Meir Bargeron serves as our Rabbinic and Community Organizing Intern, and is a fifth-year student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish institute of Religion. After working as a social worker, therapist, and non-profit leader over a span of two decades, Meir decided to pull up stakes, leave his comfortable and predictable life in Minneapolis, MN, and pursue a surprising call to the rabbinate. A few years earlier he had discovered Shir Tikvah Congregation, and dove deep into the holy community. He became the co-chair of the synagogue’s Caring Community and served on the Board of Trustees and its executive committee. Eventually, Meir began to see that all the things he loved doing professionally could come together in the role of rabbi, with the bonus of being able to spend all his time “doing Jewish.”

Meir enrolled at HUC in 2015, spent a year studying in Jerusalem and continued his studies in Los Angeles the following year. Meir served for two years as the student rabbi at Congregation B’nai David in Visalia, spent a summer as a rabbinic intern at Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills, and completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

“I am so excited continue my education at Or Ami,” Meir said. “This community has a reputation of warmth and a commitment to social justice, and has trained so many wonderful rabbis. I feel so fortunate to be here.” Meir lives in LA with his husband Jon and their devastatingly adorable dog Charlie. Together they enjoy global travel and taking in the ever-changing LA arts scene.