Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot

Rabbi of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Teaneck, New Jersey

(New York, NY) Mar 18, 2014

Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot is the rabbi of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Teaneck, New Jersey. He serves as Chair of the Departments of Bible and Jewish Thought at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School in New York City where he also teaches halakha to first year students. In addition, he teaches Judaic Studies at the SAR High School in NYC. Rabbi Helfgot previously served as Coordinator of Judaic Studies Curriculum at the Maayanot Yeshiva High School from 1996-2002 and as a faculty member and director of Israel Guidance at the Frisch Yeshiva High School from 1988-1995. He is a graduate with honors of Yeshiva College, Azrieli and completed graduate course work in Bible at Bernard Revel Graduate School. He is a musmach of RIETS and spent a number of years in the YU Kollel both here and in Israel.

Rabbi Helfgot has also served as educational coordinator for the Torah –U-Mada project at Yeshiva University and is a long-time faculty member at the Drisha Institute of Jewish Education. He has served on the boards of AMODS and T’chiya Volunteers. He currently serves on the steering committee of the Orthodox Forum, the executive board of the Orthodox Caucus and the American board of Yeshivat Har Etzion.

Rabbi Helfgot is a prolific essayist in all areas of Jewish studies and has published in major journals such as Tradition, Techumin, Jewish Action, and Or Hamizrach. He is the author of Divrei Berakah U-Moed, a compendium of hiddushei Torah on areas of berakhot and holidays written in memory of his father, Salomon D. Helfgot z”l. Last year, he edited and published the widely acclaimed Community, Covenant and Commitment: Selected letters of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik on behalf of the Toras ho-Rav Foundation. His most recent volume is a collection of essays on Tanakh entitled "Mikra and Meaning" (2013).

Rabbi Helfgot has served as an active member of the Executive Committee of the RCA and served as a co-chairman of the Continuing Rabbinic Education committee. He is a member of the RCBC, Beit Hillel, and an officer of the IRF. Rabbi Helfgot is a frequent guest lecturer and scholar-in-residence throughout North America, and served as RCA Convention Co-Chair with R. Shlomo Hochberg in 2003.

R. Helfgot lives in Teaneck with his wife, Rachel Brenner and their four boys, Shlomo David, Ephraim Dov, Nehemiah Dvir and Yakir Noam.