Rabbi Rachel Gross-Prinz is a curator of ritual moments, an educator and community organizer. She currently works with emerging Jewish leaders at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Prior to assuming her role at HUC, she was Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El of New York City. At Emanu-El, she led the teen service-learning program and launched Gather, a small-group initiative bringing together congregants to learn, grow and connect more deeply.
While at HUC, Rabbi Gross-Prinz was a Wexner Graduate Fellow and was awarded academic prizes for creativity and imagination in pulpit work, as well as for sermon writing and delivery. As a student she served pulpits and organizations throughout Cincinnati, including the Interfaith Hospitality Network, a family-based homeless shelter. At IHN she created a comprehensive curriculum for volunteers doing faith-rooted service work. Prior to rabbinical school Rabbi Gross-Prinz worked at Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps and the Jewish Outreach Institute.
Her rabbinate is focused on meeting people where they are and accompanying them on Jewish experiences that lead to greater connection and awareness.
A graduate of Hampshire College in Amherst, MA Rachel studied Anthropology, Religion and the fine art of communal living while producing a thesis entitled, ‘Disorganized Religion’, which integrated ethnography, social theory and literary analysis. Her graduate level research at HUC focused on mindfulness meditation in Reform Jewish practice and thought (rabbinic) as well as joy in Jewish education (Masters of Arts in Religious Education).
Rachel enjoys running, dancing and spending time with her family in Brooklyn, NY.
