Rabbi Jack Shlachter. Courtesy/LAJC
By MARLENE WILDEN
In a town where equations, experiments and scientific breakthroughs are part of daily life, Rabbi Jack Shlachter has spent the last three decades showing that faith and reason can coexist—not just peacefully, but powerfully.
As Los Alamos celebrates the 30th anniversary of Rabbi Jack’s ordination, the community honors a man who embodies the rare blend of theoretical physicist and spiritual leader—a dual identity that has shaped not only his own life, but also the lives of countless others in Northern New Mexico.
“Rabbi Jack has a love for teaching and learning, whether from physics or Torah, and an ability to explain complex ideas with clarity, humor, and humility. That’s what makes him such a well-respected leader,” said Sy Stange, Chair of the Los Alamos Jewish Center’s Religious Committee.
Jack Shlachter first arrived in Los Alamos in 1979 as a doctoral student to work at the renowned Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Over the years, he rose through the ranks to lead both the prestigious Experimental Physics Division and, later, the Theoretical Division—the latter was once led by none other than J. Robert Oppenheimer, scientific director of the Manhattan Project.
But even as he helped advance cutting-edge science, Jack was quietly drawn toward another pursuit: Judaism.
“There is a mindset in Los Alamos that we don’t go off the Hill unless we have to,” Rabbi Jack once said. “Having the Los Alamos Jewish Center (LAJC) up here is a wonderful thing.”
In the early 1990s, while participating in and leading services at the LAJC, Jack realized something was missing. Though he had helped run children’s services in his youth and tutored bar mitzvah students, his formal Jewish education had stopped at age 13. Fueled by curiosity and the analytical rigor of a physicist, he began a decade-long journey of Jewish self-study.
In June 1995, Rabbi Jack became the first rabbi in the history of the Los Alamos Jewish Center to come up from the community. His reasons were deeply practical and profoundly personal.
“I wanted to make sure Jewish couples here could be married without needing to fly in a rabbi,” he said. “But I also wanted my kids and this community to see that Judaism matters.”
Rabbi Jack’s service expanded LAJC from a lay-led congregation into one with dedicated rabbinic leadership —while still maintaining its inclusive, volunteer-powered ethos. For nearly 20 years, he balanced his role at LANL with part-time rabbinic duties: officiating weddings, leading High Holiday services, offering pastoral care, and educating a community across generations.
“When a response is required, it can help to have somebody with an authoritative title,” he once noted, referencing the importance of having a visible Jewish leader in the community.
Rabbi Jack also became known globally as the “Physics Rabbi,” offering thought-provoking talks on the intersection of science and spirituality. His lecture, “Two Jews in Conflict: Strauss and Oppenheimer”—delivered shortly before the release of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer—shed light on contrasting Jewish identities and resonated with audiences worldwide.
“Physics doesn’t usually try to understand ‘why’… it understands the ‘how,’” Rabbi Jack often says. “Why is the law of gravity the way it is? That’s not a physics question; that’s a Judaism question!”
On Friday, June 27, as community members gather to celebrate 30 years of Rabbi Jack’s spiritual leadership, they recognize a legacy built on more than intellect. It’s one of compassion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to both truth and tradition.
“It was here when I came here,” he says of the Jewish Center. “And my hope is that it continues to be a strong, welcoming presence for generations to come.”
From sanctifying weddings to safeguarding cultural values, Rabbi Jack continues to shape Los Alamos not just as a scientist or a rabbi, but as a bridge between two ways of seeking truth.
And for that, his community gives thanks.
To RSVP to the Los Alamos Jewish Center’s Community Shabbat Dinner honoring Rabbi Jack’s 30 years of ordination, visit: lajc.org/event-list
About the Los Alamos Jewish Center
The Los Alamos Jewish Center (LAJC) is a welcoming, inclusive congregation serving the Jewish community of Los Alamos, New Mexico and surrounding areas. Rooted in tradition while embracing diversity, LAJC offers Jewish religious services, educational programs, cultural events and community engagement opportunities for individuals and families of all backgrounds. With a commitment to lifelong learning, social responsibility, and spiritual growth, LAJC fosters a vibrant and connected Jewish life in Northern New Mexico.
For more information, please visit lajc.org, call 505.662.2140, or send an email to losalamosjewishcenter@lajc.org.