Tamara Kolton

Tamara Kolton is the first person ordained a humanistic rabbi. Born in 1970 to Anita Feldstein and Jerome Feldstein,[3] she grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. When she was seven years old, her family joined the controversial Birmingham Temple, an approach to Judaism that emphasizes Jewish identity, culture and history, rather than belief in God. At 13-years-old, during her Bat-Mitzvah, Kolton decided she wanted to be a humanistic rabbi and would pursue this dream. Kolton felt a profound pull to live in Israel and learn Hebrew. She attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem,[4] earning a bachelor of arts degree in international relations and English literature. Kolton returned to the United States to pursue her master’s degree in clinical psychology from the Michigan School of Psychology. Subsequently, she enrolled in doctoral studies at the Union Institute & University in Cincinnati and received a Ph.D. She wrote her dissertation on, "The Experience of Being a Woman Rabbi." At the same time, she completed rabbinic training with her mentor Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine, who founded Humanistic Judaism in 1963.[5][1]

In 1999, Kolton was ordained the first humanistic rabbi by the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism.[1][6][7]

In 2004, Kolton was chosen as the successor to her mentor, Rabbi Sherwin Wine. On July 21, 2007, Wine died when a taxicab he was traveling in was struck by another vehicle. In the years that followed, challenges presented themselves to Kolton, who was forced under difficult circumstances to address the issues of her congregants, many of whom had never trusted a rabbi other than Wine. Under Kolton's leadership, the congregation mourned the loss of Wine and ultimately thrived.[1]

In 2012, Kolton felt an intense calling to discover what she believed about God, independent of Humanistic Judaism.  She resigned her pulpit and set out on a journey that ultimately led her to the Feminine Divine. She was a scholar in residence at Congregation Shirr Tikvah and created “Soulful Living,” an approach to spirituality in which she taught how to live a soul-centered life.[2]

Kolton is known for her commitment to serving interfaith couples and conducting interfaith marriage ceremonies. Over the course of her career she has worked with thousands of people at times of great joy and great sorrow.[8]

She is married to Isaac Kolton, an Israeli born in Petah Tikva.[9] They have two children, Lior and Maya.[9]

• Tamara Kolton