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The Actors'
Temple is a place where the enduring values of Judaism translate into human connections. Our congregation is progressive and egalitarian.
We provide community and self-expression, deeds of loving kindness and caring. We look for fresh approaches to enliven worship while maintaining a connection to our Jewish roots.
We welcome all people in our House of God.
Please Click here for a Membership Form.
Annual dues are $75 for individuals, $150 for families. Please contact our office for additional membership information. Make check payable to The Actors Temple
Staff: Rabbi/Cantor Jill Hausman
At the Actors Temple, we are creating a dynamic religious and creative community together. The most important thing to me is that religion is welcoming to everyone. God welcomes each person, and the synagogue must be a place of acceptance and love, of learning about Torah and history, of socializing, of giving back to the community, and creating beauty. It is a place where religious questions are honored and debated in a thoughtful way.
To me, the spirit of the law is more important than the letter of the law, and love for one's neighbor precedes all else. The universal aspects of religion take precedence over the particular aspects, which serve to embellish observance and enrich it rather than dividing people or excluding them.
Each congregant is precious at the Actors' Temple, each person is important to the synagogue community. Our synagogue is a place of beauty, of learning, and of being there for each other. It is a refuge and a place to turn to for life cycle events and support. It is a place where families can come to teach their children about the beauty and meaning of their Jewish heritage. My aim is to give people a reason for being at the synagogue: a bit of rest, of song, of learning, of validation, or of appreciating creativity. People may not know why they came to the synagogue, but in retrospect, they should know that they received something valuable, and that they want to return.
"Rabbi Jill" is a New Jersey native. She served for twelve years at Boro Park Progressive Synagogue as Cantor more recently also as Assistant Rabbi. She has a background in performing and serves as both Rabbi and Cantor of The Actors Temple. Rabbi Jill is a graduate of Smith College and received her Semicha from the Rabbinical Seminary International. She is married, has two sons, and lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She can often be seen riding her bike to the office.
Staff: Rabbi Robert Teixeira
Rabbi Robert dos Santos Teixeira, M.P.I.A., M.A., M.S.W., L.M.S.W., began his study of Judaism at a Catholic seminary, under the direction of the late Rabbi Hayim Goren Perelmuter, a student of Gershom Scholem, and at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies. Upon learning of his Portuguese Jewish roots, study gave way to observance, and he converted.
Throughout this time he worked as an editor and writer of educational materials, authoring the high school textbook Religions in North America. After moving to New Orleans he worked as a spiritual reader, reading palms and Tarot cards. "At times my readings were brief therapy sessions," he says. Inspired by the therapeutic dimension of his work, he became a social worker, working with the homeless, the mentally ill, and the chemically addicted. Presently, he provides psychotherapy for those who have HIV.
After Hurricane Katrina, he and his partner, Dr. Zafir Buraei, settled in New York City, where he met the New Yorker Rebbe, Rabbi Joseph Gelberman. The ninety-seven year-old kabbalist and yogi, known as the Father of Modern Hasidism, presided over a Beit Din that ordained him to the rabbinate in June 2007. Following his ordination, Rabbi Robert served as an intern at the Actors Temple, and in June 2009 he was named Assistant Rabbi. In referring to the Actors Temple, he says, "We are an incredibly diverse congregation. We are a truly loving community that provides a safe place for people to experience growth and healing and to share their talents with others."
Through his rabbinic work, Rabbi Robert hopes to help resurrect the tradition of the seer. A seer's role, he explains, is to help people hear the voice of their own soul. In all of his readings, he uses Psalm Cards, which he personally designed and illustrated. In addition, he is interested in further recovering and promoting the art of spiritual healing.
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