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In these changing political times, many people are experiencing an increase in polarized discussions, less connection to each other, and widening divides that feel too hard to bridge. However, we have a sacred obligation as Jews to create opportunities to be the antidote to divisiveness and to do the hard work to come together to bridge these divides. In this spirit, we announce our second series of Courageous Conversations - four session commitment to leaning in, building empathy, and having challenging conversations that allow us to feel seen, heard and valued within our community.
We are looking for a dynamic cohort of congregants who are interested in this bridge work and want to engage in sacred obligation, communication and bridging divisiveness to strengthen belonging in our community. If you are interested in participating, we ask for your willingness to respectfully engage with diverse opinions and a commitment to attending each of the four sessions.
Rabbi Ackerman Hirsch was recently ordained as a rabbi at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute for Religion in Los Angeles, CA. She received a Master’s in Educational Leadership (MEdL) from the Rhea Hirsch School of Education in 2022. Rabbi Ackerman Hirsch has lived all over the West Coast-she grew up in California and Arizona and went to college in Tacoma, Washington. Her love of Judaism was nurtured through her family’s weekly Shabbat dinners with her grandparents and through her experiences in religious school and attending Jewish theater summer camp.
Rabbi Ackerman Hirsch graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences (Biology emphasis) and minor in Science, Technology, and Society. After graduating, she worked in the medical technology startup space before realizing that she needed more spirituality and Judaism in her day-to-day life. After leaving the tech world, Rabbi Ackerman Hirsch taught preschool in San Francisco and then moved to Israel, which she had dreamed of living in ever since going on Birthright, and taught English to 1st through 6th graders. Learn more.
Rachel Wegner is a lifelong educator and spent almost a dozen years in the classroom teaching elementary and high school students. She then spent nine years as an administrator for a highly alternative charter school that served young adults who had previously been pushed out of the traditional education system. Currently, she works for the San Diego County Office of Education in the Student Wellness and School Culture department, supporting schools across the county with suicide prevention and mental health promotion.
Rachel and her family are avid travelers, readers, social justice advocates, beach-goers and campers. It was on a year-long RV trip where they first realized how much Beth Israel meant to them while they were sitting squashed together on their RV sofa watching the live stream of the High Holy day services from the middle of Montana, very much missing their community. Since their return from that trip, they have re-committed and re-engaged in temple life and are forever grateful for the second home and safe space Beth Israel provides.