Douglas Goldhamer

Douglas Goldhamer is President of the Hebrew Seminary: A Rabbinic School for the Deaf and Hearing and Senior Rabbi of Congregation Bene Shalom in Skokie, IL. It is the first and only rabbinic school for the deaf in the world.

Following his rabbinic ordination at Hebrew Union College, Goldhamer, together with Chicago deaf leaders, established Congregation Bene Shalom/Hebrew Association of the Deaf in 1972. For the past 43 years, he has served as Senior Rabbi, serving the deaf and hearing Jewish communities.[1]

In 1992, Goldhamer founded Hebrew Seminary, where he currently serves as President and Professor of Jewish Mysticism, as well as other topics of the rabbinic curriculum. He lectures on philosophy, Jewish mysticism and prayer throughout the United States.[2][3]

Goldhamer was Scholar in Residence and Professor of Philosophy at Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C., the only university for the deaf in the world. In 1998, Goldhamer received his Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. He also holds a PhD in Medieval Philosophy from the University of Chicago. Goldhamer is a member of the Chicago Board of Rabbis, Chicago Association of Reform Rabbis, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis.[4][5]

Goldhamer is the author of two books: Healing With God’s Love: Kabbalah’s Hidden Secrets, which contains ancient Kabbalistic practices whose translations were not heretofore available to the public, and This is For Everyone: Universal Principles of Healing Prayer and the Jewish Mystics.[6][7]

Goldhamer began painting about 15 years ago. He focuses on Jewish mystical and Biblical themes. His magnificent artwork has been shown in galleries nationally.[8][9]