Position: Rabbi

Since 2019, Rabbi Mindie Snyder has served Sun Health Senior Living Communities in Greater Phoenix, AZ as rabbi and chaplain, providing spiritual care, facilitating innovative special needs groups, and implementing educational, life cycle, and ritual services for residents and staff.

As the former spiritual leader of Congregation Lev Shalom in Flagstaff, AZ, she updated its identity from Heichal Baoranim/Temple in the Pines, expanded the reach of the congregation across Northern Arizona, deepened ties with regional and state organizations, including links to Israel, increased religious, cultural, and social action programming, enhanced educational opportunities for adults, youth and families, and launched Flagstaff’s first multi-religious clergy group, Soul Friends: Coconino United Religious Leaders Association. In addition, Rabbi Snyder served as a chaplain at both Flagstaff and Kingman Regional Medical Centers. She attended to needs of Jewish residents in remote areas of Northern Arizona, has been a member of the Greater Phoenix Board of Rabbis since 2015, and the Citizens Academy of the FBI since 2018.   

Rabbi Snyder is a well-rounded, seasoned professional with over thirty years of experience in arts, health and human services, pioneering work that integrated the expressive arts therapies and Jewish spiritual care. An award-winning artist, designer, therapist, and community organizer, she has been a program innovator, organizational executive, consultant to corporations, state and national agencies and a requested media spokesperson for issues of aging, end of life, at-risk youth and families, among other social and public health issues.

Rabbi Snyder completed rabbinic studies at The Academy for Jewish Religion (AJR/CA) and was the first rabbinical student to complete inter-religious coursework with Bayan Claremont, Claremont School of Theology (CST) and the multi-religious consortium at the time. Rabbi Snyder is completing a doctorate with the European Graduate School (EGS) in Switzerland, investigating expressive arts applications and social change. Her current research focuses on the revitalizing, life affirming, relationship building powers of hospitality in contrast to the public health hazards of hostility and hate.

Email: mjsarts@msn.com

Thesis Title:
*SUBVERSIVE HOSPITALITY: The Jewish Commitment to Care in a Hostile World (2015)