Rabbi Michael Birnholz

Rabbi Michael Birnholz was born and raised in Mississippi.  His early life was shaped as the Rabbi’s kid in a small Jewish community in the post Civil Rights Deep South and summers in the amazing, creative Jewish environment of (then) UAHC Henry S. Jacobs Camp.   On one hand, Rabbi Birnholz learned about being Jewish in a very non Jewish environment as one of only five Jewish children his age.   On the other hand, Jacobs Camp offered incredible experiences in an immersive Jewish environment, appreciating nature, arts and crafts and lots of creative expression. When Rabbi Birnholz was in middle school the family moved to Tampa, Florida, where his parents still reside. Rabbi Birnholz attended middle school and high school in Tampa and then went on to study at the University of Florida in Gainesville earning a Bachelors Degree with honors as he studied Sociology with focus in Education and Jewish Studies.

In Gainesville, he met his Jill, who he would marry when they returned from Israel after the first year of study at Hebrew Union College. While at the Cincinnati campus of HUC-JIR Rabbi Birnholz served student pulpits in Billings, MT, Columbus, MS and Marion, OH.  The pulpit in Mississippi was a vital experience as this gave him the opportunity to return to his roots and work on his Thesis: The Cemetery in a Community’s Life, Death, and Afterlife: A Study of the Cemeteries of Extinct and Nearly Dissolved Jewish Communities in Mississippi and Louisiana. This research into the fragility and resilience of small community Judaism has been an interest and passion through Rabbi Birnholz’s life.

After Ordination in 2002, Rabbi Birnholz and Jill, returned to Florida arriving at Temple Beth Shalom with the beginnings of their family.

Over the 20 years that the Birnholz family has been in Indian River County, Rabbi Birnholz has had a chance to grow in body, mind and spirit right along with Temple Beth Shalom. He enthusiastically shares his ruach and koach – spirit and strength – with the many diverse generations and facets of the Jewish community. Over these two decades, he has engaged with members of the congregation in all aspects of Jewish living including: leading worship services; officiating at weddings, funerals, b’nai mitzvah services and baby naming ceremonies; meeting the pastoral care needs of the congregation.

“While I rejoice as we welcome new families and generations to our congregation, I am energized as I work to honor the many people who have given so much to make our Little Temple in the Woods into an amazing House of Peace.” Rabbi Birnholz

Rabbi Birnholz has been a leader in the Ministerial Association and Compassion Vero and led efforts as communities engaged in those efforts became the Treasure Coast Interfaith Community. Exchange Club of Vero Beach honored Rabbi Birnholz by selecting him for the Book of Golden Deeds award in 2022. In the last few years, Rabbi Birnholz has been involved in the leadership and direction of the Community One Initiative for Holocaust Education, organizing events, creating a Butterfly Project memorial on the TBS campus and making presentations at area schools.

“One of the great joys of my work at Temple Beth Shalom has been the opportunity to activate my unique hobbies and interests to enrich the Jewish experiences and activities. I like to find ways to connect gardening and sustainability to Jewish Values and have developed Planting Jewish Seeds, on the campus of Temple Beth Shalom. In addition to planting, caring for and learning from the garden, I love to make use of garden produce. Along with many cooking activities, I am an avid baker caming Shabbat challah and Sourdough bread as both a source of sustenance and model of Jewish learning.” Rabbi Birnholz

Since his arrival, Rabbi Birnholz has been active with our Jewish neighbors as well, as part of the Greater Treasure Coast Rabbinical Association, serving on the Seaccar board and returning URJ Camp Coleman as an active member of the summer faculty.