Meet Rabbi David Jaffe
Kirva Co-Founder, Educator, Consultant
Rabbi David Jaffe is the Founder and Executive Director of Kirva and the author of Changing the World from the Inside Out: A Jewish Approach to Personal and Social Change, which won the National Jewish Book Award for Contemporary Jewish life.
His teaching, writing, organizing, and consulting explore the intersection of moral and spiritual development and ethical action in the world. He teaches Mussar (applied Jewish ethics) and Jewish spiritual wisdom widely throughout North America with organizational and social change leaders, educators and spiritual seekers of all ages.
David was a founding board member of Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps and helped start the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization. He has a masters in social work from Columbia University and private rabbinic ordination from Israel. He served as a senior faculty member with the Mussar Institute, a visiting research fellow at Boston University and the Pardes Institute, and adjunct faculty at the Hebrew College Rabbinical School. David serves as the Co-President of the Board of Directors of the Brockton Interfaith Community and lives with his family in Sharon, MA.
Now, David is focused on deepening and expanding Kirva’s work at the intersection of inner transformation and collective liberation. He is guiding the evolution of Kirva’s programs and partnerships to meet this moment—supporting leaders and communities in building moral clarity, resilience, and accountable practice amid growing polarization and injustice.
Bring Rabbi David Jaffe to your community by filling out the below form and selecting “Hire Kirva for consulting, speaking engagements, or scholar in residencies”.
Changing the World from the Inside Out
Rabbi David Jaffe’s award-winning book, Changing the World from the Inside Out, is a foundational resource for Kirva’s work. Drawing on Mussar, Chassidut, and years of experience in both spiritual practice and community organizing, Rabbi Jaffe offers a compelling guide for aligning our inner lives with our work for justice. Whether you're a longtime activist or new to spiritual practice, this book provides practical tools and deep wisdom to help you show up with integrity, compassion, and resilience.
