Gimilut Chasadim

Description

We know what Torah means. We think we know what avodah means. But what the heck is “lovingkindness”? It’s a term so ubiquitous in Jewish life that it’s easy to forget it means something specific, something distinct from tz’dakah/charity. Through song and text, we will dive deep into the concept of gimilut chasadim and discover the ways it lives in our hearts and our actions.

Speakers
Rabbi Joshua Fixler and Cantor Rollins Simmons

Bios

Joshua Fixler serves as Associate Rabbi at Congregation Emanu El in Houston. He is the president of the Houston Faith Leaders Coalition and a member of the steering committee for the Texas Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-TX). Rabbi Fixler was ordained at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in May 2017. While in rabbinical school, Rabbi Fixler was a Wexner Graduate Fellow and a Bonnie and Daniel Tisch Rabbinical Fellow. During his time at HUC-JIR, Joshua also completed an Advanced Professional Certificate in Management for Public & Nonprofit Organizations at New York University.

Rollin Simmons serves as Cantor at Congregation Emanu El. After being ordained from HUC-JIR, Cantor Simmons served the Aspen Jewish Congregation from 2010-2017. Here in Houston, Cantor Simmons enjoys the musical landscape at Emanu El and beyond, working with many talented musicians to create new and familiar spiritual experiences. She is proud of her Emanu El youth choir, who has performed around town and her growing teen songleader team. Cantor Simmons can be found teaching b’nai mitzvah students, leading t’filah for all ages, visiting the sick, officiating at life cycle events, working with conversion students, and singing in the hallways.