Rabbi Samantha Natov
(She, her, hers)
Associate Rabbi
Email: snatov@swfs.org
Office: (212) 877-4050, ext. 244
Rabbi Samantha Natov grew up in Dundas, Ontario. She holds a bachelor’s from McGill University and a master’s in musicology and ethnomusicology from the University of Virginia. Following her time as a cantorial soloist in Toronto, Rabbi Natov came to New York to earn her degree in sacred music from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. After working as a cantor at congregations in New Jersey and Brooklyn, she decided to become a rabbi. Rabbi Natov was ordained by HUC-JIR in 2015 and joined Stephen Wise Free Synagogue a few months later in July 2015.
As associate rabbi at Stephen Wise, she oversees the congregation’s adult education programming and social justice work.
Watch Sermons
The Way Forward
“In some ways, this election demands us to ask similar questions to those we asked ourselves over the High Holy Days,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov on the Friday before the presidential election. “What is it to be a good human being? How do we best organize our society to reflect this? In this week’s parashah we find two starkly contrasting depictions of societal structures: the stories of Noah’s Ark and the Tower of Babel…”
Unveiled
“Imagine if suddenly the walls disappeared and we could see all around us,” Rabbi Samantha Natov challenges us on Sukkot. By emphasizing physical experiences, she says, the holiday “connects us to our spirituality and communal identity. We gain access to new knowledge, we feel the wind on our faces, time is unbound…”
God’s Presence
“Many of us wonder if it’s possible to feel God’s presence,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov, but divinity is everywhere — all around us. “Over these days of repentance and return, may we reconnect with our capacity to bring God’s light into the world through acts of forgiveness, tzedakah, lovingkindness, and compassion.”
The Path Home
“The entire Jewish community is carrying the crushing weight of our communal trauma,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov, but Rosh Hashanah brings new possibility of wholeness and return. “Turning towards Jewish community can restore a sense of belonging, trust and reciprocity.” The work of teshuvah isn’t easy and we can’t do it on our own: “It takes others to offer forgiveness, reflect on a shared past, and embrace a better future.”
Giving Brings Hope
This week’s Torah portion reminds us that sharing isn’t just about charity, but about tzedakah—justice, says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Giving tzedakah asserts our belief in the interconnectedness of all people. May our giving of tzedakah help shape a better future.”
Waiting
“Our shofar blast is a cry of grief,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov, as we enter Elul heartbroken over the brutal and senseless murder of the six hostages. May they rest in peace. While we wait with great trepidation for the future, “this time of year calls us to the present moment, where we seek repair, return and reconciliation,” she says. “With open hearts, may we reach for God, connect with our spiritual selves and, in doing so, find strength and renewal.”
Overcoming Fear
Most of the 12 spies Moses sent to scout the Promised Land returned in fear. But unlike the others, Joshua insisted, “We should go forth.” “His hope and faith enabled him to persevere with courage and strength,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “The Psalmists teach: ‘Be strong and of moral courage.’ Let us be reminded that we are strong, that we can rely on one another, and that we are not alone. We have come through the narrowest of passages before and will do so again.”
The Struggle Within
Hired to curse the Israelites, Balam approaches the Israelites’ encampment, but he unexpectedly utters a blessing… “Moments have the potential to go either way,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Inside all of us are competing inclinations.” Which one will win? The one you feed.
Above the Law
Infamous among those excluded from the census in the Book of Numbers was the power-hungry rebel Korah, who was swallowed up by the earth, and the children of Aaron. “Even the sons of the high priest are not above the law,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “It is as if the sheer weight of their inflated self-importance pulls them down. And there is a lesson in this…”
The Weight of Ethical Dilemmas
“Relationships have always been fraught with challenges with no simple ethical solutions,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. This week’s parashah introduces us to the Nazarites, ancient monks who sought to avoid these conflicts and achieve purity by living separately from others. “We might view this as a loss on their part. We are meant to engage in life fully, not hermetically seal ourselves away. The point isn’t to never go astray. It’s about how we come back.”
Recent Commentaries and Op-Eds
JTA: Torah is the anti-ChatGPT. But we can embrace artificial intelligence without losing our soul.
Apr 20, 2023
“The technology behind ChatGPT is either going to destroy the world or solve all of our problems,” our Rabbi Samantha Natov wrote in JTA News. She weighs the benefits and dangers of our new AI reality – and the drastic ways it will change how we connect with one another.
Gothamist: Where to celebrate Purim in NYC: A guide to the city’s parties, carnivals and more
Mar 4, 2023
Purim is a “celebration of the possibility for one person with a strong moral compass to make a difference,” our Rabbi Samantha Natov tells Gothamist. Head “Into the Spiel” with us this year as we continue our more than 30-year tradition of musical megillahs.
NY1: Why Two Women’s March Events This Weekend Have Caused a Rift
Jan 18, 2019
With concerns still growing over this year’s Women’s March, leaders within Women’s March Alliance are working to distance themselves from the national organization whose leaders have been accused of anti-Semitism. A local offshoot of the national organization is holding a competing event. “It’s really a shame because it stands in the way of so much unity between us,” said Rabbi Samantha Natov of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, which held a meeting ahead of the march and where members of the Women’s March Alliance tried to ease fears about the march.
Associated Press: Schism leads to dueling women’s march events in NYC
Jan 18, 2019
Conflicts over control, inclusivity, and alleged anti-Semitism meant that women protesting on the second anniversary of the Women’s March on Washington were faced with competing demonstrations in New York City. Some Jewish groups pulled support for Women’s March Inc. and a Washington state chapter disbanded in protest. The leaders of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue urged its members to take part in the uptown march, affiliated with Women’s March Alliance. Rabbi Samantha Natov said she still has problems with the Women’s March Inc.’s reaction to allegations of anti-Semitism: “The leadership has not assuaged our most serious concerns,” she said. This story was picked up by The New York Times and The Washington Post, among other outlets.
YNET (Hebrew): American holiday, Jewish values
Nov 23, 2018
YNET spoke to our Rabbi Samantha Natov about how Thanksgiving — a secular holiday — incorporates Jewish values, like tikkun olam, which our volunteers embraced at a Thanksgiving dinner for guests of our on-site Next Step Men’s Shelter.
Kveller: Thanksgiving Is Basically a Jewish Holiday. Here’s Why.
Nov 21, 2018
Our Rabbi Samantha Natov explains how Thanksgiving is profoundly Jewish for a secular holiday, incorporating central Jewish values. “Thanksgiving offers us a chance to replenish ourselves with a sense of gratitude, well-being, and connection. And this is at the heart of Jewish life and practice.”