Rabbi Joshua Lesser

Rabbi Joshua Lesser leads the growing Congregation Bet Haverim as a place dedicated to celebrating all aspects of Jewish life and creating a spiritual home that is accessible to those who have not connected in other settings. Together, Rabbi Lesser and his congregation have fostered a warm environment that balances the needs of a diverse community. Together they work to affect the Jewish community and the city of Atlanta in positive ways.

As a former Teach For America corps member, Rabbi Lesser understands the importance of addressing children of all ages from a place of respect. He is committed to creating innovative programs and events to further their Jewish education in fun and exciting ways. And he promotes a positive environment that invites children to connect to Judaism as the children they are and not as mini-adults we sometimes want them to be.

Throughout his tenure at Bet Haverim, Rabbi Lesser has worked with a wide variety of groups and coalitions to build a better community for Atlanta. Almost immediately, he saw a need to create a safe space for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning folks, as well as their families. This need surpassed what he and his congregation could provide, so in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and Jewish Family & Career Services, he founded a place of support and information: The Rainbow Center.

An activist from an early age, he has focused on building bridges between diverse communities as demonstrated through his help in forming the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta and having served as the co-chair of Georgians Against Discrimination. He is solidly dedicated to human rights for all. As a supporter of people with disabilities he has worked as a special educator and was co-founder of Camp Big Heart - a camp for children and adults with special needs.

Rabbi Lesser has also served as interim rabbi for Emory Hillel where he piloted Social Justice programming and was instrumental in doubling service attendance. His commitment to furthering new areas in the Jewish community is also evident in his service to the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta's Task Force on Healing and Spirituality. He also has worked with the Anti-Defamation League for many years and is serving on their Board of Directors.

Raised in Atlanta, Rabbi Lesser lives in Inman Park where he enjoys working in his garden, playing rugby and listening to the trains rattle by outside his window.