Rabbi Boris Dolin
Long before I became a rabbi, I was an aspiring circus performer. I started juggling as a teenager, taking weekly circus skills classes and doing a few informal shows and birthday parties. I tried it all–juggling, unicycling, balloon animals, and I even dabbled in acrobatics and stilt walking. After entering university, I took a bit of a break from my circus dreams to focus on my studies, eventually choosing to become a rabbi.
As a rabbi and educator, I realized quickly that much of the wisdom and joy that I found in juggling so many years ago had its place in my spiritual life and in my work of building community. From the skills gained from practicing, to the lessons learned from making mistakes, and the joy of being with other like minded people, I realized juggling was spiritual wisdom in action.
I am currently living in Montreal, Quebec (a fantastic center for the circus arts), where I am the rabbi of Congregation Dorshei Emet, the only Reconstructionist synagogue in the city and one of three in Canada. We are known for our creative services, inspiring classes, and our welcoming and diverse community.
My work has taken me many places. For many years I was a rabbi and educator at a synagogue in Eugene, Oregon and have also been blessed with the opportunity to serve as spiritual leader in Conservative and Reconstructionist congregations in Florida, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I have been a songleader and music teacher at various camps and synagogue supplementary schools, a nursing home chaplain and a university Jewish student advisor. Before moving to Montreal, I was the rabbi of Beit Polska, the Union of Progressive Congregations in Poland, where I led a multi-congregational community working to help rebuild Jewish life in Poland.
I am a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and hold an M.A. in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary, where I focused my studies on informal and community education, and worked as an educator at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, a Living Museum of the Holocaust.
As a musician, I infuse my services and programs with music from the different denominations and from various cultures and world communities, creating participatory, joy-filled prayer experiences for all ages. As a storyteller, I bring renditions of classic folktales to a wide variety of settings and age groups and always love to tell, and hear, a good story. (Have I told you the one about the baker from Minsk? Well, one day he dreamt that he was a chicken, and you wouldn’t believe what happened next!)
I am passionate about helping to create participatory and holistic spiritual communities, where learning is intergenerational and a part of life both inside and outside of the of the synagogue. I enjoy helping others through the journey of life, and approach all pastoral encounters with compassion and an understanding that we are all on a search for connection and meaning.
I am an avid runner, and run semi-competitively, but mostly for the athletic and spiritual joy. I am proud to say that in every race, I always finish as the first rabbi in my age group!
I am married to Sarah Dolin, an Judaica artist and educator. Sarah’s pottery focuses on Judaica and inclusive ritual objects that reflect liberal Jewish values. Sarah’s pottery is often chosen by families with whom I work to beautify lifecycle events and create family heirlooms.
You can find more information about her work at her website.
As a liberal rabbi, I work to build inclusive communities that focus on creative spirituality, music and social justice. I support religious and secular seekers, and welcome people from all faiths and no faith. I have always believed there is a place for everyone to find their their spiritual path, but like juggling, finding our way in this complicated world takes some practice! Check out my personal website for more info about my work and my story: