MILWAUKEE—Rabbi Armin Langer has joined Congregation Shir Hadash, “Milwaukee’s progressive Jewish community,” as its new spiritual leader.
Armin began the role in December. He was previously a guest scholar for the synagogue.
Armin joined the community, which holds services and events on Milwaukee’s East Side, after Rabbi Michal Woll left in late 2024, having served the congregation for more than seven years. Woll is now serving as a rabbi for the Rutland Jewish Center in Vermont, having moved to Middlebury, Vermont with her husband, author Jon M. Sweeney. After Woll, the congregation’s search process led to Armin.
“With his multi-faceted background and warm presence, he will be a dynamic facilitator and guide for our active participatory congregation,” said Mona Cohen, president of the congregation.
“Shir Hadash embodies the participatory, reflective, and joyful Judaism I love,” Armin said in a statement. “It’s a kehillah that learns together, sings together, and shows up not only for one another but also for our neighbors. I look forward to creating meaningful Jewish experiences and contributing to a vibrant Jewish life in Milwaukee rooted in these values.”
Rabbi Armin Langer is a community leader, teacher, and scholar dedicated to fostering inclusivity, Jewish learning, and vibrant communal life, according to the congregation announcement. He was ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Humboldt University of Berlin.
Most recently, he served as a Visiting Assistant Professor in European Studies at the University of Florida, where he was also a faculty member in Jewish Studies and Latin American Studies. He has taught and led prayer in Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and unaffiliated communities across Europe, the United States, and Mexico, and is a dayan (rabbinic judge) on the non-denominational Beit Din of Buda in Budapest.
A prolific author, his writing on Jewish thought, migration, race and ethnicity, and nationalism has appeared in academic journals such as the “Journal of Jewish Ethics,” as well as in popular publications such as “The Forward.”
Congregation Shir Hadash describes itself as an inclusive, progressive, and participatory spiritual community. It is guided by Reconstructionist philosophy, blending engagement with Jewish tradition and culture with a commitment to contemporary values. Shabbat and Holy Day services are highlighted by music, creativity, and interaction. It offers a diverse array of activities including social events, Jewish learning, social action programs, and potluck meals.
Rabbi Armin is speaking at several upcoming events, including at the Cream City Beit Midrash on March 26. For more Shir Hadash services and programs, visit ShirMke.org.
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