Coralville rabbi looks to infuse joy into congregation

CORALVILLE — Rabbi Esther Hugenholtz of Agudas Achim congregation in Coralville leads nearly 200 members in both Reform and Conservative Judaism practices.

The journey to Iowa was not a linear one for the Amsterdam, Netherlands native. Hugenholtz was raised by staunch atheists and began her journey with Judaism as a pre-teen by reading about it in encyclopedias before she officially converted at the age of 26.

“It was kind of feeling called, not just to the work of being a rabbi, but feeling called to Judaism, its beautiful life-affirming joyous philosophy of making this world a better place and sanctifying it, and seeing beauty and divinity in all of its aspects, and being part of this vast and ancient and resilient tradition,” said Hugenholtz.

The 47-year-old mother of three said she often challenges people’s perceptions of who a rabbi is, given the image that dominates popular culture is often that of an older male.

“I also think that people think a rabbi is very serious, and obviously there are moments of solemnity, but I like to infuse my rabbinate with joy and humor and connection. Religion can be really fun. It can be and it should be, right, because it deals with the complete scope of human experience, and life is fun and absurd and hard, and we have the spiritual and emotional tools to meet those moments,” said Hugenholtz.

Seeking ‘Midwestern blessings’

Hugenholtz first came to the United States in 2003 as a student volunteering at a Jewish spiritual retreat center in upstate New York.

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“I just really fell in love with America, which kind of surprised people, but there was just something about the temperament of Americans that really vibed with me, the openness, the friendliness, the you know, go get 'em spirits. I just really loved America and American Judaism. It's a more open Judaism and a more well resourced Judaism, because it's a large community,” said Hugenholtz.

She returned to the U.S. just a year later in 2004 and began rabbinical school in Los Angeles.

Amid the financial crisis that began in 2008, Hugenholtz couldn’t make school in L.A. work, so she finished rabbinical school in London where she was ordained. Hugenholtz then spent the next four years working in England.

Hugenholtz was beginning to accept the idea that she might not be able to return to America when a friend mentioned to her that a congregation in Iowa was looking for someone trained in both conservative and reform practices.

She got the job with the Agudas Achim congregation, and began an immigration process that took 18 months to secure a nonimmigrant visa. She began leading the congregation in 2017. It took her three more years to become a permanent resident, and Hugenholtz said she may naturalize in the future.

“It was that combination of being part of like this really dynamic intellectual community with all of the facilities and amenities that it offers, but also being having a slower pace of life. I wanted my kids to be in an environment where they would know agriculture and farms and fields to play in, and all of those kind of Midwestern blessings,” said Hugenholtz of why she was drawn to her congregation.

Leading the congregation, welcoming newcomers

While Hugenholtz is a rabbi she also acknowledges that monotheism has “the world’s worst public relations campaign.”

“There is so much harm, danger, toxicity in religion. I say this with like contrition, religion causes real harm, she said. ”Doesn't matter which religion … it can be, you know, a matrix of power, right, and unchecked authority and heaviness and guilt and shame, and I don't want it to be any of those things. I think emphasizing the joyful aspects of it is important.“

Being one of only a few synagogues in the Eastern Iowa Corridor, Agudas Achim aims to serve the whole diaspora of the Jewish community and also welcome members of other faiths or people seeking to learn more about Judaism.

“Judaism is not for everyone, but it could be for anyone. That's kind of my tagline,” Hugenholtz said. “If you feel like you're tuning into the cosmic radio station and Judaism is your channel where you get the best reception, then you should choose Judaism. But if it's Christianity or Hinduism or Buddhism, or Islam or Sikhism, or any other faith, or no faith, or paganism, that's great too. We don't apply that distinction between the sincere heart that seeks communion with the divine and to live a right life of righteousness.”

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Ultimately Hugenholtz is interested in the connection between heart, mind and soul that she and her congregation explore through Judaism.

“I think, in a modern society, in an open society, in a free society, religion should be a volunteeristic project. We choose to engage with religiosity, not because we live in a closed society, and that is what is expected of you, but because it adds value to our lives. I think that's a much better way to get up in the morning,” said Hugenholtz.

Comments: megan.woolard@thegazette.com

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