Rabbi Glenn Ettman

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Rabbi Glenn Ettman brings experience, a passion for Jewish life, and compassion for people of all ages to our wonderful Or Ami community.

He describes his rabbinate in these words:

“The strength of my rabbinate lives in the intersection between our collective history and contemporary life.  Only when every member of our community can find relevance and meaning in our ancient history, will we have succeeded.  It is a challenge that is worth accepting. From my background utilizing theatre to convey stories and characters, to my deep love of people and ability to develop meaningful connections across the generations, it is my hope to help each one of us attain new spiritual heights and draw closer to our sense of holiness and purpose.To be a rabbi means to not only teach but to inspire through living. A great Rabbi of the twentieth century, Rabbi Leo Baeck, once said, “A Rabbi must not only deliver a sermon but a Rabbi must also deliver himself”. These are the tenets upon which my rabbinate is founded.”

Most recently, Rabbi Ettman was the Campus Rabbi for Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach, in Boca Raton, Florida, where he oversaw the Jewish Educational programming for three major Universities in South Florida. Prior to that, Rabbi Ettman has been the Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth Tikvah, in Bend, Oregon, and Temple Sinai in Palm Desert, California.  In addition to his congregational work, Rabbi Ettman is a pastoral counselor and served as the Director of Bereavement Services for the Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging and the Skirball Hospice, as well as the Rabbi on Staff on St. John’s Medical Centre in Santa Monica. His areas of expertise is grief and trauma counseling.

Prior to Rabbinical school, Rabbi Ettman earned a BA from Brandeis University with honors in Theatre and Judaic Studied and a Master of Arts in Performance and Performance Studies from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.  He was ordained by Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 2006 in Los Angeles, where he also received a Master’s Degree in Hebrew Letters.  While in Rabbinical School, he received the Cantor William Sharlin Award from Hebrew Union College for excellence in Liturgy. His Rabbinic thesis, entitled “Stage of Torah: A Congregational Guide to Bibliodrama,” melds two of his great loves, theatre and Judaism.

Rabbi Ettman brings to the Or Ami family an open heart, an open ear and an open door to love, laugh and pursue the beauties and challenges of life. In addition to “rabbi-ing”, he is an avid golfer, and enjoys good music, good wine, good books, theater, movies, good conversations, and the greatest gift of all, being a Daddy to his daughter, Shoshana, as they learn, laugh, dance, and explore the world.

He is always a phone call, email, or a text away should you need to chat.

Contact Rabbi Ettman >