From a young age, Michael Rothbaum identified theJewish imperative of r’difat tzedek – the mitzvah to pursue justice – as the force that solidified his love of Judaism and his passion to become a rabbi. Rabbi Mike has been described as a dynamic spiritual leader, educator, and justice advocate, bringing over 25 years of experience cultivating inclusive and vibrant Jewish communities. He has served in New York, Massachusetts, and Georgia for over 25 years, as campus rabbi, rabbi/educator, and pulpit rabbi. In Oakland, he served as Co-Chair of the Bay Area Regional Council of Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice. He has sought to work with the communities he’s served in bridging tradition and innovation — revitalizing prayer services, reimagining holiday celebrations, and crafting transformative educational experiences for all ages. ​ His writing has been featured in The Nation, The Forward, Tikkun, Sojourners, Alma, Ha’aretz, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the anthology, Peace, Justice, and Jews: Reclaiming Our Tradition. An AJWS Global Justice Fellow and a proud alumnus of Seminary Summer, a joint project of the AFL-CIO and Interfaith Worker Justice, Rabbi Mike is frequently invited to teach at national Jewish learning platforms such as Limmud, Mazon, and Moishe House, sought out for his leadership at the intersection of faith and justice. Rabbi Mike’s religious-based activism has been covered in several media outlets, including CNN and i24 Israeli television. Devoted to creating and nurturing vibrant learning communities, teaching Torah that touches heart, mind, and soul, and continuing the Jewish mission he discovered as a teenager of pursuing justice, Rabbi Mike is a passionate advocate for the idea that every moment is an opportunity to make a Jewish choice. Rabbi Mike just celebrated 10 years married to his husband, internationally-acclaimed Yiddish vocalist Anthony Mordechai Tvzi Russell, who kindly tolerates his passion for fair-trade coffee, Bob Dylan, and manual transmission.