Rabbi Alan Rabishaw
Rabbi Alan Rabishaw was ordained rabbi by the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute fr Religion in 1991. Throughout his career Rabbi Rabishaw has developed the reputation as one who uses a unique blend of warmth and wisdom to bring community together and create an intimate sense of belonging.For Rabbi Rabishaw, the Temple is a place where we join together to create holy community - a community that shares a system of values, a community that seeks intellectual and spiritual challenge, a community that is there for each other´s celebrations and sorrows. Leading the way with a collaborative spirit, Rabbi Rabishaw strives to be an active part of a Jewish community that laughs, studies, prays, sings, supports, learns and makes a difference - TOGETHER.
Most recently, Rabbi Rabishaw served as Senior Rabbi of Temple Chai in Phoenix, AZ, preceded by 15 years as a rabbi at Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles, CA. In both places he was a catalyst in driving successful programs, renewing and energizing holiday and festival celebrations, binding passion and commitment to the land and people of Israel, bringing in hundreds of 20/30 year old members, and engaging people of all ages with his creative and inspirational teaching. Because Rabbi Rabishaw has always been willing to learn, grow and experiment with new ideas and approaches, he is known as a visionary who knows how to get things done.
Rabbi Rabishaw was born and raised in Chicago, IL. He received his BA in Psychology from the University of Illinois in 1985, and rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, OH in 1991. Rabbi Rabishaw is a product of the Reform movement, growing up in NFTY, spending 12 summers at Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute, one of the Union for Reform Judaism´s camps and participating in NFTY´s Eisendrath International Exchange program as an exchange student in Israel during his junior year of High School.
Rabbi Rabishaw is an active member of AIPAC and ARZA. Additionally, he has served on various committees of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and lent his energies to a number of social justice and tzedakah related projects reaching out to local and international communities.
Rabbi Rabishaw is happily married to his wife, Laura. Together they have two children, Elana and Rosie. Rabbi Rabishaw is a diehard Cubs, Bears and Bulls fan, loves fishing in the Canadian wilderness, and looks forward to spending time every summer at Lake Tahoe.
Contact Rabbi Rabishaw at rabbirabishaw@orrishon.org
Cantor Ben Harris
Benjamin Harris, baritone, is the Cantor and Music Director at Temple Or Rishon in Orangevale, CA where he has been serving since June of 2020. His musical interests range from Opera to Art Song and beyond, however he holds a special interest in Chazzanut (traditional Jewish Liturgical Art music) and its application within contemporary Jewish worship.Cantor Harris received his Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Boston University in 2015 and his Master of Sacred Music from Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in 2019, where he studied voice with Dr. Jerrold Pope (z"l) and Dr. Brian Gill respectively. During his time at HUC, he received numerous vocal and composition awards as well as the Joyce Rosenzweig Prize for Creativity in Worship Music. As a student, he served for four years as the Student Cantor at Union Temple in Brooklyn, NY and for two years as the Cantorial Intern at the Aspen Jewish Congregation in Aspen, CO.
Growing up in Atlanta GA, most of his summers were spent at Jewish Summer Camp where he gained an appreciated and love for Jewish folk music and the guitar. While in High School, he was a NFTY songleader and attended URJ KUTZ Camp on the songleading track. At BU, he spent 4 years as the Head of Shira at Camp Tel Noar in Hampstead, NH, and was the Religious and Cultural VP for the Boston University Hillel, coordinating and running programs for the Reform community as well as leading weekly Shabbat services.
In September of 2023, Harris completed his Cantorial Certification with the Cantors Assembly under the tutelage of Cantor Faith Steinsnyder. He is a member of the Cantors Assembly, the European Cantors Association, the Guild of Temple Musicians, and the American Guild of Organists. At TOR, Harris regularly leads prayer services, organizes Shirei TOR Concerts, runs the Shabbat Band, GimMeZ’mor, and is the Music Educator in the Religious School and Director of the B’nai Mitzvah program.
In addition to singing a range of genres, Cantor Harris is a composer and plays piano, guitar, and a variety of other instruments. During his free time, he enjoys baking challah every Friday for Shabbat, making tie-dye, and going to the beach with his partner, pianist Shinae Kim, and their dogs, Fred and Coba.
Contact Cantor Harris at cantorharris@orrishon.org
Sat, December 21 2024 20 Kislev 5785
