Rabbi Joshia Lesser (He/Him)

Rabbi Joshua Lesser leads Congregation Bet Haverim as a place dedicated to celebrating all aspects of Jewish life and creating an accessible and engaging spiritual home. Together he and the members of CBH have fostered a warm environment balancing the needs of a diverse community. Rabbi Josh is dedicated to contributing to the Jewish community and the city of Atlanta in positive ways. His adventurous spirit has propelled him to found new programs like the Rainbow Center, a Jewish communal response to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Recently he has been helping the Jewish community in New Orleans (where he once spent time as a Teach For America corps member) to develop, a Jewish LGBT nonprofit. He was one of the founders of the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta, and the first rabbi to serve as its president. Taking the lead in interfaith work, he also was the only rabbi on Atlanta’s first ‘World Pilgrims’ pilgrimage to Turkey, a project designed to enhance understanding between Christians, Jews and Muslims. He later led an interfaith pilgrimage to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. He is committed to supporting refugees and immigrants in the region to feel welcome and supported to make their new homes in the U.S. He also is focused on ending the root causes of displacement such as war and mass atrocities.