Rabbi Itzhak Vardy

Founder, Neshama Center in Aspen

Rabbi Itzhak Vardy was born in Israel to a family with roots that embraced Jewish life and traditions that can be traced back for over 200 years. Though the earlier years of his adult life, he worked in a wide variety of fields including theater, music and art. In 1988, when his wife and he moved to Aspen, Colorado, his mindset returned to his roots and traditions. He began teaching and studying, and through this, he was inspired to become a Rabbi.

In the Renewal Movement, he could choose a variety of studies that allowed him to uphold his traditional beliefs, while further exploring new ideas. For the last decade, he has studied at Aleph Rabbinical School, The University of Judaism in Los Angeles, Open University in Tel Aviv, Bar Ilan University, Herzug Yeshiva, and Mevaser Shalom Yeshiva. In 2012, he obtained ordination.

Rabbi Itzhak is the current Rabbi and founder of Neshama Center in Aspen, Colorado. Neshama Center offers the preservation of culture and celebration of all life cycle events including Namings, B’nai Mitzvah, Weddings and Memorial services. The Center also offers educational programming for children and adults to ensure spiritual growth and to encourage observing the Jewish holidays in a way that enriches individuals spiritually and intellectually in an open and inviting atmosphere.