Michael Carr: Center City Resident Becomes Familiar Face in Jewish Community

Michael Carr. (Courtesy of Michael Carr)

By Ellen Braunstein

When Michael Carr attended Sababa, a four-day Jewish music festival held in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, he didn’t expect to be moved to his core. But as he stood among Jews from all backgrounds, singing and welcoming Shabbat under the trees in June, he felt something click.

“That Kabbalat Shabbat was just amazing,” he said. “It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.”

Carr, 36, is a behavioral therapist who works with children with autism. But in the Philadelphia Jewish community, he’s become known for something more: his full-throttle embrace of Jewish life. Since converting to Judaism in April 2023, Carr, of Center City, has thrown himself into nearly every aspect of communal participation, attending services, teaching classes, leading hikes, organizing support groups and volunteering for Jewish security and pro-Israel activities.

Carr’s journey to Judaism wasn’t sudden; it was years in the making. Raised Roman Catholic in South Jersey, he spent years exploring spiritual paths, including Buddhism, Wicca and Unitarian Universalism. Drawn early on to Jewish culture and the concept of ethical monotheism, he began attending a Conservative synagogue in Orlando, Florida, where he studied Hebrew and completed a formal conversion. What began as a personal search for meaning has since become a mission to strengthen Jewish community and safety, especially amid growing concerns about antisemitism.

“When I finally allowed myself to explore Judaism, it felt like coming back home,” Carr said. After converting, he moved to Philadelphia, a return to familiar roots. He’d grown up in Marlton, New Jersey, and was drawn to Philly for its larger and more diverse Jewish community.

That move happened shortly before Oct. 7, 2023. In the days and weeks following the Hamas-led massacre in Israel, Carr said he felt increasingly alienated from former social circles. “The hostility toward Israel and Zionism — I started hearing it more and more,” he said. “It became less comfortable to be in spaces that weren’t Jewish. People I thought were human rights activists were minimizing the massacre. They told me revolution involves violence, and that I should accept that. I dropped those people.”

Instead, Carr leaned further into Jewish life. He started attending events hosted by organizations like Tribe 12, Mamash Chabad, Old City Jewish Arts Center, The Chevra and the South Philadelphia Shtiebel. He took on leadership roles, including running the Jews by Choice meetup group through the young Jewish professionals organization Tribe 12.

“I’ve met quite a few converts in Philadelphia,” he said. “We’ve had some really powerful conversations about our experiences.”

Carr also works Sundays at Ohev Shalom of Bucks County, supporting students with autism. He’s passionate about making Jewish education more accessible to kids with special needs. “I’d love to work more in that space — after-school programs, day schools, whatever it might be,” he said. “There’s definitely a need.”

His work in autism education began after college. He earned his undergraduate degree in history from Rutgers University, then pursued graduate studies in behavioral therapy at the Florida Institute of Technology. Carr says he discovered a love for working with autistic children while substitute teaching. “Being able to make a positive impact on kids and their families, and making a living doing that, has been really rewarding,” he said.

He’s also brought some of his personal interests into his community involvement. Through Tribe 12, Carr led a class on herbalism and organized a hike in Wissahickon. “Herbalism is part of holistic health,” he said. “It’s something I got into through my spiritual seeking.”

Currently, Carr is in the middle of a second conversion, this time to Orthodox Judaism. He’s begun observing more halacha, including kashrut and Shabbat, and is working with a rabbi at South Philadelphia Shtiebel. “I’ve been going through the process since last August,” he said. “I’m drawn to halacha and want to become Orthodox.”

Carr is also highly active in Jewish security work. He volunteers with Community Security Service, a group that helps organize security at Jewish events in coordination with law enforcement. “It’s important, especially now,” he said. “I want to do whatever I can to help keep our communities secure.”

Carr is also connected to pro-Israel and antisemitism awareness efforts at the grassroots level. He’s coordinated group chats on Instagram for young Jewish Zionists, and has worked with national organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and the Zionist Organization of America. “I try to raise awareness in progressive spaces about how anti-Zionism often serves as a cover for antisemitism,” he said.

Through it all, Carr says he’s been warmly welcomed by the Jewish community in Philadelphia. “People have always been very positive,” he said. “If anything, they’re just curious about my story.”

Carr says his family has embraced his new path and conversion. “They’re very supportive,” he said. “I’ve shown them some of the traditions — I lit a menorah for them, showed them Shabbat customs — and they’re totally behind me.”

Ellen Braunstein is a freelance writer.