Jakub Madej

After months of search, the Slifka Center has hired Emmanuel Cantor ’18 as the new assistant rabbi. 

In an email to the News, Cantor emphasized that his desire to become a rabbi stemmed directly from his experience as an undergraduate at Yale and his time spent at Slifka. He hopes that he will be able to guide Yale students in the same “richness of learning and community” that he once experienced. 

“At Yale, I loved diving into new texts and ideas, exploring the arts and spirituality, community organizing, and building lasting friendships,” Cantor wrote to the News. “What made it special was that I didn’t experience these activities in isolation, but with the same amazing people — especially at Slifka. To study alongside those you’ve volunteered with, accompanied to Yale Health, supported in student elections, grieved family losses, and celebrated holidays together is a rare and precious gift.”

Cantor majored in women’s, gender and sexuality studies during his time at Yale and worked as a rabbinic intern from 2020 to 2021 at Slifka. He received rabbinic ordination in 2024 from the pluralistic rabbinical school Hebrew College, where he was a Wexner fellow. Currently, he serves as a community rabbi at the Den Collective, which serves Jewish young adults in the Washington area. 

Uri Cohen, executive director of the Slifka Center wrote in an email announcing the hire that for Cantor, returning to Slifka to serve in a rabbinic position will be a “coming home.” According to Cohen, in a recent visit to Slifka, many students enjoyed getting to know him and were impressed by his depth of knowledge and his personable manner. 

“Throughout his interview process, he spoke lovingly about Slifka and our students and the opportunity to bring his love for Jewish learning, pastoral care, and Israel for the benefit of our students and community,” wrote Cohen.

The Slifka Center is still searching for someone to fill the campus rabbi position, which would require someone with more experience in the field, alongside Cantor who will be taking on a junior position as the assistant rabbi.

The search committee was led by co-chairs Yishai Schwartz ’13 LAW ’17 and Abigail Pogrebin ’87.

Cantor hopes to bring his love of Jewish texts, tradition and community to students beginning next fall.

“Together, I hope we’ll explore how Jewish ideas and commitments can enrich their lives and deepen their engagement with Yale, New Haven, the US, the Jewish people, Israel, and the broader world — wherever their paths may lead,” he wrote.

Cantor spoke of beginning this work on holy ground and is excited to begin working in July.

“As God tells Moses at the burning bush, the place of change is holy ground. I am excited to partner with students, the Slifka staff, and the Yale community as we walk that holy ground together,” he wrote.

The Slifka Center was founded in 1995.

Correction, March 26: The article has been updated to reflect that Cantor attended Yale only for college, not for graduate school.