Rabbi Rachel Barenblat Rabbi Rachel Barenblat, a founding builder at Bayit: Building Jewish, is the rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in North Adams, MA. Since 2003 she has blogged as the Velveteen Rabbi. Recent Stories May 4, 2022 The Christian right’s abortion policy isn’t in my Torah Aug 18, 2021 Rabbis should offer hope on the High Holidays. What if I can’t?