THE TEMPLE WELCOMES RABBI MAYA GLASSER By Susan Edelman, Congregation Ahavath Chesed Rabbi Glasser acknowledges this is a time of uncertainty for many. But she believes our pandemic experiences and our worries about the future give Judaism a chance to light the way by injecting more meaning into our lives.
Rabbi Maya Glasser has joined Congregation Ahavath Chesed (The Temple) as the Senior Rabbi. Ordained by Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Glasser also holds HUC’s inaugural Certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Her experience as a clergy leader, and with Jewish education and youth as well as community outreach involvement, appealed to Temple’s Rabbinic Search Committee, and Rabbi Glasser felt a strong connection as well.
“Judaism is all about keeping a tradition alive and finding its meaning in new ways,” she notes. “Our traditions will help us navigate obstacles, find strength and provide hope that we can be the next generation to get through the tough times. The power is in our tradition.” Rabbi Glasser joins Cantor Carrie Barry, and will be working closely with two other brand-new-toJacksonville professionals: Gonen Arad, Director of Congregational Learning and Engagement, and Autumn Sheridan, Temple Administrator.
“It is so exciting to see our team come together—and we have already ‘clicked’,” she said. “We have a
renewed energy and are focused on community building and relationships. Without meaningful relationships, there’s no meaningful Judaism.”
With all the preparations necessary for High Holidays and the opening of Temple Institute of Religion, Rabbi Glasser and her husband Jake Bayer have not had a lot of time to explore Jacksonville, but says she loves what she’s seen so far. Most importantly, she says she’s felt the welcoming embrace of an eager community. “One of the reasons I became a rabbi is to be present throughout the lives of my congregants,” she concluded. “I’ve been waiting to find that community that was excited to have me, and this feels even bigger than that—I feel like we’ve come together in a sacred moment to start a new chapter in this journey.”
“I saw dedicated volunteers—people who love and support their congregation, and are willing to devote time and energy to this place they love,” she says of her first impressions. “There’s a lot of things you can change about a congregation, but the people aren’t one of them. This is a strong and vibrant community.”
Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida
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