Rabbi Brian Glusman became Etz Chayim’s visiting rabbi in August, 2009. He joined Etz Chayim after serving as rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Birmingham , Alabama , for eight years. Rabbi Glusman was born in Huntsville , in 1961, where his father, Fred Glusman, was one of the original founding members of Etz Chayim.
Rabbi Glusman received his rabbinic ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York , one of the only multi-denominational pluralistic rabbinical seminaries in the U.S. Rabbi Glusman has an M.A. in counseling and advanced training as a marriage and family therapist. He has served congregations in Colorado Springs , CO , Philadelphia , PA and Palm Beach , FL. Rabbi Glusman is well known for his ability to introduce people of all backgrounds to a unique blend of Judaism and spirituality that provides warmth, meaning and excitement.
Rabbi Glusman has conducted many workshops for Jewish educators and has been a featured speaker at seminars for Jewish leaders. He served as scholar-in-residence at the JNF’s National Young Leadership Retreat and at the Southeastern UJC ’s Young Leadership Conference. Rabbi Glusman lectures at University of Alabama ’s School of Education , in Birmingham . He has also been a featured panelist at Samford University .
Rabbi Glusman has been involved in extensive outreach work with recovering Jewish alcoholics and substance abusers. He is a member of the RRA (Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association) and is on the Rabbinic Cabinet of the UJC (United Jewish Communities). In recognition of his work for K’lal Yisrael (The Jewish community), Rabbi Glusman was one of only 25 rabbis chosen nationally to participate in a Rabbinic seminar and retreat on “Religious Pluralism-Judaism in the 21st Century” sponsored by CLAL (National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership). He was also a member of the STAR (Synagogues, Transformation and Renewal) rabbinic technology team.
