Our Rabbi works with our members to help us be practicing and educated Jews. Our Rabbi stimulates and guides the congregation and helps us choose our own religious answers and our own way of expressing our Judaism.
The Rabbi counsels members, visits the sick, leads worship services and teaches about Judaism. He also advises and helps committees, works with our youth and takes an active role in Richmond's Jewish and theological communities. Each of our Rabbis has spread Judaism beyond Or Ami's doors and into the greater Richmond community.
Rabbi Romer's Biography
Rabbi Romer was born in Huntington, West Virginia but grew up on the west side of Michigan near Grand Rapids. He is married to Karen Levit Romer, a certified personal trainer. They have three children, Tamar, Micah and Elisheva. A third generation Reform Jew he is deeply committed to the continued development of a vibrant and creative form of Reform Judaism. Rabbi Romer strongly supports life long Jewish Education and is committed to creating a strong youth program through his involvement in religious education and youth groups that are now an active part Or Ami.
Congregations in Florida, Indiana, South Carolina and North Carolina have benefited from Rabbi Romer’s leadership. The only rabbi to deploy for Operation Just Cause and the first rabbi into Saudi Arabia and Iraq during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, he spent 12 years as an active duty chaplain. His total service as military chaplain spanned 22 years
Rabbi Romer is committed to helping continue to create Congregation Or Ami as a Kehillah Kedoshah- a Sacred Community. And a Welcoming Community as well. Or Ami shall be a place where all Jewish spiritual searchers and seekers will be able to find a home filled with those who welcome them with openness and affirmation; a spiritual home where each is able to join with others in communal caring, learning and celebrating.
"Reform Judaism has always been the most challenging of Jewish movements. We are presented with all our Jewish tradition has and then we must step forward and make the informed choices of how to worship, celebrate and experience it. That presents us with tremendous opportunity and more importantly awesome responsibility to make those choices. As rabbi I must empower our congregation to be able to do so. And we must do so in a way that affirms the essential sacredness of each member of our community and the inherent sacredness of our community as a whole.
Rabbi Ben
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