Staff Profile

I sat in the synagogue week after week staring at the guitar. It had everything needed to mesmerize a five-year-old, and that guitar not only made me want to return to the synagogue each week but ultimately led me on the path toward becoming a rabbi. I got my first guitar at eight, and when my teacher didn’t know Bar’chu, the song I wanted to learn, I settled for “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” which I taught to my family that evening, leading everyone in a round. By seventh grade, I was teaching music to the younger grades, and as a song leader in high school, serving on my youth group board, I was voted “most likely to become a rabbi” by my Confirmation class.

My love for Judaism did not develop in a vacuum. My mom taught in a Jewish preschool and was my kindergarten teacher in religious school, with my dad taking over in second grade, also blowing the shofar for the High Holy Days. My older brother was a teacher assistant and active in youth group; he is now the youth director at Kol Ami in Plantation, Florida. The synagogue was always a second home for my family, giving us strength in times of need and purpose in moments of celebration. It inspired us to help others, brought our family closer, and connected us to some of our closest friends. My Confirmation class may have known before I did, but once I realized all the synagogue had done for me, there was no question that it was where I wanted to spend every day of my life.

After falling in love with Schaarai Zedek—and serving as Assistant and Associate Rabbi—it is both humbling and energizing to be named its seventh senior rabbi in its almost 125-year history. Rabbi Birnholz modeled how to connect with and be accessible to congregants of all ages, keeping Judaism relevant and consistently innovating our approach and our program. I aspire to do the same. Schaarai Zedek has a long tradition of being a second home to so many, and I look forward to honoring our rich history while continuing to look ahead to our future.

My children and I are grateful to be part of this community, this k’hillah kedosha, and we look forward to sharing this journey with you.