Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Haas.
Hi Robert, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I was raised in a small town on the Mexican border in Texas. I graduated High School and went to the University of Texas at Austin, where I planned to eventually go to law school. I decided to become an elementary school teacher, to my mother’s disappointment. I taught for a few years in Houston, then studied in Arad, Israel for a year before going to rabbinical school. I studied for a year in Jerusalem and four years in L.A. (with one year off to work and save money). I ended up as a rabbi in Dallas for four years, then Houston for four years, with a year off for a backpacking trip around the world in between. I then took a year off to volunteer in Africa before moving to Savannah to become the rabbi at Mickve Israel, where I have served for ten years. I also became a comedian while serving at this congregation. I married and have two kids, so I mostly do comedy in the area, including monthly at the Bay Street Theater for Savannah Comedy Revue.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Telling my mom I was going to be an elementary school teacher instead of a lawyer was a big one. I had struggles with finances, with deciding the course of my life, with deciding whether to move to Israel or stay in the U.S., with a family who were very surprised by my decisions, with moving from one place to another as a single guy, when pretty much almost all rabbis are married.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am rabbi at Congregation Mickve Israel, the third oldest synagogue in America. I believe I am known for all the outreach we do to the interfaith community and for being a comedian on the side. I perform stand-up for fun and perform for non-profit organizations, and I MC events for non-profits. I also do a lot of volunteering in the community.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I grew up in McAllen, Texas, which is right on the border with Mexico at the very bottom of the state, so the closest city big city growing up was San Antonio, which was about 5 hours away back then. I love performing comedy, creating interesting programming for my community, volunteering with various organizations, dressing up in costumes for a wide variety of events, science fiction and fantasy novels, T.V. shows and movies, and of course, reading Jewish stuff.
I was probably pretty outgoing growing up, although I was very small, as I had a late high school spurt. So, at almost 5’9, I am the tallest Haas, by far, in the history of our family. I played tennis because they didn’t let anyone play football who weighed under 100 pounds.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcomedyroberthaas.wixsite.com%2Fwebsite%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1Xt2Oo9e6nGRRHgslQHXfdxokE0e0XltxjVN2hfQEiWklKAotpjLpaZw4&h=AT0LNISmorPI7kulvGyY–J-OSopZym_FpqGyslqj0kAB5YNXzRz2LJV8cyKBHThyMWPLV9qV21gdn6l-COX7hYrYn09Hipi0BkmhSKM9ecXNnCiFxdcveGaELrBS7UggOBooQ
- Instagram: rabbicomedianroberthaas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ComedyRabbi
