Rabbi Jill Hausman

Jewish Community Leader

A) What qualities make the nominee deserving of the Z3 Bridge Builder Award?

There are two populations that are often overlooked in the Jewish community, people with mental challenges and people in the performing arts who are freelancers in the creative community, often living on a subsistence basis. Rabbi Jill Hausman provides a spiritual home for both these groups.

B) In what ways has the nominee demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to their work in bridging divides?

The historic Actors' Temple, on the western side of the theater district in New York City, is one block from a social service organization called Fountain House. The mission of Fountain House is to "increase opportunity, and to end social and economic isolation for people most impacted by mental illness," reintegrating those they serve back into the community. "Rabbi Jill", as she is called, welcomes both people in the Fountain House Clubhouse, and also those who have permanent housing in Fountain House, to be fully engaged members of the congregation, no matter what they look like, how they are dressed, or how they express themselves. She also welcomes neuro-diverse congregants, such as people on the autism spectrum. People with mental illness are called up to open the Ark, included in those who light candles on Shabbat, and in the interactive services in which Rabbi Jill poses questions about the service and the Torah portion, to solicit people's opinions, thoughts, and feelings and allow for a full expression of Jewish thought in the congregation. She calls upon people with mental illness to speak, to participate, to contribute, and to feel valued and included. She calls upon them to pray for the healing of those they care about and she calls upon them to suggest people for whom they wish to say Kaddish. I have seen her deal with serious expressions of mental illness in the synagogue without stigmatizing anyone, and helping all those for whom there is no place in the Jewish community in New York City but at her synagogue. When they are in financial need or require a social worker or other support, they know that she is there for them, cares about them, and will help them to overcome their difficulties.

C) How has the nominee's work impacted the Jewish community and beyond?

Those in the creative community, performers and artists of all kinds and at all levels are welcome to share their talents at services. They sing, play, read from their written work, do monologues, and find a Jewish way to express themselves within the framework of services, especially special services such as Gay Pride, Trans Recognition Month, Tu B'Av, Sukkot, the Tu B'Shevat Seder, Israel Independence Day, Yom HaShoah, and Human Right Shabbat, to name only a few of the special services in which participation and the sharing of talents is encouraged. There is also poetry read, as a regular part of services.
Before the pandemic, Rabbi Jill instituted an early service on Friday nights for Broadway performers so they could celebrate Shabbat and still make their call time at the theater. She welcomes artists to present plays, music and author talks within the structure of a Friday Shabbat service.
Many congregations and rabbis are accepting and welcoming to all, but what is so rare about Rabbi Jill is that not only does she say that all people are welcome, but people who come feel welcomed and accepted. By embracing all people, not only verbally but even physically, she has created a community in which all people accept and support each other which builds bridges between people who are very different, allowing them to make their own connections with each other, fostering unity and understanding, creating a truly compassionate congregation where everyone respects, supports and cares for each other. It is quite a singular place, where people of all different economic levels and backgrounds, orientations, and colors know that this is a place for them and know that they will be supported as they support others. People that would be viewed as unusual in other congregations are just natural congregants at the Actors' Temple, where each person is valued in their individuality and their expression of that individuality. Rabbi Jill Hausman creates the space and the atmosphere where all this occurs. It is very special, a precious niche in the Jewish community.