Clayton Oppenheimer
Rabbinical Student. Teacher. Chaplain.
Creating spaces of connection, curiosity, and compassion through Jewish life, learning, and presence.
ברוכים הבאים
Each of us carries a Divine spark within a landscape that is wide, deep, and full of mystery. My calling as a rabbi is to help people enter that sacred terrain with gentleness and courage. Through prayer, dialogue, teaching, and time in nature, I strive to create space for authentic discovery, reflection, and connection.
I invite you to explore my story, my work, and my vision for a connected and flourishing Jewish life.
Meet Clayton
Clayton Oppenheimer is a fifth-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, preparing for ordination in May 2026. Raised in Louisville, Kentucky, he began his path to the rabbinate at Congregation Adath Israel Brith Sholom, where he has been a lifelong member and worked as a synagogue administrator and B’nei Mitzvah tutor.
Throughout rabbinical school, Clayton has served as an educator, rabbinic intern, and chaplain intern, guiding individuals and communities toward deeper connection, reflection, and meaning.
Pillars of My Rabbinate
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Building Community
I dream of a synagogue that nourishes comfort and belonging, a refuge where we can be fully ourselves and learn to hold life together. A place where laughter is shared, tears are honored, and anger is held with care. My work is to be a bridge builder, shaping this reality through thoughtful, connective gatherings, meaningful ritual, and a culture of welcome that grows deeper over time. I strive to weave Jewish values into our shared life, helping this vision become a grounded, sustaining spiritual home for all of us.
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Pastoral Care
Just as the synagogue is a sanctuary for the community, my pastoral care is a sanctuary for the individual soul. I offer a safe space where you can be fully seen and heard as you navigate life’s journey and explore what is on your heart. Through compassionate listening and spiritual support, I walk with you through life’s unfolding — honoring the sacred stories of your daily life and the monumental weight of life cycle transitions. My presence is a commitment to holding your experiences and questions with steady compassion.
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Teaching & Learning
I believe Torah is not a static text but a living conversation across generations. My teaching invites learners of all ages into that dialogue. I serve as a guide and contextualizer, helping you find the sources and language to engage your deepest questions and discover access points to our traditions. By providing historical and literary context, I support meaningful exploration and create a space where Judaism becomes personal, unfolding, and connected to the community that brings it to life.
“Holiness lives wherever we are awake to wonder.”
— Clayton Oppenheimer
Featured Sermons
In these teachings, I invite listeners to explore Torah alongside the ordinary and extraordinary landscapes of our days. Each sermon is a space to uncover meaning, witness one another, and notice the sacred that quietly threads through our lives.
Finding the Sacred in Every Moment
Check out these glimpses of the spaces where I pray, connect, and find holiness in the world around us.
Connect with Clayton
If your community is seeking a rabbi who will walk with you gently, thoughtfully, and with curiosity, I would be honored to explore how we can create spaces of connection, wonder, and belonging together.