Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin

Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin

Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin is the Senior Rabbi of Temple Sinai in Oakland, CA. Rabbi Mates-Muchin focuses her efforts in serving her community through worship, pastoral care, social justice work, and encouraging the recognition of the vast diversity within the Jewish community. As the first Chinese American Rabbi, she has spoken broadly on the changing nature of the American Jewish community and how established Jewish institutions can become more inclusive. She is actively engaged in the general East Bay community, as well, through interfaith and organizational partnerships. Nationally, Rabbi Mates-Muchin serves as a Central Conference of America Rabbis representative to the Board of the Union for Reform Judaism. She was ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. After three years as the Assistant Rabbi at Temple Beth Zion in Buffalo, New York, she came to Temple Sinai as the Associate Rabbi, and became Senior Rabbi in 2015. She is married to Jonathan Mates-Muchin and together they have four children.

You Shall Have Joy

D'Var Torah By: Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin

This week, we read a special portion from the book of Exodus for the holiday of Sukkot that explains, "You shall observe… the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year."

Try Anyway

D'Var Torah By: Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin

We are nearing the end of the book of Deuteronomy. This week's Torah portion, Haazinu, consists mainly of a poem or a song that Moses sings to the people as he nears his death. Considering how hopeful the last few chapters have been, one might have expected that this poem would continue the same line of thinking. However, the poem is more fatalistic.

Growth and Decay

D'Var Torah By: Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin

There are parts of the Torah that could be classified as seeds or flesh. The seeds are the gems that are timeless, that enable generations to grow and ideas to be nurtured. The seeds sprout new possibilities and, ultimately, new life.

Peoplehood, Responsibility, and Intentionality

D'Var Torah By: Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin

In this week's Torah portion, Nitzavim, Moses is nearing the end of his speech to the Israelites, urging them to live righteously when they move across the Jordan River without him. He includes three beautiful passages that, together, capture essential aspects of Judaism: peoplehood, responsibility, and intentionality.

The Stories We Tell

D'Var Torah By: Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin

In his 1966 novel, The Gates of the Forest, Elie Wiesel famously wrote, "God created [hu]man[s] because [God] loves stories." Indeed, each of our lives is a story that is told to the world. Our stories involve many characters, have plot twists, and offer lessons that teach something of the nature of life. Our life stories highlight what is important to us, what ideals guide us, and the significant experiences that have shaped who we are. Every life is a story. Telling that story helps us remember who we are.