40 Under 40: Rabbi Sam Blustin

Prior to moving to Atlanta, Rabbi Sam Blustin studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, where he specialized in prayer and ritual. He lives with his fiancé, Allison Goldman, and their adorable terrier, Smoosh.

Blustin has been in Atlanta for a little over two years, serving as the associate rabbi of Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Buckhead. One of Blustin’s biggest passions is building meaningful and uplifting prayer experiences, and he has focused on supporting his community to lift their voices as a mode of deep connection.

Blustin is a musician and songwriter and has been working to transform the prayer experience at Ahavath Achim into one where congregants can feel free to bring their full selves and participate fully within the service. As well as bringing in contemporary Jewish musicians from across the country, Blustin is set to record an album of original music for prayer through the congregation this winter.

Together, Blustin and Goldstein hope to create a powerful community of young Jews in Atlanta. They frequently host events, such as holiday hangouts, singing circles and shabbat dinners through OneTable, so look them up! Blustin is deeply honored to be chosen as one of this year’s 40 under 40, and he looks forward to many more years as a part of this Atlanta community.

“To be a rabbi is to support and serve our community by lending and translating our Jewish heritage to our daily lives,” he said. “Being recognized in this way means that the work we’re doing is resonating with a lot of folks, and I look forward to building on that momentum.”