About Karyn Kedar
Karyn Kedar is a gifted writer and teacher. She offers spiritual retreats, writing retreats, leadership seminars, residencies, and speaking engagements.
Through poetic reflections and practical insights, she guides others to navigate life’s complexities with grace and deepen their connection to their essential self and to others.
Karyn Kedar is the author of six non-fiction books, including Amen: Seeking Presence with Prayer, Poetry, and Mindfulness Practice and The Bridge to Forgiveness. These works reflect the sacred and everyday moments that shape us. Everything she writes—whether poetry, liturgy, or essays—is an invitation to pause, to contemplate, and to awaken the spirit.
Her newest work, Unfolding: A High Holy Day Companion, invites readers to sit on the edge of what they know and explore the mysteries of forgiveness, beauty, and spiritual renewal.
Her books, teachings, and retreats explore the shared human experiences of love, struggle, forgiveness, resilience, and the search for meaning. She invites us to “come to the edge of what you know and sit a while.” She inspires people of all backgrounds and faiths to live intentionally, find beauty and purpose in everyday moments, and cultivate a life of spiritual depth, meaning, compassion, and purpose.
Karyn lives with her husband Ezra in the Chicago area, and their children and six grandchildren are making their way in life in both the United States and Israel.
my grandmother’s typewriter
Evangeline Dion Schwartz lived over 100 years ago, held a BA from Boston University, and published in English and Yiddish. I love placing my books near her typewriter. With every word I write, I feel that I am a part of her legacy.
THE LONGER STORY
Meet Karyn D. Kedar
From an early age, Karyn Kedar’s life has been shaped by a love for words and a deep desire to explore life’s mysteries
At just eight years old, she fell in love with writing, amazed that lines and curves could form words and stories. That same year, she decided she wanted to become a rabbi. At the time, women were unable to receive rabbinic ordination. Undeterred, she told the adults who questioned her that she simply wanted to know what rabbis knew. Years later, she would say that the desire to enter and engage with life’s mysteries and learn and teach the invisible of a life – love, hope, resilience, and forgiveness – has propelled her long and accomplished career.
She is a creative entrepreneur, a trailblazer, and a historic figure in the Jewish community. She is a part of the first generation of women rabbis and was the first woman to serve as a rabbi in the history of Jerusalem. For years, her ordination certificate was proudly displayed in the Israel Museum of Jerusalem. She was honored to present her books to The National Library of Israel.
Karyn Kedar returned to the United States to continue her impressive and varied career. She was immediately recognized as one of Jewish Women International's (JWI) "Women to Watch" and has been at the forefront of inspiring leadership and creativity.
She was the Regional Director of the Great Lakes Region of the Union for Reform Judaism. She supported sixty congregations across a five-state region, specializing in leadership development, crisis intervention, and organizational growth and stability. She has developed a paradigm for Inspirational Leadership called the Leadership List, which she teaches across the country.
Later, she joined Congregation BJBE in Deerfield, Illinois, as Senior Rabbi and led the congregation through a significant transition, greatly increasing their membership and stature in the community. A central element of the transformation was a collaboration with Feingold and Alexander Architects to design and build an award-winning building, where the mission and values of the community were thoughtfully embedded in every detail and aspect of the design. As a creative, Karyn Kedar has also had the opportunity to collaborate with artists across multiple genres, composing lyrics with musicians and texts for a visual artist.
She is the author of six non-fiction books
Karyn’s latest work, Unfolding: A High Holy Day Companion, invites readers to sit on the edge of what they know and explore the mysteries of forgiveness, beauty, and spiritual renewal. Her titles include Amen: Seeking Presence with Prayer, Poetry, and Mindfulness Practice and The Bridge to Forgiveness: Stories and Prayers for Finding God and Restoring Wholeness and God Whispers: Stories of The Soul, Lesson of The Heart. Karyn D. Kedar has contributed her poetic reflections and spiritual insights to numerous anthologies, offering thoughtful perspectives on themes like faith, gratitude, forgiveness, and the sacred in daily life. Her contributions bring depth and inspiration, encouraging readers to find meaning and connection in their own journeys.
Her work delves into the sacredness of everyday moments. Through her poetry, liturgy, essays, and retreats, she invites us to pause, reflect, and awaken our spirits. She guides us in uncovering the wonder in daily life, offering pathways to deeper meaning and purpose.
Storyteller, poet, spiritual leader, and gifted speaker
Today, Karyn Kedar is a storyteller, poet, spiritual leader, and gifted speaker whose life’s work is dedicated to exploring shared human experiences—love, struggle, resilience, forgiveness, and the search for beauty and meaning. She is known for her heartfelt storytelling and profound insights and has a remarkable ability to move people, inspiring them to explore life’s deeper meaning. Her presentations are uplifting, engaging, and transformative, leaving a lasting impact on audiences across the country.
She lives with her husband Ezra in the Chicago area, and their children and six grandchildren are making their way in life in both the United States and Israel.