July 28, 2026
In July, Ma’avar Committee Member, Dick Axelrod, interviewed Rabbi Immerman. Their wide-ranging discussion explored themes from first impressions to hopes for the future. Below is an excerpt (1 of 3) that explores what he’s noticed in his first weeks as Beth Emet’s senior rabbi and what has him most excited to be part of our community.
What excites you about being at Beth Emet?
I was drawn to Beth Emet because it is a bastion of social justice, a place that deeply engages with our tradition, and takes learning very seriously. I’ve learned that so much of what happens at Beth Emet is in partnership with the rabbi and Cantor Young, and the incredible professional team members that we have here. People want so much to be a part and to participate in their community; there’s some magic happening, some specialness about this community waiting to be unlocked.
You’ve been here a few weeks. What has stood out for you?
The first thing is pride. I think people are really proud to call Beth Emet their spiritual home. People have been so excited to tell me about that, and that they love Beth Emet. And as I mentioned before, deep learning, participatory Judaism, Beit Sefer, and the religious school.
It’s also that people continue to refer to this place as their home. There are so many different touch points and entry points. Everybody has different entry points. For some people, it’s the soup kitchen. For some people, it’s Friday night. For some, it’s going and engaging outside of our community with their Beth Emet community. Other people come for the learning and stay for the Oneg. Other people come for the Oneg and stay for the service. Everybody is welcome. Another thing that I love is the celebration of diversity; everybody gets to come and be who they are. I was talking with one of our board members earlier today, who mentioned the fact that this is a place that people just get to come to and be who they are and explore Judaism on their own terms, whatever way that means to them.
How have you tried to strike a balance between, you know, what’s already been established here and what’s here already?
Change will come simply because I am not Rabbi London, and I’m not Rabbi Knobel z”l, and I’m not Rabbi Polish. And so, we, everybody who has been blessed to be a leader in this community brings change simply because of who we are and how we interact with each other. What aspects of Judaism are we most excited about that we cannot wait to share with our community, and what aspects of Judaism do we uncover along our own journey? Each one of them, and I expect to do the same, grow within this position. And I’m really excited to grow along with the congregation and continue to become the best Rabbi Brian Immerman that I can be, as everybody’s trying to be the best of who they can be as well.
When you think about yourself as a rabbi, what are the things that give you energy?
I can reflect on my day-to-day; I spent maybe 45 minutes behind the computer screen. And the entire rest of my day was spent meeting with people. This interview, a few one-on-one meetings, and working with the Klei Kodesh programming team. I met with a congregant, the One Congregation Many Voices group, and various board members.
I love meeting people. I love building relationships. Right now, I’m in the beginning of building relationships that will develop into deep relationships. I love the fact that people are trusting me to visit them in the hospital and to show up and be there when one of their loved ones dies. The one thing that gives me the most energy is when I get to teach. I love teaching about Judaism. One of the reasons is that I always engage in supporting first. There’s a phrase, from Rabbi Ben Bag Bag, if you flip it and flip it again, you’ll find that everything is in it. And that’s certainly been my experience of Torah, and all of the other sacred texts.
So, what about teaching gives you energy?
I get to inspire people and help them find some meaning and purpose in today’s world. And that can bring them comfort and help make sense of the craziness that we’re experiencing. That’s wonderful if it just helps them be more at peace with who they are and where they are on their own personal journeys. That’s wonderful as well. And sometimes if it’s something that helps them connect more to the worship or to some aspect of our faith, that’s also wonderful. There are so many different ways to engage in Jewish teaching and learning. And usually everybody walks away with a different nugget that they hopefully want to share with others.
Catch Rabbi Immerman at an upcoming Shabbat service, his Torah class, or an upcoming community event. He looks forward to getting to know you!
