About

About Ranon Teller

Rabbi Ranon Teller is a spiritual leader who deeply loves Jewish music, education, and community. With a background in television writing and music, he has developed a unique ability to lead his congregation through creative worship, educational programming, and community involvement. As the senior rabbi at Congregation Birth Shalom in Houston, Rabbi Teller has transformed prayer services, strengthened membership engagement, and fostered connections in the greater Jewish community and beyond.

Early Life and Education

Ranon Teller, the second of three children born to Rabbi Dr. Gerald Teller and Judy Teller, grew up in a suburban Detroit home centered on the values and practices of Orthodox Judaism. He attended Orthodox Day School for his early education and then Skokie Yeshiva High School outside Chicago. After high school, Ranon moved to Israel to study at an Orthodox yeshiva, where he immersed himself in more advanced Talmud study, Jewish philosophy, theology, ritual, and sacred text.

But questions began to emerge.

Secular Career Beginnings

Toward the end of this time in Israel, Ranon became disenchanted with the Orthodox fundamentalism he was experiencing in the yeshiva world. He returned to Chicago and started to pursue more secular interests. He discovered a passion for creative writing and earned a degree in television writing at Columbia College Chicago. He then worked in the television industry, writing and producing a Sunday morning news program called This Week with Wanda Wells.

In addition to writing, Ranon began studying blues music, which became a central part of his life. After learning to play guitar, he joined a rhythm and blues band. In one particularly memorable gig, he and his band played on Maxwell Street, the birthplace of Chicago blues.

He was also returned to his Jewish roots and the Land of Israel.

Rediscovering Judaism

In 1996, Ranon returned to Israel and began exploring alternative ways to practice and understand Judaism beyond the orthodoxy of his youth. He immersed himself in alternative forms of Jewish spirituality and study, particularly contemporary Chasidic music and the teachings of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. After a year of auditing classes at the Conservative rabbinical school in Jerusalem and training in an intensive experiential Jewish education program, Ranon reached a turning point. He realized that his true calling was a career in Jewish leadership.

Ranon returned to the United States in 1998 and enrolled at the University of Judaism (now the American Jewish University) in Los Angeles, where he pursued a degree in Jewish education and rabbinic ordination. In May 2022, he received an Honorary Doctorate from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies.

The Road to Becoming a Rabbi

Ranon’s love for Jewish learning and teaching grew as he studied education and rabbinics. In 2000, he earned his master’s degree from the Fingerhut School of Education and received the Fingerhut School of Education Award for Outstanding Achievement. In 2002, he was ordained as Rabbi Ranon Teller and, once again, was rewarded for academic achievement with the Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence and the Ziegler School Award for Excellence in Talmudic Studies.

Early Career and Leadership in St. Louis

Rabbi Teller first assumed the pulpit at Congregation B’nai Amoona in St. Louis, where he served as associate rabbi from 2002 to 2005. During his tenure, the congregation experienced senior leadership turnover and looked to Rabbi Teller for vision and continuity. He successfully led the congregation, engaged young families, and introduced contemporary, interactive prayer services.

Moving to Houston

In 2005, Rabbi Teller moved to Houston to become senior rabbi of Congregation Brith Shalom. His soulful, personable, and diplomatic approach ushered in an era of congregational growth. During his two decades at Brith Shalom, he created innovative musical prayer services attended by various congregants and community members and other transformative synagogue projects.

In addition to his spiritual leadership, he played a key role in securing a $1.5 million endowment for the synagogue and a $5 million gift toward a building renovation campaign.

Rabbi Teller’s Community Involvement

Rabbi Teller’s work extends far beyond the walls of the synagogue. He is deeply involved in the Houston Jewish community. He has collaborated with and volunteered for many organizations, including the Houston Food Bank, SEARCH Homeless Services, and the Food and Faith Collaborative. He also works with the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and Alexander Jewish Family Service to help support those in need.

Family Life

Rabbi Teller is blessed with a rich family life. He is married to Vicki Teller, with whom he has raised four children: Ariella, Maya, Jake, and Nava. Nava has expressed interest in following in her father’s and grandfather’s footsteps and becoming a rabbi. They also have a beautiful dog named Jessie Afikoman.

Hobbies and Interests

Rabbi Teller has many hobbies and interests outside his professional work. He still enjoys playing blues and folk guitar and is passionate about song-leading. He loves reading non-fiction, especially biographies and books that deepen his understanding of human nature. He is also a juggler, magician, and avid backpacker and hiker who finds spirituality in nature. Rabbi Teller has written articles for Kolot magazine, the Jewish Herald-Voice, and the Jewish Journal and co-authored a book entitled Peaceful Bones.