The Center of Jewish Life in the Napa Valley
Rabbi Niles Goldstein brings dynamic leadership and extensive experience to our Reform congregation. As the founding rabbi of The New Shul in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, which he led for over a decade, he demonstrated his commitment to innovative Jewish practice. Before joining Congregation Beth Shalom, he worked in various congregational, interfaith, and academic settings in his native Chicago. He is also a founder of The Napa Center for Thought & Culture.
A prominent voice in the North American Jewish community, Rabbi Niles is an award-winning author who has written or edited ten books. His insights on spirituality, personal growth, the environment, leadership, and congregational innovation have appeared in Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Huffington Post, and The Forward. His work and perspectives have been featured in major media outlets including Time, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Christian Science Monitor, as well as on radio and television.
Since his ordination, Rabbi Niles has served as the National Jewish Chaplain for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. He also serves as Chaplain for both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Napa Police Department.
Rabbi Niles’ academic journey began at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his undergraduate degree with honors in philosophy. He went on to receive his master’s degree and rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where he was later awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree for his 25 years of outstanding service in the rabbinate. His commitment to education continued through his faculty positions at prestigious institutions including New York University, Loyola University, Eastern Mennonite University, and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
Actively engaged in broader Jewish and intellectual circles, Rabbi Niles maintains memberships in PEN International, the Renaissance Institute, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the Northern California Board of Rabbis.
Rabbi Niles’ adventurous spirit has taken him from mushing dogs in Alaska to riding horses in Mongolia. His commitment to global citizenship is evident in his humanitarian work with communities in Central Asia and the Caucasus. A dedicated martial artist, he holds black belts in three different self-defense systems. Now calling Napa Valley home, Rabbi Niles embraces the region’s rich cultural offerings, from theater and film to its renowned culinary scene, while exploring the natural beauty of Northern California.
Rabbi Niles is the award-winning author or editor of ten books on spirituality and Judaism. We encourage you to explore his insightful, provocative voice through these works.