Dahlia Shaham was born and raised in the city of Haifa, and lives there today with her family. She holds an LLB in Law and Latin American studies from the Hebrew University (2003), an M.A. of Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University (2009). Before embarking on her Rabbinic path, Dahlia worked in policy research and advocacy NGOs working to promote sustainability and peace in Israel and the Middle East.
Dahlia received her Rabbinic Ordination from the Hebrew Union College (2019). Her rabbinate is guided by passion for peace and justice, faith in the healing power of prayer and music, and devotion to her homeland those who dwell in it.
As a rabbi, Dahlia leads holiday and life event services and teaches in “Or Hadash” congregation in Haifa and “Kedem” congregation in Melbourne. She brings her rabbinate to diverse and creative settings including publicist writing, women circles, playback theater, nature Minyans, music and spoken word performance and writing.
Dahlia volunteers on the executive board of Rabbis for Human Rights. With her life partner, Aran, she directs Hamam al Pasha – a historic building in downtown Haifa, which offers a womb-like space for culinary, cultural and spiritual celebrations. She enjoys communing with nature, dance, music and exploring the world together with Aran and their son Nouri.
I first met Dahlia when she applied as my teaching assistant for EPIIC’s Global Cities colloquial/symposium year. What was noteworthy about Dahlia's service in this role was how thoroughly she took her responsibilities. Her intelligence, enthusiasm, and intellectual curiosity were self-evident, but most importantly was her human and emotional intelligence and caring extension to our students.
Dahlia’s MA thesis was on the economic and political relationship between Israel and the Gulf states. Her brilliance and personality were acknowledged by her peers at the Fletcher Graduate School when she was chosen to give the commencement day address on an especially meaningful anniversary of the school.
She was important to our Institute's NIMEP, exploring Israel with Amit Paz and Hannah Flamm during the bloody Cast Lead operation in December 2008. As she expressed it: "I can't quite find the words for it, but it was painfully inspiring."
While we had many conversations about Israeli politics, both internal and external, what I enjoyed most about Dahlia was her sensitivity and total openness to human experience. While I knew subsequently that she worked for REUT on sensitive political issues, it became no surprise to me to learn of the pastoral and spiritual route she has taken.
I had the pleasure of meeting her husband, delightful Aran, with whom I jousted frequently since he was a chef and I had no such skills, and he was an avowed Lakers fan, and I was a Celtics fan. They were my first guests at my Truro home. It was fun to hear from Dahlia that she recalled what she describes as a "fascinating lesson you gave Aran and me about baseball down in front of the Green Monster. I realized then that the thrill of the game was about waiting for a breakthrough against the odds - much like politics!”
The serendipity of our recent renewal took place with this picture: it turns out that Dahlia will officiate at the bar mitzvah of Ido, the delightful youngest son of my close friends Shai and Yael Schubert. (pictured below)