Rabbi Lia Bass, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is the first woman from Latin America to be ordained as a Rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. She is a bold and innovative Jewish leader who believes that Judaism is a spiritual way to respond to the joys and sorrows of being human. She holds degrees in Guidance Counseling, Education, and Teacher of Hebrew as a Second Language. Rabbi Bass has served Jewish communities of congregations in Northern Virginia, White Plains, NY, and Hoboken, NJ. She has also served as a Fellow at the Center for Learning and Leadership (NY) and as a Rabbi-in-Residence and teacher of Talmud in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Rabbi Bass is passionate about teaching people of all ages and backgrounds how to engage with Judaism as a pathway to living a meaningful and productive life. She knows that Judaism today encounters challenges that are unique to the present moment. To enable the community to engage fully with our tradition, Rabbi Bass employs different points of entry, using creativity as a starting point to personal and communal growth. She is an enthusiastic teacher of Judaism and Hebrew to adults and children alike, a compassionate listener, and believes in harnessing the power of rituals to help people connect with the tradition, God, and the community.
She has created a safe space for all segments of the community, responding to the needs and desires of interfaith couples, LGBTQ individuals and families, people of color, unique family configurations, and new and older people in their search for a Jewish home. She has also worked with congregations of different faiths on social action issues, and learned that infusing our actions in the world with the teachings of Judaism makes us more effective, joyful, and grounded.
Rabbi Bass is a prolific fiber artist, creating works of art through knitting, crocheting, quilting, and painting in silk that are lovingly expressive of Jewish life. She enjoys watching professional sports with her son, Benjamin, and together they cheer the Nationals, the Capitals, DC United (and a few other soccer teams across the world), the Wizards, and the Mystics. Rabbi Bass compares her leadership style to a good team sports coach: tapping into people’s talents, motivating them to reach their full potential, teaching them, supporting them on their journey, and celebrating accomplishments together. As the coach of a spiritual team, she knows how the power of our rituals and our tradition can empower people to commit to their spiritual journeys, and what they can achieve when they stand firm in their Jewish foundation.