The 29-year-old and his wife, Esther Sprung Shulkes, 26, were born and raised in South Florida. They studied for degrees at universities in New York and Miami and both spent time in Israel before working in teaching positions.
They are the first chaplaincy couple to serve the south coast on a permanent basis, working with around 500 students at universities in Brighton, Sussex, Kent, Portsmouth, Southampton and Bournemouth.
They have two children, Shmuel and Sherira.
What are the most common issues you deal with?
Interestingly, questions relating to biblical laws. Students want to know why Orthodox Judaism forbids consuming pig or lobster, why homosexuality is forbidden, why they should keep the Sabbath and so on. They are thirsting for a deeper understanding of their religion. The students are generally very well educated on a secular level, but have not experienced advanced Jewish learning. Hence, Orthodox Judaism’s approach to morality and laws may seem juvenile or capricious, especially in comparison to what they are learning in their uni classes.
What events do you organise for students?
It would be a misnomer to claim that I organise anything independently. I always work together with the JSoc and local Jewish students to plan events.
Before I came to the region many of the JSocs already had a Shabbat meal once a fortnight.
Now I am able to make sure that there is a Friday-night meal every week, Shabbat day meals and holiday meals.
Once a week I offer a lunch and learn on the Sussex campus, and I plan to add Hebrew for beginners and a text-based weekly class in January.
We have also had a wine, cheese and fondue night, a Chanucah party raising money for Darfur, and a shisha night.
What’s the most unusual request you have encountered, either from a student or a university?
I have been asked for my “Rabbi ID” by students who assume I must carry it around in my back pocket.
Of course there is no such thing.