Rabbi Joshua Hammerman has served Temple Beth El in Stamford, CT for over two decades, synthesizing rabbinic and journalistic passions. At Temple Beth El, Rabbi Hammerman has focused on creating an oasis of warmth, love and mutual respect, befitting the role of a modern congregation in an increasingly alienating world. He strives to challenge congregants — and himself — to reach ever higher in setting spiritual and ethical objectives, and to delve more deeply into the rich vein of Jewish inspiration and wisdom available to us. He been a champion of inclusiveness and innovation in synagogue life.
Rabbi Hammerman recieved his B.A. from Brown University, Magna Cum Laude, where he twice won the university’s prestigious Bishop McVickar Prize in Religious Studies. He also received a masters degree from NYU in journalism and was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Rabbi Hammerman's articles have appeared widely, including his column, “On One Foot,” in The New York Jewish Week, and several essays for the New York Times Magazine. He was a 2009 winner of the Simon Rockower award, the highest honor in Jewish journalism, for his columns on the Bernard Madoff case. Rabbi Hammerman is the author of "thelordismyshepherd.com: Seeking God in Cyberspace" and co-author of the children’s book, "I Have Some Questions About God."
Rabbi Hammerman loves surfing the Internet, rooting for the Boston Red Sox, a good, Israeli hummos, and all things Jewish. He lives with his wife, Dr. Mara Hammerman, a psychologist, two children, Ethan and Daniel, and their two standard poodles, Crosby and Chloe. You can visit him online at joshuahammerman.blogspot.com or www.tbe.org.
