Rabbi Jill Hausman
My blogs
| Location | New York City, New York, United States |
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| Introduction | Religion should be welcoming to everyone. God accepts all people; clergy and religion should as well. Clergy should function as a conduit to God, a teacher of Torah and history, and confidant. The spirit of the law is more important than the letter of the law, and love for one’s neighbor precedes all else. The universal aspects of religion must take precedence over the particular aspects, which should serve to embellish observance and enrich it rather than dividing or excluding people. Each congregant is precious and important to the community. The synagogue should be a place of beauty, of learning, and of being there for each other. My aim is to give people a reason for being at the synagogue: a bit of rest, of song, of learning, of validation, or of stimulation. A person who comes to the synagogue should receive something important while there. My background is in performing as well as in religion. I have sung in opera and acted in summer stock. The Actors Temple is a place where spirituality meets and encourages creativity. |