Educator
Hi, I'm Rav Isaac Ansell-Forsyth
Passionate about people and journeys. Based in Jerusalem, leading the Jewish Curiosity movement.
Background
About Me
Raised in Scotland, I worked in non-profit development and special education before moving to Israel, where I immersed myself in a broad and rigorous Jewish education.
This included studying Talmud for seven years in Mir Yeshiva, receiving rabbinic ordination through Mizrachi, and spending over a decade engaged in the study of Jewish mysticism and philosophy.
Movement
Jewish Curiosity
The most common question my three-year-old son asks is "why." I think we can do that too. Jewish Curiosity is about asking the most fundamental questions of life and faith, and exploring them through the deepest Torah sources.
We aim to climb to the highest levels of understanding, and then bring those ideas all the way down into meaning, responsibility, and lived practice. Our goal is to be idealistic yet grounded, connecting us to God, to ourselves, and to each other.
Current Work
Teaching
Today, I head the Jewish Curiosity movement and teach widely in yeshivot, seminaries, hi-tech companies, and cultural centers. I live in Jerusalem with my wife and three children. Jewish Curiosity takes shape through live classes (in person and online), a podcast, and an upcoming book.
What Others Say
Testimonials
From students and colleagues around the world
It was R' Isaac's influence that showed me that Torah study can and should be for everyone.
I never connected to this kind of learning [Penimiut] until Rav Isaac started teaching us Nefesh Hachaim.
I am eternally grateful to Rabbi Isaac who opened my mind to the penimiut of Torah, the spiritual body of the Jewish people, and my own neshama.
R' Isaac taught us in a way that lifted our spirits. He is not only a great learner, but a great listener, mentor, teacher, and friend.
R' Isaac creates a meeting place where lasting, transformative relationships - between student and text, student and student, student and teacher - can be forged.
Rav Isaac is able to take the most complex concepts in all different areas of learning and bring them down so that anyone can grasp them.
Whether my questions related to personal matters, moral dilemmas, or challenges arising directly from my service as a soldier, Rav Isaac was consistently someone I could turn to. He was present not only as a source of knowledge, but as a source of calm, support, and clarity when those were most needed.
Get in Touch
Interested in learning more or booking a class?