Rabbi Baruch Thaler
Though Rabbi Baruch Thaler grew up and received rabbinic ordination in the Chasidic (Chabad-Lubavitch), and has evolved into the the wider world, he still keeps some connection to those roots, in his own way. He most identify these days with the spirit of Jewish Renewal. He spends a good part of the year organic farming and is currently heading the Nitzozot community in Brooklyn, an egalitarian community of members who transitioned from their ultra-Orthodox (Chareidi) background into the modern world, and who are now expressing their Judaism in new and creative ways. He has coordinated a troubadouring tribe of kindred spirits, called “Home of HoWL” (Holy Wow Love), who created new exciting ways to reexperience the traditions and rituals of yore, bridging heimish hasidism with homie hipsterdom. He received his B.A. (Eng. Lit./Creative Writing) & M.F.A. (Film) from Columbia University.