As director of the
mekhinah (preparation) program, Rabbi Alex Weissman mentors emerging religious leaders by immersing in Hebrew language, Jewish liturgy, texts and practice, to support them to thrive in rabbinic school and beyond.
In his dual role as Director of Community Life, Alex oversees RRC's
tefilah, community
limmud, as well as the Immersive at the start of every semester. More than just a perk, RRC’s vibrant and nurturing community has long proved an integral part of rabbinic formation, modeling the kind of community that rabbis can help strengthen and create.
Prior to joining RRC, he served as spiritual leader of Congregation Agudas Achim in Attleboro, Mass.; and director of organizing for T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights. Prior to that, Alex served as the senior Jewish educator at Brown RISD Hillel.
He was ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC) in 2017, where he fell in love with Talmud study and served a range of communities, including Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York City, Avodah, and Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Greater Philadelphia as a hospice chaplain. He completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Hebrew SeniorLife. As a student at RRC, he received a Tikkun Olam award; the Ann W. Pinkenson Prize in Rabbinic Literature and Civilization; and the Lillian Fern Award for service to the community.
Prior to rabbinical school, he worked as a community organizer and in LGBTQ+ public health.
Selected Courses Taught:
- Mekhinah Mishnah and Siddur: An introduction to rabbinic Hebrew and two of its textual genres.
- Reconstructionism 1 & 2: An exploration of Reconstructionist thought and practice from Kaplan to the present
- Rabbi in Social Movement: A practical rabbinics course on how rabbis can be part of movements for peace and justice
- Supervision: Practical, formational, and spiritual support for students for students serving in internships
Selected Articles:Selected Talks and Podcasts 
