{"id":14309,"date":"2021-06-09T12:00:08","date_gmt":"2021-06-09T17:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/?page_id=14309"},"modified":"2023-01-30T11:28:57","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T17:28:57","slug":"rabbi-geoffrey-w-dennis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/rabbi-geoffrey-w-dennis\/","title":{"rendered":"Rabbi Geoffrey W. Dennis"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"276\" height=\"300\" data-attachment-id=\"14310\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/rabbi-geoffrey-w-dennis\/me2020\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/me2020.jpg?fit=588%2C640&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"588,640\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/me2020.jpg?fit=276%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/me2020.jpg?fit=588%2C640&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/me2020.jpg?resize=276%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis\" class=\"wp-image-14310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/me2020.jpg?resize=276%2C300&amp;ssl=1 276w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/me2020.jpg?w=588&amp;ssl=1 588w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 276px) 100vw, 276px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rabbi Dennis is foremost a teacher, working with every age group from pre-K to adults. He also a deep commitment to caring for his community and interfaith work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He has been recognized as an innovative thinker in synagogue programming,&nbsp;having created and published on synagogue-based nursing, creating a congregational labyrinth, and incentive-based Jewish learning programs for both adults and children. He holds two fellowships, as an Schusterman Fellow in modern Israel at Brandeis University, and a Brickner Fellowship with the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. He is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Haifa.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before coming to North Texas, Rabbi Dennis was the Assistant Rabbi at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. He is an ordinee of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He earned undergraduate degrees in Education and in Nursing. He was a Registered Nurse before he entered the rabbinate, working in cardiac care, long-term care and hospice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rabbi Dennis is actively involved in the community life of Denton County. He serves as a volunteer police chaplain for the City of Flower Mound and a member of the Denton County Medical Reserve Corps. He also belongs to the South Denton Interfaith Alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For 22 years he has been a Adjunct Professor of Rabbinic Literature in the Jewish Studies\u2019 program at the University of North Texas, teaching courses in Bible, Kabbalah, and modern Israel. Rabbi Dennis is currently on Steering Committees of the UNT Jewish and Israel Studies Program and the University of North Texas Hillel. His columns have appeared regularly in Dallas-area newspapers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The author of two books, his <em>The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic, and Mysticism<\/em>, was a Jewish Book Award finalist in 2007, and a revised and expanded second edition was released in 2015.&nbsp; His second book, <em>Sefer-Ha-Bahir<\/em>, <em>Selections from the Book of Brilliance<\/em>, was published in 2017. He has published articles on topics ranging from theology to comic books. His most recent article, \u201cAvenged Seven-Fold: The Golem in European Cinema,&#8221; is pending publication. Rabbi Dennis is also a multi-entry contributor to the 30-volume <em>Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He is blessed to be the husband of Robin and the father of two adult sons, Avi and Micah. Rabbi Dennis\u2019 passions include movies, history, nature, pop culture, throwing tomahawks, DIY projects, and all things ancient and arcane. He believes that books are angels in material form and we should surround ourselves with as many as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"gmail-u1434-24\">You can contact Rabbi Dennis at <a href=\"mailto:rabbi@kolami-tx.org\">rabbi@kolami-tx.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-css-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"850\" height=\"479\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vuhjzmyx3Gg?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Rabbi Dennis in the Texas Senate Chambers<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-css-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/14926296?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"640\" height=\"372\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Classic &#8220;Welcome&#8221; recorded with Rabbi Dennis in September of 2010.