“I lead by empowering other people to lead and grow alongside me. I lead through collaboration by taking other people’s ideas and perspectives before ever making any decisions on my own.”
Rabbi Russell has many titles. She is a mother of two, a wife, a friend. She is also Rabbi to over 325 families.
For the past two years, Rabbi Russell has served as the full-time rabbi for Congregation Beth Sholom in San Franscisco. Though her journey has not always been linear, her strong emphasis on community has always been her guide.
One of the earliest influences in her spiritual journey was her mentor who guided her through her own Bat Mitzvah. During this coming-of-age ritual, Rabbi Russell found a deep connection with her mentor through music. As a cantor for their synagogue, her mentor recognized Rabbi Russell’s talents and love for music, encouraging her to seek out leadership positions within the community. Music is an integral part of the Jewish faith and cultural traditions. Led by a cantorial musician, prayers of worship in Judaism are expressed through song and music within the community, a role that Rabbi Russell took an interest in after her Bat Mitzvah. This experience began Rabbi Russell’s spiritual and leadership journey, with her love for community and music at its core. Rabbi Russell found herself called to the service within the synagogue and the possibilities of a more permanent role, one that led to her eventual rabbinical ordination in 2019.
Rabbi Russell found community with the move to San Franscisco after ordination, and her eventual appointment as rabbi for Congregation Beth Sholom in 2022. It’s not surprising that one who feels as strongly pulled to community would be faced with challenges leading during a global pandemic, rising antisemitism, and other economic and racial concerns, but Rabbi Russell was also taking over as mother of two very young children and stepping into a role previously led by a senior, male rabbi.
Rabbi Russell recognized the importance of prioritizing the well-being of her congregation to ensure the community values remain strong during times of hardship. One of the first things she did was create a system that allowed members of the congregation to schedule one-on-one conversations with her. This served as a way of getting to know her congregation individually and allowing them to know her in return so she can guide them in their own spiritual journeys the best she can.
In being available for her congregation, Rabbi Russell also expresses the importance of balancing motherhood and her other roles.
“People ask me, ‘what’s it like to be a female rabbi?’ I don’t know, it’s like being a rabbi.”
“There was a women’s group I attended during Rabbinical School and there was a rabbi who said, ‘I actually never liked this idea of work life balance… I don’t want to be balancing it where it’s half and half, I want to be really present at work and at home’… She also talked about the shift in language when talking to your kids as a rabbi. Rather than saying ‘oh, I have to go to this board meeting’, say ‘I’m going to go take care of the community at this board meeting.’ So, that language shift when approaching this shows it is important, which is why you choose to do that. My kids are little, and they have questions, but when I tell them about my work, I try not say I have to do this, but rather here’s how we’re going to make the community and the world a better place.”
Since the earliest stages in Rabbi Russell’s own spiritual journey, community has remained a driving factor in her leadership. It’s the presence of the community and the way they come together amidst crisis that inspires her, but more importantly having the ability to make an impact and seeing it happen before her eyes.
Given the current climate of the war in Gaza, Rabbi Russell is still working to address and ease emotions within her congregation. She discusses the past and current challenges she faces as a leader, balancing creating a space where members can express their emotions freely- without confrontation. With community as the priority and driving force in her leadership, Rabbi Russell responded by providing a space where members could express their emotions freely. This was not a space to debate, but rather a place where members would acknowledge their feelings and commend each other for their vulnerability. “There’s a spectrum of views. We’re navigating wanting to educate people and want to come and hear about these different issues but also first and foremost, to hold community and not create a divisive environment within the Beth Sholom community. I want someone to be able to come here on Shabbat and pray next to someone who has the complete opposite views because we’re a spiritual community first, and we need these communities during this time.”
Despite times of conflict, Rabbi Russell remains true to her leadership values, expressing that she continues to learn and work towards improving her leadership every day. She does not take her role lightly, and recognizes not only the importance of her position, but the impact of her leadership as a woman. As a female rabbi, Rabbi Russell holds two very real truths. 1) Leadership as a female rabbi empowers women to hold leadership roles both at earlier and later stages of life. As an egalitarian congregation, Rabbi Russell instills the message that women can do anything, and that the ritual and religious role that women have within the community is just as important as men. 2) Rabbi Russell’s experience as a female rabbi is not revolutionary, but normal. She describes the normalcy of female rabbis within the area of California she resides in, and the large population of female spiritual leaders in her environment. “People ask me, ‘what’s it like to be a female rabbi?’ I don’t know, it’s like being a rabbi. I don’t want to dismiss that fact that being a female leader is important and holds value, encourages and empowers the next generation. I also live in this reality where it’s normal.”
For a religion that is nearly 4,000 years old, the opportunity for women to be ordained as rabbis has been possible only since the 20th century. Since this milestone, the opportunities for women in the Jewish faith have become more inclusive, and in some communities, like Rabbi Russell’s, women aren’t just at the forefront, but are driving the vehicle for change.
This reality doesn’t translate to every aspect of her experience though—especially the Rabbinical Assemblies. This event for all the Conservative rabbis is the only time where a stark difference is present, for the assembly is still male dominated. Though there is still a call for greater equity in some spaces, Rabbi Russell’s lived experience is a prime example of how the possibilities for women within Judaism have evolved.
To women and young girls who struggle with their own identities as a leader, Rabbi Russell reflected on her own path of leadership.
“Don’t shy away from your passions. I definitely did that, and said to myself, ‘I’m not going to be a rabbi, you’re crazy!’ Don’t take for granted the skills and passions that you have. Lean into them because when you are able to come into work every day and love what you’re doing, that’s the best thing… There are opportunities that may not even feel like they are opportunities, but they are, and you should chase them.”
Captured March 2024