ENCORE: Finding Yourself in the Bible: Insights from Rabbi Josh Franklin – Seekers of Meaning 7/3/2026

The question God asks Adam—Where are you?—still echoes across generations. This book explores the biblical world as a mirror of the human heart, charting a path through the emotional geographies of Torah: beginnings, wandering, revelation, rupture, exile, and return. Rabbi Josh Franklin weaves text, midrash, psychology, and personal story to show that places in Scripture chart the lifescape of human experience. More than a book about the Bible, this is an invitation to locate oneself—spiritually, morally, and emotionally—in the stories of Scripture.

Rabbi Josh Franklin

Rabbi Josh Franklin is the Senior Rabbi of the Jewish Center of the Hamptons in East Hampton, where for the past nine years he has helped revitalize and grow the Jewish community through engaging programming, transformative learning, inspiring worship, and expansive community outreach. Each summer, hundreds gather weekly for Shabbat on the Beach, an innovative and spiritually resonant prayer experience that has become a hallmark of Jewish life on the East End. Year-round, Rabbi Franklin draws people to the synagogue for learning, reflection, and meaningful communal connection.

Beyond the synagogue, Rabbi Franklin is deeply involved in the broader Hamptons community. He co-authors a bi-monthly column in Dan’s Papers titled “Hamptons Soul,” exploring questions of spirituality, ethics, and justice. His civic engagement has included service on the East Hampton Police Reform Committee and the Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force. He also serves on the board of L’Arche Long Island, supporting adults with developmental disabilities. In recognition of his leadership, Rabbi Franklin was named to the 2021 Schneps Media Powerlist and was honored by Dan’s Papers as one of its 2022 “People of the Year: East Enders Who Made the World a Better Place.”

Rabbi Franklin was ordained at Hebrew Union College after graduating magna cum laude from Clark University, where he earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in History. He holds additional master’s degrees in Jewish Education and Hebrew Literature and was a recipient of the Daniel and Bonnie Tisch Fellowship, a selective rabbinical program focused on congregational leadership, personal theology, and contemporary religion in North America. Prior to his tenure in the Hamptons, he served on the clergy team at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

In the summer of 2026, Rabbi Franklin will relocate to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where he will begin a new role as Co-Senior Rabbi of Temple Judea. He lives with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children, Lilah and Amelia.