So Compassionate it Hurts: My Life as a Rabbi on the Spectrum

My name is Tzemah Yoreh, and I am a congregational rabbi on the autism spectrum.

How is that possible? How can I thrive in a profession that is pastoral, that rewards extroversion, that seems mostly for those who intuitively grasp social dynamics?

It's rare that I can understand the emotions and dynamics of my closest family members, let alone a room full of people whom I know only peripherally.

And yet I have thrived in my role as a rabbi.

Along with the deficits of being on the spectrum, there are precious gifts that being neuroatypical bequeath me. But, to be honest, it took me a while to find them. In So Compassionate it Hurts: My Life as a Rabbi on the Spectrum, I share my personal journey of being a religious leader on the spectrum, how I've used my gifts to positively impact my congregation (and, in turn, myself), and stories that I hope can inspire those with similar challenges to keep pushing and pursue their passions.