Congregation Ruach haMaqom
'Spirit of the Place'
Ruach haMaqom provides opportunity for diverse faith traditions to come together in loving community and become a beacon for the healing of our world.
Ruach haMaqom is the first Jewish Renewal congregation in Vermont. Jewish Renewal is a post-denominational form of Judaism that emerged in America in the 1960’s. Renewal combines the joy of traditional Hasidism, the open-mindedness and creativity of the Havurah movement, the socially progressive values of egalitarianism, and the inter-faith dialogue that is the model for contemporary spirituality.
While channeling an ancient past, Congregation Ruach haMaqom forges the future of an engaged Judaism. What does the future of your spiritual life look like? Join us and we’ll support you in your ever-evolving and fruitful journey.
R. Lee Moore, Interim Rabbi
Hello Burlington Jews and fellow travelers! Looking forward to being with you to share sacred communal encounters of celebration, regulation and grieving. I began holding space for Renewal-style prayer in 2001 at Elat Chayyim. My passion for organizational transformation ignited in the early 90’s when I facilitated several community visioning projects in my home region of the Cuyahoga Valley. In recent years my rabbinate has been radically nomadic, bringing me to Vermont to serve as interim rabbi in Brattleboro and to Living Tree Alliance, where I’ve led Rosh HaShana the past 5 years. More on me at knowinglee.org.
R. David Curiel, Interim Rabbi
Hey, ya’ll! I have led deep ritual and soulful song for over a dozen years, including at Nava Tehila in Jerusalem; Romemu in Manhattan; and Asiyah, the community I co-founded and led in Somerville, MA. I am a teacher of mysticism, musician and spiritual guide, currently serving on the faculties of Aleph Ordination Programs’ Hashpa’ah Training and Yerusha’s Wisdom School. I am also a certified Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner. And I’m a part-time resident at Living Tree Alliance in Moretown, VT. Come visit my yurt sometime! Born in Venezuela, I am a native speaker of Spanish and English (though Spanglish is my first tongue!). Find more at https://www.rabbidavidcuriel.com
R. Jan Salzman, Founder and Rabbi Emerita
Rabbi Jan Salzman was ordained in 2010 by ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. In 2016, she created Ruach haMaqom, the first Jewish Renewal congregation in Vermont. Previously, she served as the Assistant Rabbi and Cantor for 6 years at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue in Burlington, Vermont. She was blessed to have been a student of Reb Zalman. Rabbi Jan is past-President of OHALAH, an international professional Association of Renewal Rabbis, Cantors and Rabbinic Pastors. She has served on the board of Living Tree Alliance located in Moretown Vt. She has lived in Vermont for over 35 years, is married to her "rebbitzmon", Loredo Sola, and has two grown children and 2 grandchildren.
You can follow Rabbi Jan’s writings on her substack account.