Rabbi Simeon
Glaser was born in Cincinnati,
Ohio, to Rabbi Joseph
and Agathe Glaser. His
father, at the time, was
completing his own studies
for the rabbinate. Rabbi
Glaser grew up in California,
in what is now the busy
and thriving Silicon Valley—
the Stanford University,
Palo Alto area. Summers
were spent at Camp Swig
in the Santa Cruz Mountains
where much of Rabbi Glaser's
religious identity and
spirit were formed. He
also took up the guitar,
which he plays actively
to this very day.
Rabbi Glaser's family
spent an incredible year
in Jerusalem in 1969-70
where Rabbi Glaser basically
learned the Hebrew language,
attended a music school
(his first High School
year), and fell in love
with Israel.
His family then moved
east to Scarsdale, New
York. Rabbi Glaser went
on to Connecticut College
and graduated with Honors
and a BA in Psychology
with a minor in English.
After graduating, he returned
to California and attempted
to forge a career in the
music business. He achieved
success in fronting a
Jewish dance band called
Eshkoliot (Grapefruits)
that played many weddings,
Bar and Bat Mitzvah parties,
and social functions.
He composed, during that
period, several musicals
that were produced, and
many liturgical pieces
and songs, some of which
were recorded.
Rabbi Glaser married Barbara
Ehrlich from Minneapolis,
and shortly thereafter
they had their three children
Benjamin, Louis and Hannah.
It was then that Sim decided
to go into the career
of Rabbinics, and enrolled
in HUC-JIR. The first
year was spent in Jerusalem
and the next four in Cincinnati.
Upon ordination in 1989,
Rabbi Glaser took a position
with Congregation Beth
Israel in West Hartford,
CT. He spent four years
as assistant/associate
to Rabbi Harold Silver
and then took over as
senior for four more years.
During that time Rabbi
Glaser brought innovations
in learning, worship,
and theater to the temple,
largely focusing on the
youth end of things. Toward
the end of that period
Rabbi Glaser decided that
being the captain of such
a large ship was not for
him, and took a couple
of years to determine
what to do with his professional
life. He taught music
in day schools and ministered
to a small Conservative
congregation in Wethersfield,
Connecticut.
Rabbi Glaser was offered
a rabbinic position at
Temple Israel that called
upon his rabbinic talents,
teaching, music, singing,
working with kids, and
being part of a healthy,
productive rabbinical
team. He plans to be with
the congregation for many
years, God willing.
Rabbi Simeon
Glaser was born in Cincinnati,
Ohio, to Rabbi Joseph
and Agathe Glaser. His
father, at the time, was
completing his own studies
for the rabbinate. Rabbi
Glaser grew up in California,
in what is now the busy
and thriving Silicon Valley—
the Stanford University,
Palo Alto area. Summers
were spent at Camp Swig
in the Santa Cruz Mountains
where much of Rabbi Glaser's
religious identity and
spirit were formed. He
also took up the guitar,
which he plays actively
to this very day.
Rabbi Glaser married Barbara
Ehrlich from Minneapolis,
and shortly thereafter
they had their three children
Benjamin, Louis and Hannah.
It was then that Sim decided
to go into the career
of Rabbinics, and enrolled
in HUC-JIR. The first
year was spent in Jerusalem
and the next four in Cincinnati.
Upon ordination in 1989,
Rabbi Glaser took a position
with Congregation Beth
Israel in West Hartford,
CT. He spent four years
as assistant/associate
to Rabbi Harold Silver
and then took over as
senior for four more years.
During that time Rabbi
Glaser brought innovations
in learning, worship,
and theater to the temple,
largely focusing on the
youth end of things. Toward
the end of that period
Rabbi Glaser decided that
being the captain of such
a large ship was not for
him, and took a couple
of years to determine
what to do with his professional
life. He taught music
in day schools and ministered
to a small Conservative
congregation in Wethersfield,
Connecticut.