Rabbi Hillel Norry, Spiritual Leader

Rabbi Norry lives in Atlanta with his family, and he will be leading us using a combined approach of in-person and remote access. He will be with us for the High Holidays and will join us in-person for approximately two Shabbat weekends a month as well as being in regular touch with us during the week over Zoom. This will include teaching classes, supporting us with pastoral care (which will be mainly via phone calls during the week), assisting with the next phase of the rabbinic search, and much more. He will also officiate at life-cycle events in person. In 2020-21, he was Interim Rabbi at B’nai Zion in Chattanooga, and the experience of being a partially-virtual interim leader has shown him, and us, that this hybrid approach is not only possible, but a truly exciting opportunity.

Prior to his recent interim position, Rabbi Norry served as spiritual leader at Congregation Shaare Zedek in New York City and as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel in Atlanta. He has a long history of involvement with the Ramah camping movement, from his time as a camper at Ramah Canada to his serving as scholar-in-residence at Ramah Darom for the past five summers. Rabbi Norry is a vegan cooking expert and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. A lifelong musician, Rabbi Norry is also an accomplished guitarist and harmonica player.