In December, Rabbi Rose, our President, Jeff Singer, and Liessa Alperin, our Director of Innovative Learning and Engagement, were at the airport waiting to board the plane to Boston for the USCJ Conference. Also waiting to board was Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham. Great conversations ensued and Rabbi Abraham shared that he was looking for his next pulpit.
After multiple phone conversations and two SKYPE interviews, we extended an invitation to Rabbi Abraham and his family to come to St. Louis. He will be with us January 16 - 19. Please come to one of our Services or Sunday's Mitvah Day to meet him and his family.
WHY in a few words: My goal is to be intimately involved with a caring community where I can bring a passionate commitment to enhance and expand the roles of those who may consider themselves on the periphery or outside the community, in addition to those who are active members. I strive to connect each person with their Judaism and Jewish heritage so that each person can feel connected and that we are not diverse, but one—K’lal Yisrael.
Education: Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, NY · Rabbinic Ordination, 2011
University of Judaism, Los Angeles, CA · Master of Arts in Education, 2006 · Bachelor of Literature in Hebrew Letters, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, 2006 · Bachelor of Arts, Jewish Studies (Magna Cum Laude), 2005 on President’s Scholarship
Experience: Congregation Agudas Achim, San Antonio, TX Senior Rabbi (2014-Present) Teach engaging and innovative adult education courses ranging from “Who Wrote the Bible” to “Israel and the Jewish People.” This also included teaching the Intro to Judaism and Adult B’Nei Mitzvah classes each year. Created new interfaith opportunities including being the innovator for a community-wide annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service and annual Ramadan and Havdalah Celebrations.
Congregation Sons of Israel - Nyack, NY Senior Rabbi (2011-2014) Spearheaded the creation of a preschool at the synagogue. Launched a Hebrew immersion summer day camp for pre-school children (ages 1-4), attracting 16 campers the first summer. Presented with seven prestigious awards from United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism for creative leadership in program development for young families and adults.
Success: Congregation Agudas Achim, San Antonio, TX Senior Rabbi (2014-Present) Grew congregation from 450 to over 600 family units in five years through innovative programming and engagement strategies. Guided the growth of the Religious School from about 120 to over 200 students including beginning a new “Agudas Chai” High School program with engaging educational opportunities for teens and a “Shabbat School” experience for six weeks out of the year. Catalyst in the growth of the preschool from 29 to 86 students in a three-year period.
Congregation Sons of Israel - Nyack, NY Senior Rabbi (2011-2014) Instrumental in building synagogue from 180 families to 225 families by engaging new members through intense creative programming, outreach and relationship building. Launched a Hebrew immersion summer day camp for pre-school children (ages 1-4), attracting 16 campers the first summer. Guided growth and revitalization of Hebrew School which grew from 4 students to 32 in two years.
Why B’nai Amoona for the Abraham Family: Come find out for yourself - meet the entire family of 5!
We look forward to seeing as many B'nai Amoona members here throughout the weekend as possible. There will be many opportunities to welcome and interact with Rabbi Abraham and his family:
Thursday, January 16
Evening Minyan - 6:15 pm
Friday, January 17
Morning Minyan - 7:00 am
Friday Evening Services - 6:00 pm
Shabbat, January 18
Torah for Today with Rabbi Abraham -10:15 am
"Ask the Rabbi" with Rabbi Abraham - approx. 30 min after morning Services
