About

Playing at the intersection of religious life and radical activism.

I couldn't separate joy from Judaism if I tried. I was raised in a home that hosted "Shabbat Parades" each week--a parade of children and adults tooting through paper towel rolls, banging tambourines, and shaking egg shakers to usher in Shabbat and land in seats around the dinner table. I grew up dancing in the pew in synagogue, arguing politics around the Seder table, and always believing there should be a seat at the table for anyone who wanted one.

I believe that ritual is transformative. I believe that our brightest moments of joy only make sense in the context of our darkest trials. I know that community is capable of great things, and that we have great capacity to create the World to Come, a just world that we long to see, here in this world. I believe our ancestors have shown us what it means to organize despite the worst odds, and win for ourselves, and everyone around us.

Thank you for visiting my site, and spending some time reading my words. I hope that you'll send me an email so we can better connect.

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Rabbi Ariana Katz is the founding rabbi of Hinenu: The Baltimore Justice Shtiebl.  She was the creator and host Kaddish, a podcast about death, mourning and identity, for which she was awarded a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. Rabbi Ariana has taught learners ages 3-93 for over a decade, and is in training to become a soferet, scribe of sacred Jewish text.