After serving for 18 years as one of Congregation Beth Yeshurun’s associate rabbis, Rabbi Brian Strauss became the new senior rabbi on August 1, 2018. His number one goal as the senior rabbi is to bring the wisdom and richness of the Jewish tradition to your life. In our busy, modern day world, he strives to be there to help you make sense of your daily struggles — To show you that Judaism has much to say to bring more meaning to your life.
Social action is also a major focus of his senior rabbinate. He believes very strongly that we can and need to do more for the greater Houston community. He also hopes to see more of you at Beth Yeshurun on Friday nights and Saturday mornings. Shabbat has always been our time to come together to strengthen old friendships and make new ones. The Sabbath is also the ideal opportunity for our spirits to be uplifted and our souls to be nourished. Therefore, he promises to come up with many novel ways to entice you to come to Beth Yeshurun on Shabbat. No matter your background or your age, he will be working on new approaches to our worship experiences to fully engage you. In his sermons and discussions, he will also offer advice and guidance on life’s most pressing issues that you can use throughout your week. He will also be experimenting with what we offer after services so you will stay and develop stronger relationships with other congregants and your clergy.
Rabbi Strauss is a graduate of the Zeigler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles and the University of Texas at Austin. He has been a member of the United Jewish Communities Rabbinic Cabinet and the United Jewish Communities National Young Leadership Cabinet. Rabbi Strauss has also served on the Texas State Commission on Holocaust and Genocide. He is also a member of the prestigious program Rabbis Without Borders, sponsored by the National Jewish Center for Learning & Leadership (CLAL).
A past president of the Houston Rabbinical Association, he is also the author of the book, “To Life, To Family, To Me: 6 Keys to a Good Family Life,” an Amazon.com #1 Category Best Seller. He has often been published in national and local publications. Rabbi Strauss is married to Lisa Shapiro Strauss, a practicing attorney and a previous fellow in the Wexner Heritage Program. They have three children. He enjoys yoga, the Houston Rockets, NFL and College Football.
He begins each day with the words, “May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our ancestors, to grant me a portion in Your Torah. May I be a disciple of Aaron the Kohen, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving my fellow men and women and drawing them near to the Torah.”
