or the world at large: seekers, skeptics, people of any faith burned by religious institutions, interfaith couples, LGBTQ+ Jews, and those coming back to Judaism in new forms.

Over the past 25 years, Jonathan has served synagogues, nonprofits, interfaith organizations, and justice movements across the U.S. He listens deeply, asks better questions, and walks alongside people through the sacred mess of being alive.

He lives in Buffalo, New York with his family and reads everything like it’s oxygen.

Credentials and Background

Jonathan Freirich was ordained at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1999. He holds dual affiliation with both Reconstructing Judaism and the Reform Movement. He earned an Executive Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University in 2023. His work blends rigorous scholarship, pastoral wisdom, and a lifelong commitment to justice and healing with a compassionate understanding that we all need to be seen for who we are.

reclaim joy

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be yourself

·

connect

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mark transitions

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reclaim joy · be yourself · connect · mark transitions ·

Services

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    Individual Support

    Spiritual counseling and pastoral care for wherever you are right now.

    Grief, transitions, doubt, burnout, or just a need to be heard—this is for one-on-one support rooted in Jewish tradition, open to anyone.

    One-time or ongoing
    Virtual or in-person

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    Couples & Families

    Relational support and Jewish lifecycle guidance for couples and families.

    Premarital conversations, wedding planning, baby namings, b-mitzvah preparation, relationship tune-ups, and more—designed with care and flexibility.

    All identities, family structures, and interfaith backgrounds welcome

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    Ceremonies & Ritual

    Weddings, funerals, baby namings, conversions, and custom rituals.

    Honor the sacred moments in your life with ceremonies that reflect who you are. Jonathan collaborates closely to create meaningful, inclusive Jewish rituals.

    Traditional, creative, interfaith, or experimental welcome

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    Learning Together

    Explore Jewish texts to deepen your thinking and see meaning.

    Bring your real questions and study in the traditional hevruta style—one-on-one, text-based conversation guided by the issues that matter most to you.

    No Hebrew required
    All experience levels welcome

Working Together

Rabbi Jonathan Freirich wearing a kippah standing in front of his bookshelves, wearing a green t-shirt that says good trouble and a colorful, patterned Tallis.

I always start by listening—fully and without agenda. Our work begins with presence: meeting each other honestly, acknowledging what is, and making space for what might be. I don’t offer quick fixes or easy reassurances. Together, we look closely, ask better questions, and begin to shape the story in a way that brings meaning, possibility, and forward motion.

That same approach shapes the lifecycle rituals I lead—weddings, baby namings, b-mitzvah celebrations, and more. Every ceremony is crafted in collaboration, using traditional Jewish building blocks but designed around who you are. Whether it’s a joyful wedding that feels like a true reflection of your partnership, or a b-mitzvah that features singing, storytelling, or even a bagpipe rendition of the liturgy—Jewish tradition has room for it, and I help make that room with integrity and joy.

Ready to begin?

Whether you're facing a transition, planning a ceremony,
or just need a safe place to reflect

I'm here.

START THE CONVERSATION

What People Are Saying

  • Rabbi Jonathan officiated our wedding in 2019. My husband, who isn’t Jewish and was unsure about a religious ceremony, was immediately put at ease by Jonathan’s warmth, humor, and open-minded approach. He created a ceremony that was deeply meaningful, educational, and uniquely us; so much so that many guests said it was the most educational and entertaining wedding they'd ever attended. Jonathan took the time to truly listen to our wishes, offered thoughtful alternatives, and explained each tradition in a way that made us feel connected, not just to the moment, but to the meaning behind it. Beyond being an incredible officiant, Jonathan became a trusted friend and mentor, knowing him is a gift.

    - Sarah, Wedding Client

  • You are a bright light, a teacher, a mentor, bridge builder, a leader, and a friend to many.

    You are a blessing to all of us.

    - Catherine, interfaith community

  • "Our very first encounter with Rabbi Freirich was when he officiated at our son and daughter-in-law’s wedding in Yosemite National Park. We spent the entire weekend together and shared both a beautiful Havdalah service crafted by Jonathan as well as a very special and meaningful wedding ceremony. Many years later he officiated baby namings for two of our grandchildren and even visited our daughter-in-law’s father in the ICU many times. His caring has touched our family in so many ways."

    Carole, mother of the groom, Wedding and Baby Namings