Ariel Hendelman is a Senior Rabbinic student with the Aleph Ordination Program and the Spiritual Leader of B'nai Or Boston. Ariel sees chant and meditation practice as the cornerstones of her spiritual life. She leads chant circles online and in-person for organizations such as Or HaLev, Adamah, Temple of the Stranger, and Shefa: Jewish Psychedelic Support. She has also taught numerous classes for Lehrhaus Tavern, the most recent of which is In The Cosmic Orchard -- Rabbi Akiva As the Archetype of Spiritual Shalom. 

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Ariel's written words appear in publications such as Ayin Press and Double Blind Magazine. She released her debut album in 2023, Prayers for Fire & Water, a soulful blend of Americana, niggunim, and Jewish roots. Her next release will be a chant album in the summer of 2025. When Ariel is not in school or at work, she is probably playing guitar around the bonfire with friends, or snuggling with her cat Ezra, who routinely hogs the covers.

For eight years, Rabbi Suri served as rabbi and spiritual director of B’nai Or, Jewish Renewal of Boston. Having studied with Reb Zalman Schachter, (he PhD supervisor at Temple University) Jewish Renewal has long been her spiritual home. While AJR (the pluralistic Rabbinic Academy where she was ordained in 2008) gave her the tools to forge my Rabbinic career, music and Renewal kavanot have always been her spiritual grounding. Previous to B’nai Or, Rabbi Suri taught at Sacred Heart University for eight years, where she was the rabbi on a Catholic Campus, enabling her to be directly involved in Interfaith Dialogue. She considers it is a blessing to be able to continue teaching, singing, and studying yahadut, even as she navigates these retirement years.