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-css-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rabbi Dennis is foremost a teacher, working with every age group from pre-K to adults. He also a deep commitment to caring for his community&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-14309","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P94H8X-3IN","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3449,"url":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/considering-converting-to-judaism\/","url_meta":{"origin":14309,"position":0},"title":"Considering Converting to Judaism?","author":"CKATexas","date":"September 20, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Congregation Kol Ami welcomes and supports those who choose to explore Judaism. Jews by Choice are a gift to our people and to our community. Rabbi Dennis recognizes that every person follows enters the path to Judaism for different reasons and at different stages of life. We encourage you to\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Logo-5.png?fit=804%2C231&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Logo-5.png?fit=804%2C231&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Logo-5.png?fit=804%2C231&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Logo-5.png?fit=804%2C231&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15861,"url":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/nym\/","url_meta":{"origin":14309,"position":1},"title":"New Year Message from the Board President","author":"CKATexas","date":"December 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"What does the secular New Year have to do with us?\u00a0\u00a0We are Jews and our New year is in the fall. Yet still, January 1 gives us an unmistakable opportunity to slow down, reflect, maybe even a do-over where we missed the mark in fall. Here at CKA, we\u2019ve had\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"President's Message","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/PresidentsMessage.jpg?fit=800%2C211&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/PresidentsMessage.jpg?fit=800%2C211&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/PresidentsMessage.jpg?fit=800%2C211&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/PresidentsMessage.jpg?fit=800%2C211&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12625,"url":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/from-the-rabbi\/","url_meta":{"origin":14309,"position":2},"title":"From the Rabbi","author":"CKATexas","date":"November 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A Cup of Kabbalah - A 10 part series that explains and examines Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah. DIY Judaism - Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis discusses simple, fun, and unique ways to bring Judaism into your everyday life. Heartfelt Haftarah - A weekly examination of the accompanying haftarah for each week's Torah\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Rabbi-Headshot.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":29521,"url":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/rabbi-dennis-addresses-terror-attack-in-israel\/","url_meta":{"origin":14309,"position":3},"title":"Rabbi Dennis Addresses Terror Attack in Israel","author":"CKATexas","date":"October 10, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/_YR_f3Hukqo","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Message on Terror Attack in Israel","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Terror-Attack-Title.001-1.jpeg?fit=1080%2C608&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Terror-Attack-Title.001-1.jpeg?fit=1080%2C608&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Terror-Attack-Title.001-1.jpeg?fit=1080%2C608&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Terror-Attack-Title.001-1.jpeg?fit=1080%2C608&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Terror-Attack-Title.001-1.jpeg?fit=1080%2C608&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10278,"url":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/covid-19\/","url_meta":{"origin":14309,"position":4},"title":"CKA Changes Due to COVID-19","author":"CKATexas","date":"March 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Latest Updates in Red. Last Update: 10\/30\/2020 - 11:00 AM Per the latest updates from the governor on July 3, 2020, we request that you wear a mask anytime you are in the facilities. Friday, May 1st, marked the beginning of Gov. Abbott's plan to reopen Texas. \u00a0What does that\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"COVID-19 Response","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/COVID19ResponseGraphic.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/COVID19ResponseGraphic.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/COVID19ResponseGraphic.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/COVID19ResponseGraphic.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/COVID19ResponseGraphic.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46533,"url":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/farewell-concert\/","url_meta":{"origin":14309,"position":5},"title":"Farewell Concert for Rabbi Dennis and Robin","author":"CKATexas","date":"February 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"April 11, 2026 - 7:00 PM A Farewell Concert for Rabbi Dennis and Robin will be presented in the CKA Sanctuary. Featured will be accompanist, composer, singer, Daniel Soloyom, Jr. Harry R. Friedman will emcee. Members of the congregation will perform. Sisterhood will provide a dessert reception. FREE ADMISSION but\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Farewell Concert","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/b46e2e77-b498-4b65-a8f2-92b0c370e5ff.png?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/b46e2e77-b498-4b65-a8f2-92b0c370e5ff.png?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/b46e2e77-b498-4b65-a8f2-92b0c370e5ff.png?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/b46e2e77-b498-4b65-a8f2-92b0c370e5ff.png?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14309"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14309\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25129,"href":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14309\/revisions\/25129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolami-tx.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}