An associate rabbi at Temple Israel since 1999, Rabbi Sim Glaser graduated with Honors and a BA in Psychology with a minor in English from Connecticut College. After graduating, he returned to California and achieved success fronting a Jewish dance band called Eshkoliot (Grapefruits). During that time, he composed several musicals that were produced, and many liturgical pieces and songs, some of which were recorded. Born in Cincinnati, OH, to Rabbi Joseph and Agathe Glaser, Rabbi Glaser grew up in California in what is now the busy and thriving Silicon Valley area. Summers were spent at Camp Swig in the Santa Cruz Mountains where much of Rabbi Glaser's religious identity and spirit were formed. He took up the guitar at a young age, and he plays actively to this day
Rabbi Glaser brings to Temple his knowledge of Torah, Kabbalah, and Israeli culture; a passion for social justice; a love of Jewish music; an entertaining teaching and preaching style; and a wicked sense of humor. He enthusiastically shares his abundance of rabbinic talents with our Temple community. Rabbi Glaser has put his heart and soul into developing Nefesh Shabbat, Tot Shabbat and TIPTY Creative High Holy Days services to engage congregants of all ages in lively and spiritual musical worship experiences. Additionally, during his tenure at Temple, Rabbi Glaser has been involved in many local, national and international efforts including assisting our neighborhood Jefferson Elementary School in preparing children for the future; addressing issues of homelessness, affordable housing and the current mortgage foreclosure crisis; and advocating for humanitarian intervention in response to the Darfur genocide.
Rabbi Glaser is married to Barbara Ehrlich Glaser, and has three children; Benjamin, Louis and Hannah.
