Meet Our Clergy

RABBI MARCIA A. ZIMMERMAN
Senior Rabbi, Alvin & June Perlman Senior Rabbinic Chair

Welcome to Temple Israel—a congregation that is over 140 years old and has always been a part of the city of Minneapolis. Our front steps and pillars are symbolic of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington that was built just a few years before our congregation moved to South Minneapolis from downtown. We stand for religious freedom and the health of the city. As the prophet Jeremiah reminds us, “In the health of our city, we will find our health.”

We have many doors that welcome you into our community of learners, worshipers, and social activists. Our diversity is our strength—each may enter from a different threshold, but we dwell under one roof. A community that discusses and debates, that shares in life’s joys and troubles, that teach our children to ask questions, and listen deeply with compassion when you disagree. We open our hearts to you as your Jewish community.

RABBI JENNIFER S.G. HARTMAN
Rabbi Sim Glaser Associate Rabbinic Chair

We are all very excited to welcome you into the Temple Israel community. Our clergy believe that Judaism should be accessible and engaging for people of all ages. We know that our youngest congregants have an innate curiosity and spiritual connection that we are excited to foster. I, for one, not only love to lead Tot Shabbat, but I also love to attend with my family. It is always a lively event with song, story, snacks, and an activity. You can find us at Temple Israel or around town on the first Friday evening and the second Saturday mornings of the month from September through June. This is a come as you are, be as loud as you want, and as messy as you need kind of praying. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any and all questions. If you are new to the Twin Cities I would love to also introduce you to all of the things that this city has to offer families with young children. Keep an eye out for where we will be next!

RABBI JASON RODICH
Associate Rabbi

I’m thrilled to welcome you to our community and look forward to getting to know you. Relationships are at the heart of Jewish life and central to my rabbinate, and it is my hope that each of us finds connection and a sense of belonging within Temple Israel. We live in a world that is often difficult, complex, and moves at the speed of light. When I walk into our nearly 100-year-old sanctuary, I am transformed by the steadfastness of that space, and the knowledge that is has been a refuge through both joy and sorrow. I want our Jewish community to be the same: rooted, steady, filled with joy, and ready to weather life’s storms. I hope we can build that together. Whether you’ve grown up with Hebrew and Shabbat or are new to Jewish life, we want Temple Israel to be a home for you. If you need support or just want to talk, I hope you’ll reach out. I’ll be delighted to meet you.

CANTOR INBAL SHARETT-SINGER
Marjorie & Irving Weiser Senior Cantorial Chair

The Hebrew word for cantor is chazzan, which is related to the word chazzon, which means vision. As Temple Israel’s second cantor, it is my great honor to give Temple’s vision its musical breath—its neshamah. By connecting with each person in the congregation through music and prayer, we create a spiritual home through song and ritual: that is, a beit knesset, a place of gathering that binds generations and families together. Together with our clergy team, I am grateful to be there for you, and with you, in finding connections to God, to our rich history and to our contemporary issues, to the Jewish people, and to Israel, we come together as a community.

CANTOR BARRY ABELSON
Cantor Emeritus

Barry Abelson grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, where he began singing professionally at a young age. As a third grader, he sang with the American Boys Choir at Radio City Music Hall, performing with New York City’s Rockettes for their seasonal Christmas shows.  

While pursuing his bachelor’s in music at the Hart School of Music in Connecticut, he toured nationally with an opera company out of New York. This company, headed by conductor Boris Goldovsky of the New York Metropolitan Opera, traveled the United States, bringing opera translated into English across the country. After completing his bachelor’s degree, Abelson enrolled as a cantorial student at the Hebrew Union College School of Sacred Music in Manhattan, where he was ordained.  

After ordination, Cantor Abelson served a Reform congregation in Montreal, Quebec, for seven years. He was installed as the Cantor of Temple Israel in 1985.  

Cantor Abelson premiered To Be Certain of the Dawn, with music by Stephen Paulus and words by Michael Dennis Browne, with the Minnesota Orchestra under the direction of Osmo Vänskä in 2005.