Rabbi Sarah Bassin, Associate Rabbi of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, is a pluralist at her core, believing that we always have something to learn from those who are different than us – whether religiously, culturally, politically, or even Jewishly. With this passion to engage difference, Rabbi Bassin has reinvigorated Emanuel’s young professionals community and work in social justice.
Prior to joining Temple Emanuel, Rabbi Bassin served as the inaugural executive director at NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change. Under her leadership, NewGround was named one of the 50 most innovative and inspiring organizations in the Jewish community by Slingshot magazine, and its interfaith teen program was recognized by Governor Jerry Brown as California’s faith-based organization of the year in 2013. She is an alumna of the prestigious Joshua Venture Fellowship for Jewish entrepreneurs. Rabbi Bassin graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Religion and History from Lafayette College. In addition to rabbinic ordination, she received a certificate in Jewish non-profit management at Hebrew Union College.