Temple Beth Hillel is delighted to welcome Rabbi Julie
Saxe-Taller as the congregation’s new Rabbi. A passionate leader and community
builder, Rabbi Saxe-Taller brings a wealth of experience in congregational life, spiritual
practice, and social justice.
A native of Marin County who has spent much of her life in the East Bay, Rabbi Saxe-
Taller has also lived in Israel and New York. She was ordained in 2004 by Hebrew
Union College in New York, and later continued her studies at the Pardes Institute in
Jerusalem.
Rabbi Saxe-Taller served for thirteen years at Congregation Sherith Israel in San
Francisco, where she led vibrant family programming, engaged deeply in teaching, and
collaborated on numerous social justice campaigns. From 2018 to 2023, she was the
Senior Organizer for the California Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-
CA), where she empowered congregational social justice teams across the state and
led advocacy efforts for public policy rooted in Jewish values.
As a prayer and ritual leader, Rabbi Saxe-Taller is committed to building inclusive
community and creating sacred spaces for meaningful connection—with self, with
others, and with the Divine. She weaves Jewish wisdom into contemporary questions,
from spirituality to politics, often utilizing the joy and power of singing.
Throughout the past 18 months, she has also led crucial workshops on antisemitism.
Her approach clarifies the complex targeting of Jews today, while also addressing how
opposing antisemitism can be misused to justify policies that contradict Jewish values.
Outside of her rabbinic role, Rabbi Saxe-Taller enjoys singing, playing pickleball,
camping, reading, and spending time with loved ones. She finds joy in both harvesting
vegetables from her garden and a simple game of catch. She and her family look
forward to connecting with the Temple Beth Hillel community.
