WANDERING RABBI
Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen
Welcome to Wandering Rabbi! A space to explore the liminal nature of being a human being in this world, and particularly of being a Jew and a rabbi.
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The hope for this space is that it acts as a tapestry of words and thoughts. A place where I can weave various strands together, which otherwise would remain buried and stuck. In the words of Clarissa Pinkola Estés I know that 'art is not meant to be created in stolen moments only'. This is a commitment to creativity and my voice and, as such, a commitment to you and your voice. An encouragement to find the space you need and the inspiration which fires you up.
A place where Judaism, feminism, justice, community, books, liminality and critical thinking meet and mingle.
Please only reproduce the work on this blog with proper attribution or the permission of the author.
Biography
Rabbi Robyn is currently studying for a PhD in Rabbinic Leadership and Biblical Studies with the University of Leeds under a AHRC scholarship funded through the White Rose College of the Arts & Humanities (WRoCAH). Robyn has a spectacular supervision team of Professor Johanna Stiebert, Professor Emma Tomalin and Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris, mirroring the focus of her thesis on re-constructing a collective feminist prophecy for today.
Since her undergraduate degree in Theology and Religious Studies at Newnham College, Cambridge, Robyn worked as a Human Rights lawyer and then began training for the rabbinate at Leo Baeck College. Upon ordination she worked as Manchester’s first female rabbi at Manchester Reform Synagogue, for a number of years. Robyn is currently co-chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors in the UK, on the faculty for Leo Baeck College and is on the organising team for the International Jewish-Christian Bible Week. Robyn regularly appears in UK media, is a Pause for Thought contributor, and has been published in various books and journal. One of Robyn’s favourite projects was co-hosting the Rabbiting On Podcast with the wonderful Rabbis Debbie Young-Somers and Miriam Berger. Through her freelance work, Robyn loves teaching and accompanying people through meaningful, personal and joyous ritual moments and connecting them to progressive communities.
Robyn is passionate about creating safe, anti-oppressive, relational,
textured, activist communities built by individuals who are enabled to
step into their own power and collectively organise for a more just world.
Aside from her family, including cat Bella, Robyn loves all things Sci Fi
and enjoys print-making and reading as much as she can.
HERE YOU CAN FIND SOME DETAILS OF RABBI ROBYN’S PUBLISHED WORKS.
Ashworth-Steen, R. 2025. PaRDeS: Navigating Pastoral Care as a Congregational Rabbi. European Judaism, 58(1): 121-136.
Ashworth-Steen, R and Fletcher, Y. 2025. Our Revolt-ing Women: Bringing Women Together. Abuse in World Religions: Articulating the Problem. London: Routledge. (Publication date 16 July 2025 and available on open access here.)
Ashworth-Robyn, R. 2025. Leaving a Toxic Community: Ritual Moments. The Sacred Struggle: Jewish Responses to Trauma. Chicago: CCAR Press: 263-268.
Ashworth-Steen, R. and Kahn-Harris, D. 2024. “If Not With Others, How?”: Creating Rabbinic Activists Through Study. In: Stiebert, J. ed. Activism, Bible, and Research-Based Teaching. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, pp.227-253. (Updated printed edition of the JJBS journal cited below).
Ashworth-Steen, R. 2022. Lilith. In: Alfond, K. ed. Feeding Women of the Talmud, Feeding Ourselves: Uplifting the Voices of Talmudic Heroines and Honoring Them with Simple, Vegan Recipes. Tennessee: Turner Publishing Company, pp.157-160.
Ashworth-Steen, R. 2022. The Power of Language. Romain, J. ed. What Makes me Angry: Howls of Rabbinic Rage…and Solutions. London: The Movement for Reform Judaism, pp.7-14.
Ashworth-Steen, R. 2020. Wandering Jews: Using our Exilic Condition to Create Communities and Change. In: Shimada, L. ed. Mapping Faith: Theologies of Migration and Community. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, pp.135-145.
Ashworth-Steen, R. and Kahn-Harris, D. 2020. ‘If not with others, how?’: Creating Rabbinic Activists Through Study. Journal for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies. 2(1), pp. 127-149.
Ashworth-Steen, R. 2017. How Satisfactory is Maimonides’ Solution to the Problem of Evil. European Judaism. 50(1), p.113-122.