By Anne Levin
The new rabbi of Temple Micah in Lawrenceville is more than just a spiritual leader. Brielle Rassler, who has led services for the congregation since February and officially took over as rabbi on July 1, is also an author, composer, artist, and clinical psychologist whose specialty is the treatment of Jewish women with eating disorders.
“I feel like they are ready to be led, and I’m ready to lead,” Rassler said of the 57-year-old congregation, which operates out of the historic Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville. “They are very open, warm, and welcoming. The board and the lay leadership are very strong, yet they are humble and know themselves. They tell me what’s important for them, and what they want to maintain. And they’re really eager to explore new things and have a new chapter.”
Raised in South Florida, Rassler has been a local presence for several years. She serves as lead chaplain of integrative wellness at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, and has worked at the Penn Medicine Princeton Center for Eating Disorders and Penn Medicine Princeton House. She was lead therapist of the hospital’s Grief Counseling Program, which was implemented as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Becoming a rabbi was not originally part of her plans.
“I started in musical theater and pivoted to becoming a psychologist,” she said. “But I have always had a relationship with God. It was when I started my doctoral program that I really felt a calling — a very specific moment when I knew I was being called to be a rabbi.”
It was the day after Rosh Hashana, the celebration of the Jewish new year. “It’s hard to describe. But I just felt, physically, the need to google ‘rabbinical school.’ I really felt something it’s hard to describe in words,” she said. “I just kind of knew where things were going. I felt very alive — a new chapter of my spirit was turned on. People had suggested I be a cantor, because of my musical theater background. But I had never thought of being a rabbi. From that moment, I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’m really blessed that I get to do both [be a psychologist and a rabbi]. I’m so lucky.”
Opportunities to lead congregations have presented themselves over the years. “But I didn’t feel as called as I do now,” Rassler said. “Being in touch with them [Temple Micah], getting to know them, made me feel this is where I was meant to be.”
Temple Micah is named after the prophet who preached simple kindness and humility. It was formed during the Vietnam War by a group of area Jews who wanted a liberal-minded congregation. The first gathering was held in the chapel of Rider College (now Rider University).
The congregation and the Presbyterian Church, which soon became its home, have kept close ties over years of sharing space. Interfaith services, Passover Seders, and other joint activities have been part of the mix.
“The community seems really comfortable there,” said Rassler. “It’s a really wonderful partnership that seems to work really well. It’s actually not unusual for a smaller community. Temples and churches partner well, because we hold services on Friday and Saturday and they hold them on Sunday.”
Rassler grew up in a musical family. “I have two albums of original liturgical music that I’ve recorded, and many more that I haven’t,” she said. “I’m often just kind of singing to myself and having it be a form of prayer. I don’t sit down to ‘write songs.’ But I’ll be sitting in meditation or hiking, or on a long drive, where I’m just kind of talking to God. And all of a sudden, a melody or piece of liturgy will come to me. It happens pretty instantly that something reveals itself to me. I have probably over 100 melodies I’ve written in that way. It’s a real blessing to get to share them in community, and use them in my work as a hospital rabbi, and wherever it shows up.”
Rassler is looking forward the High Holidays, which begin with Rosh Hashana on September 11.
“We are a warm, welcoming community with a history of more than 50 years, and a really bright-looking future,” she said. “I’m very excited and grateful and honored that we’ve [Temple Micah] found each other. I look forward to growing with them.”