I am excited to announce that on July 1, we will welcome Rabbi Rachael Houser to Central Synagogue as a member of the pulpit clergy team. After a robust search process, she impressed our committee with her depth of scholarship, her kindness and warm spirit, and her proven experience serving congregations while in school and providing pastoral care, leading worship, and overseeing lifecycles. 

Rachael will be ordained by Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in May, where she was awarded the Robert L. Adler Prize for outstanding contributions to the community and the Dr. and Mrs. Slonimsky Prize for academic excellence in the field of Midrash. 

During her time in rabbinical school, Rachael served synagogues across the Midwest and worked as a chaplain-intern at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, providing spiritual care in their emergency department. She also worked at the American Jewish Archives and Skirball Museum, where she brought the institution’s holdings to life for visitors and students. 

Rachael grew up in Pittsburgh and earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Speech from Wagner College. Prior to rabbinical school, she lived and worked in Manhattan as an actor but found her passion for Jewish life and leadership at the Manhattan JCC. Her interests include the writings of Jane Austen, embroidery, sewing, and crocheting, and, in her words, “I have never met a museum I didn’t like.”  

I want to extend my thanks to my fellow members of the search committee, including Jonathan Crystal (chair), Jon May, Devana Cohen, Ben Lawsky, Michael Corwin, Susan Schlechter, Jane Ginns, Stuart Tishman, Rabbis Buchdahl and Rosenthal, and Marcia Caban, and very much look forward to welcoming Rabbi Houser to the congregation this summer. 

Rabbi Ari Lorge
Senior Director of Clergy Study