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Rabbi Alex Weisz (He/Him/His)
Senior Rabbi
Non-Denominational;Unaffiliated;Other / Not Listed
626-485-6117
Temple Beth Israel of Highland Park 5711 Monte Vista St.
Los Angeles, California 90042
United States

About

Shalom, I’m Rabbi Alex Weisz, and it is one of the greatest joys of my rabbinate to serve a community where LGBTQ+ Jews are not only welcomed, but cherished as the very heart of Jewish life. In my years as a rabbi, I have had the privilege of officiating life-cycle moments of every kind—weddings, baby namings, b’nai mitzvah, conversions, funerals—and I approach each with the same two commitments: that they be fully affirming of who you are, and that they be filled with the holiness and richness of our tradition. I believe that every Jew deserves to experience the sacred milestones of life without compromise: the joy of standing under a chuppah with the words of our ancestors wrapped around you, the awe of receiving a Hebrew name, the dignity of being called to Torah in language that reflects your true self, and the comfort of ritual when we mourn. My rabbinate is rooted in the conviction that LGBTQ+ identities are not an “exception” or an “accommodation”—they are a beautiful expression of God’s image in the world. When I officiate, I work closely with each individual, couple, or family to shape ceremonies that are authentic, traditional, and deeply personal. Together we weave the ancient words of our people with your own lived story, so that the moment becomes fully yours. I also understand that ritual can be complicated for those who have felt excluded from Jewish spaces in the past. My role is to hold that complexity with you, while creating ceremonies that feel safe, affirming, and joyful. I bring not only pastoral care, but also a deep love for Jewish text, music, and community—so that your ritual moment feels like stepping into the fullness of Jewish tradition, rather than standing outside of it. Whether you are celebrating a union, naming a child, affirming your gender, or mourning a loved one, I am here to ensure that you experience the holiness of our tradition in a way that honors every part of who you are. Most of all, I want LGBTQ+ Jews to know that you do not need to choose between self-authenticity and tradition. You deserve both, and in my rabbinate, you can have both. I am always learning, listening, and rethinking how we can continue to push Torah forward in a way that reflects the realities of LGBTQ+ Jews.

Listing Details

Clergy answered "Yes" to the following

  • Trained on LGBTQ+ identities within past five years
  • Experience officiating conversions for transgender and nonbinary individuals with a sensitivity to the wide range of relationships to gender and embodiment that transgender and nonbinary individuals may have
  • Experience officiating gender-expansive b-mitzvah
  • Familiar with gender-expansive Hebrew liturgical and linguistic options
  • Approaches the presence of LGBTQ+ people as the norm rather than an exception in Jewish communal life
  • Experience celebrating LGBTQ+ specific life-cycle rituals such as coming out and renaming
  • Person-centered and LGBTQ+ positive approach to Jewish law and tradition
  • Comfortable consistently using they/them pronouns and neopronouns
  • Speaks or writes regularly on LGBTQ+ themes
  • Experience in pastoral/spiritual care of LGBTQ+ individuals
  • Experience officiating LGBTQ+ weddings

Clergy answered "I'm Still Learning" to the following

  • Experience in end-of-life care for LGBTQ+ individuals