Rabbi Paul Kipnes

Rabbi Paul Kipnes is the spiritual leader of Congregation Or Ami in Calabasas, California. He also serves as rabbinic dean at URJ Camp Newman in Santa Rosa, CA. He consults on synagogue disruption and transformation, using his viral articles, Disruptive Judaism: Will Your Synagogue Be Beit Blockbuster or Kehillat Netflix and Synagogue dues are dead: What’s the price point at which quitting the temple is impossible? Rabbi Kipnes and his wife, Michelle November, co-wrote Jewish Spiritual Parenting. He also co-edited a national CCAR Journal issue, "New Visions for Jewish Community." His searing poetry and insightful writings can be viewed at PaulKipnes.com. 

Happy children and adults with a shopping cart inside a Kohls

Celebrating the Risk of Caring: One Congregation's Holiday Project

Rabbi Paul Kipnes
 December 21, 2016

One Sunday morning, 50 Congregation Or Ami families hosted 50 New Directions for Youth for lunch, shopping, and connection for Holiday Childspree at Kohl’s, an annual tradition of tzedakah (charitable giving) and gemilut chasadim (acts of lovingkindness).
Youth Engagement

How to Empower Teens to Be Leaders in Your Congregation

Rabbi Julia Weisz
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
 November 9, 2016
At Congregation Or Ami, in Calabasas, CA, our kids leave the High Holiday children’s services kvelling. In fact, their parents often need to pry them away from hugging the teenage service leaders who shower them with love and Jewish teachings.