Meet Rabbi Aura Ahuvia, Congregation Shir Tikvah
In brief: Originally from Milwaukee, and a long-time resident of Ann Arbor, Rabbi Aura Ahuvia was happy to return to Michigan from Woodstock, N.Y. (her first pulpit). She and her husband, Aaron, live in Royal Oak and are the parents of Jonah, 20, in Ann Arbor and Isaac, 22, in Chicago. Ordained as both rabbi and Mashpiah (spiritual guide), Rabbi Ahuvia holds Master’s degrees in Journalism and Judaic Studies from the University of Michigan. While in rabbinic school, she served as spiritual leader for the Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation and spent a few years as the program director for Beth Israel Congregation. An accomplished singer and guitarist, with a special interest in Jewish Renewal and innovation within worship, Rabbi Ahuvia is currently a participant in the Clergy Leadership Incubator, a national initiative.
On becoming a rabbi: “I didn’t grow up picturing myself as a rabbi – I had taken others paths and hadn’t experienced a Judaism that I found personally engaging until I became a brand new mom. As young parents, my husband and I started attending CAJE conferences which brought us together with some of the leading lights from all streams of Judaism.”
“A second source of inspiration for me was picking up the guitar, at first just to learn to lead tot Shabbat for our young children. It was at a summer workshop—Hava Nashira – sponsored by Camp OSRUI where I worked as a teen – that I finally realized I had this entire repertoire of music in my being, just waiting for expression. That experience cracked open my heart in a way that I had never experienced before. I decided right then and there – about 15 years ago – to master all the skills that I could—to do what I do today.”
On new beginnings: “Coming to Shir Tikvah feels beshert – we were meant to be. The congregation and I were looking for the same things at the same time. My family really wanted to be back in Michigan, and the door was open. And, ever since, our family has been embraced, welcomed and accepted. One of the things I find myself learning now is how to navigate as a community leader. It can be tricky, while I hold in value everyone’s voice equally, I am now hearing and using my own as a voice of authenticity and authority, working towards harmony with others.”
(Published by www.myjewishdetroit.org)
