Dave is a student at the Jewish Theological Seminary, pursuing rabbinic ordination as a Wexner Graduate Fellow and Davidson Scholar, expecting to graduate in 2022. Raised in Port Washington, New York, Dave graduated from Middlebury College with a BA in Geography. At Middlebury, he was a pioneer in the Jewish, LGBT, and dance communities. After graduating, he learned at Yeshivat Hadar in New York, his first foray into Jewish text learning. For six summers, he worked at Ramah in the Rockies as a madrich, Tikvah madrich, and rosh eidah. There, he combined his passions for guiding Jewish youth, leading wilderness trips, and experiential education. Deepening his passion for direct care, Dave was a field guide for New Vision Wilderness, where he supported young adults and teens to heal from traumas of surviving abuse, suicidal ideation, and addiction. He is a founding staff member and Rabbinic Intern at BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy. In his free time, you can find him roasting veggies or dancing. Inspired by the model of rabbi as healer, Dave hopes to expand mental health, addiction, and trauma care resources within the Jewish community.
