Second Acts: How Does a Lawyer Become a Rabbi?

This week, Working revisits its special five-episode mini-season with people who have had “second acts,” that is people who made a dramatic career pivot at some point in their working lives. Nicole Auerbach worked as an attorney for 10 years, first as a federal public defender in the Southern District of New York and then as a media lawyer specializing in First Amendment issues. Realizing she was unhappy in that career, she was drawn to become a rabbi and is now director of congregational engagement at New York’s Central Synagogue. Auerbach talks about how she decided to attend rabbinical school, the challenges that making a career switch presented, and what she likes best about her new line of work. You can email us at [email protected]. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices