Sharon Brous
| Sharon Brous | |
|---|---|
| Residence | Los Angeles, CA |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Occupation | Rabbi |
| Spouse(s) | David Light |
| Children | 3 |
| Website |
ikar-la |
Sharon Brous is a Los Angeles based American rabbi.[1] In 2004, Rabbi Brous, Melissa Balaban and a handful of young entrepreneurial Jews set out to build IKAR (Hebrew for “essence”), a laboratory for bold, imaginative Jewish practice that is rooted in a deep commitment to social justice – which has quickly become one of the fastest growing Jewish communities in the country and a model for inspiring Jews from the most marginalized to the most engaged. IKAR has been named one of the nation’s 50 most innovative Jewish nonprofits in Slingshot (a resource guide for Jewish innovation) every year since its founding.
Career
Brous was recognized as the nation’s most influential rabbi by Newsweek/The Daily Beast, which credited her with reanimating Jewish community and re-energizing prayer at a time of growing disaffection and declining affiliation. The Forward cites her as among the 50 most influential American Jews. In 2013 she blessed President Obama and Vice President Biden at the Inaugural National Prayer Service. She sits on the faculty of the Hartman Institute-North America, Wexner Heritage and REBOOT, and is a Senior Fellow at Auburn Theological Seminary. She serves on the International Council of the New Israel Fund and rabbinic advisory council to American Jewish World Service.
Brous was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2001 and received a master's degree in human rights from Columbia University, where she also received her bachelor's degree in 1995. Before moving to Los Angeles, she served as a Rabbinic Fellow at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York City.
In January, 2016, Brous and colleagues from six other path-breaking Jewish communities from across the United States officially announced the launch of the Jewish Emergent Network, a collaboration between IKAR and Kavana in Seattle, The Kitchen in San Francisco, Mishkan in Chicago, Sixth & I in Washington, DC, and Lab/Shul and Romemu in New York City. All seven communities have individually received recognition for the impact of their work in the Jewish community on both a local and national scale.
Brous has contributed to the books The Modern Jewish Girl's Guide to Guilt,[2] A dream of Zion: American Jews reflect on why Israel matters to them,[3] and The Women's Torah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions.[4]
References
- ↑ "First on America's top 50 rabbis list: A woman". Y Net.
- ↑ The Modern Jewish Girl's Guide to Guilt - Ruth Andrew Ellenson - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
- ↑ A dream of Zion: American Jews ... - Jeffrey K. Salkin - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
- ↑ Sharon Brous and Jill Hammer. “Proclaiming Liberty throughout the Land.” In The Women's Torah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions. Edited by Elyse Goldstein, pages 238–45. Woodstock, Vermont: Jewish Lights Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-58023-076-8.