Sunday Worship: The Merits of Privileging Joy

Rabbi Shira Freidlin has taught students of all ages in Jewish camps, Jewish recovery programs, and religious schools. Since July 2022, she has been the spiritual leader of The Santa Monica Synagogue. She has served in various roles at IKAR, Temple Beth Am and Beit T’Shuvah in Los Angeles since she moved out here in 2007. She holds a BFA in Film & TV from NYU with a concentration in Children’s TV, an MA in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and an MA and Ordination from the Academy of Jewish Religion California. She currently sits on the Sandra Caplan Community Beit Din and serves as Vice President of the Santa Monica Area Interfaith Council (SMAIC). She is thrilled to be throwing her considerable joy and enthusiasm into elevating the learning, spirituality, and worship at The Santa Monica Synagogue.  

 

We welcome Rabbi Shira as our 2022-2023 Honored Guest Teacher. Each year of developmental ministry, Rev. Jeremiah has brought one teacher from the broader community to lead worship that enhances our multi-religious inclusion and/or anti-racism and counter oppressive efforts. Rabbi Shira and Rev. Jeremiah led us in an interfaith service for Shavuot on May 26th, just down the street at the Santa Monica Synagogue, with a lovely meal together afterwards at UUSM. This Sunday, she comes to share her teachings with us, and to lead us in singing, “Hine Ma Tov.”