Haviva Ner-David is a writer and rabbi. In 2006 she became the first woman to publicly receive Orthodox rabbinic ordination, only to leave orthodoxy and call herself a post-denominational rabbi. Ten years later, she received interfaith ordination from the One Spirit Interfaith-Interspiritual Seminary and now goes by post-denominational inter-spiritual rabbi. She writes both fiction and non-fiction and is the author of three spiritual journey memoirs, two novels, a children’s book, short stories, essays, a blog on Times of Israel, scholarly articles, and a guidebook for engaged couples due out in 2024. She is the founding rabbi of Shmaya: A Mikveh for Mind, Body and Soul on Kibbutz Hannaton in the Lower Galilee, where she officiates and helps create on-site personalized immersion ritual ceremonies and facilitates group mikveh workshops.
Saturday, August 19th Kiddush Talk: To Die in Secret with Rabbi Haviva
In honor of Rosh Hodesh Elul, the beginning of our season of Teshuva (repentance), join Rabbi Haviva to hear selections from her newest book, To Die in Secret (Image) It is about healing from and correcting the past, forgiveness, parenting in difficult situations, paganism and religion, and more!
“To Die in Secret” tells the story of Nomi, who, after experiencing a traumatic event as a teenager, leaves her family home in the U.S. and spends 40 years living on an Israeli Kibbutz. When she receives news of her sister and nephew’s sudden passing, she returns home to face the unfinished business that had kept her estranged from her family all those years. The novel poignantly portrays the wasted years and the sadness that arises from missed opportunities for growth and connection within families—a scenario all too common in real life.
With sensitivity and finesse, Ner David explores the life Nomi had left behind, guiding her character through a journey of forgiveness, self-acceptance, and, ultimately, healing. The author adeptly navigates the complexities of melding multi-faith values, spirituality, and the quest for redemption, resulting in a compelling and engaging narrative.
In addition, she will talk about her other book, Hope Valley, the story of two women, one Jewish-Israeli and one Palestinian-Israeli, who come together to form the unlikeliest of friendships and speak about her experience as an Israeli navigating the current climate in Israel.
