For Rabbi Micah Greenstein, 63, healthy aging is about investing in the habits that allow him to keep doing what he loves. Known by many as the “running rabbi,” the longtime faith leader logs nearly 30 miles weekly while dedicating his time and energy to the greater Memphis community.
Micah is the Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel, the oldest and largest synagogue in Tennessee and the last remaining large synagogue in the Deep South, where he leads a congregation of nearly 4,000 members. He also writes a monthly religion column for The Daily Memphian, hosts podcasts and blog sermons, and participates in Mystic Live, a monthly interfaith discussion at Crosstown Concourse on Tuesdays.
“My mission isn’t to make the world more Jewish — it’s to make the world more human,” he says. “It’s through my language of Judaism that I’m able to help Memphis.”
Although Micah grew up as the son of a rabbi, he did not initially plan to follow in his father’s footsteps, having enrolled in Harvard University’s Kennedy School to earn a master’s in public policy. But after an inspiring conversation with a professor about the true meaning of public service, Micah began to see the rabbinate as another way to make a difference, ultimately choosing that path.
During his years in graduate school and rabbinical studies, Micah took up running as a serious sport, finding it meditative and invigorating. “Running has been my outlet,” he says. “It clears my head while improving my physical health. I get to experience that runner’s high feeling of energy and relaxation at the same time.”
Micah has completed 19 marathons across the country, from Honolulu to Philadelphia and New York City, including two Boston Marathons, with the support of his wife, three adult children, and two grandchildren.
While his passion for running hasn’t been fully passed down, one of his most cherished memories is from 2012. That year, he participated in the Austin Marathon. At the same time, his daughter, Cara, who was a student at the University of Texas at Austin at the time, completed her very first half marathon.
More than thirty years since lacing up his first pair of running shoes, Micah’s approach to exercise has evolved. “When I was younger, it was all about speed,” he explains.
“Now it’s about keeping the same body intact by not overdoing it, prioritizing stretching, recovery, and listening to my body.” These days, he runs six miles, five days each week in green spaces around Memphis, including Shelby Farms Park’s Hyde Lake, the Wolf River Greenway, and even a mile-long loop surrounding Temple Israel’s wooded campus.
Micah finds many parallels between his faith and running, especially the self-discipline component. “In Judaism, taking care of the body is a major commandment,” he explains. “We’re really mind, body, and spirit all together. If we don’t tend to all three, we’re not living up to our best selves.”
This mind-body-spirit mentality has helped Micah move through the decades in good health, with vitality, focus, and acuity, and extends to his community involvement. He has supported countless local organizations that strengthen Memphians’ accessibility to health, notably Church Health and the Kosten Foundation, for whom he leads the pancreatic cancer survivors ceremony each year.
“The beauty of Memphis is its trees and its people,” he says. “Running lets me appreciate both.”
His advice for others: age doesn’t have to be a barrier to running. “The amazing thing about running marathons is that, with training and discipline, anyone can do it.”
By Shlomit Cohen
Photo by Tindall Stephens
