Hillel Norry is an American rabbi.
Hillel Norry | |
|---|---|
| Personal life | |
| Born | Rochester, NY |
| Nationality | American |
| Parent |
|
| Alma mater | Brandeis University |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Judaism |
Work
editNorry completed rabbinical school at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS) in 1993.[1][2] After ordination, he taught at JTS for a short time.[2]
The synagogue Shaare Zedek hired Norry in 1994, where he was able to attract younger members to join it. Norry supported caretaking, cleanup, and responsibility over a cemetery owned by the synagogue, navigating declining interest for those tasks among board-members. He left Shaare Zedek in 2002, taking a position in Atlanta.[3] According to the New York Jewish Week, Norry "was widely credited with reviving" the congregation.[4]
In 2002, Norry took a senior rabbi position with Congregation Shearith Israel, a Conservative synagogue in Atlanta, Georgia.[4][2] As of 2014, Norry remained in this position.[5] In April 2021, Norry was interim rabbi in Chattanooga's B’nai Zion,[6] then joined Temple Beth-El as interim rabbi in Birmingham as of June 2021,[7] and remains in that position as of August 2021.[5]
Norry is a member of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership's Rabbis Without Borders program.[1] In 2009, he was among the program's first cohort of fellows.[8]
Norry served as rabbinic consultant for Keeping the Faith, a romantic comedy released in 2000. The film depicts a love triangle between a Conservative rabbi, a Catholic priest and friend of the rabbi, and a childhood friend of the pair. Reflecting in 2020 on the movie, Norry said, "I met with Ed Norton, and they asked if I would be their consultant... I said I do want to do it, but I need to see the script and I need to know that it’s not disrespectful to rabbis and Judaism. They sent me a script, and I signed on, and I actually really like the story".[9]
Early life and education
editNorry was born in Rochester, New York. He attended public school there. He attended Brandeis University, at that time intending to enter academia.[2]
His grandparents Ruth and Sol Singer were among Atlanta's Jewish leadership. His mother Sharon Norry was involved in arts and Judaica.[2]
Views
editNorry participates in martial arts and says he began self-defense after a man who had previously sent him antisemitic messages appeared at his synagogue and threatened him in person.[10] He feels that similar intensity, focus, and ritual are present in both Jewish spiritual practice and martial arts, saying, "I think my martial arts practice changed my Judaism. I became a different kind of Jew. I began to really see my prayer life as a parallel to martial training."[11] Norry says he started learning Tae Kwon Do and marksmanship in the 2010s. He believes this allowed him to provide an experiential form of learning and arts.[1] As rabbi, Norry was accepting of congregants who brought concealed weapons to services, saying, "We have an armed security guard ... every Shabbat, but he's just one guy."[5]
Norry is vegan. He has a home garden and is a prolific pickler, a practice he learned from his mother.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c Jaffe-Hoffman, Maayan (January 5, 2016). "'Off the Beaten Path:' Rabbis Increasingly Finding Roles Outside the Pulpit, Education". eJewish Philanthropy. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Jaffe, Marcia Caller (February 26, 2020). "Charismatic Rabbi Reinvents Himself". Atlanta Jewish Times. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ Wiener, Julie (October 18, 2002). "The Cemetery Nobody Wants". Jewish Week. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ a b Wiener, Julie (October 11, 2002). "Southbound". Jewish Week. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ a b c Berger, Paul (September 8, 2014). "Does Carrying a Gun to Synagogue Make It Safer or More Dangerous?". The Forward. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ Shearer, John (June 26, 2021). "John Shearer: B'nai Zion Building Scheduled To Be Razed Is Example Of Unique 1970s Architecture". The Chattanoogan. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ Maxie, Chasity (July 7, 2021). "Temple Beth-El leaders say they will stand with family of missing Tuscaloosa doctor". WBRC. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ Cies, Alison (June 12, 2009). "Rabbis Without Borders Inaugural Meeting this Month". The Forward. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ Silver, Stephen (May 10, 2020). "Clergy look back at 'Keeping the Faith,' an interfaith romcom ahead of its time". Times of Israel. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ Blake, John (October 29, 2018). "There's scripture backing up Trump's idea to arm houses of worship". CNN. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ Garrison, Greg (September 6, 2021). "New rabbi, martial arts expert, will lead High Holy Days services". Alabama.com.
- ^ Caller Jaffe, Marcia (August 15, 2020). "Pucker up for Crunch and Intense Flavor". Atlanta Jewish Times. p. 34. Retrieved 6 September 2021.