Published August 9, 2019

MELROSE — Temple Beth Shalom is proud to welcome Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal as its new rabbi and education director as of August 1.  

“I’m extremely happy to have Rabbi Lowenthal become the spiritual leader of our family-oriented synagogue. Temple Beth Shalom is both a Reform synagogue and a Jewish Community Center. We strive to create a spirit of unity and are confident that Rabbi Lowenthal will continue our tradition,” said Sara Serisky, Temple Beth Shalom’s president.  

“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be joining the Temple Beth Shalom family. The moment I walked into the synagogue, I knew this was a special place, and that my family and I could find a home within it. It is a daunting task to take on the role of Rabbi and Educator, but one I feel uniquely qualified to fulfill,” commented Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal.“I know there is an incredible amount of wisdom and skill within this community and I look forward to learning with everyone, and more importantly, from everyone.”  

RABBI JESSICA LOWENTHAL (Courtesy Photo)

Rabbi Lowenthal is honored to join Temple Beth Shalom as the Rabbi and Education Director. Rabbi Jessica was ordained at Hebrew College in Newton, a non-denominational Rabbinical school that embraces many different forms of Judaism. During her schooling, she worked for the University of Rhode Island’s Hillel and was a founding participant of the Hillel Rabbinic Fellowship. Most recently she served as the Rabbinic intern at Temple Israel in Boston and Temple Beth Shalom in Framingham, leading both traditional and alternative services and Torah study.  

Rabbi Lowenthal has also been teaching Hebrew school for over a decade. She has taught 5th grade through high school at various synagogues. Additionally, she helped reshape and run the post-B’nai Mitzvah program at Temple Sinai in Brookline. She has been trained in multiple Holocaust curricula, such as “Facing History and Ourselves” and “Echoes and Reflections.”  

Rabbi Lowenthal obtained her MBA in nonprofit management and her MA in Jewish Leadership through the Hornstein program at Brandeis University. She completed her BA at George Washington University in Religion and Judaic Studies. She grew up in Framingham and now lives with her husband, two sons, and dog in Dedham.  

Schedule of upcoming events  

Erev Shabbat Service, Fri., Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m.  

Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) Services – The Jewish New Year, also known as the High Holidays, are a time of both celebration and introspection. These holidays provide Jews with an opportunity to resolve to be better people, similar to that of the secular New Year.

• Erev Rosh Hashanah: Sun., Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m.  

• Rosh Hashanah Family Service: Mon., Sept. 30, 9 a.m.  

• Rosh Hashanah Morning Service: Mon., Sept. 30, 10 a.m., with Taschlich immediately following at 1 p.m.  

• Rosh Hashanah Second Day Service: Tues. Oct. 1, 10 a.m.  

Yom Kippur Services – Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Its central themes are atonement and repentance.

• Kol Nidre Service: Tues., Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m.  

• Yom Kippur Family Service: Wed., Oct. 9, 9 a.m.  

• Yom Kippur Morning Service: Wed., Oct. 9, 10 a.m. with Yizkor at approximately 1 p.m., Neilah Concluding Service at approximately 4 p.m., and Havdalah and a dairy potluck Break Fast at approximately at 6 p.m.  

Temple Beth Shalom (TBS) is a Reform Jewish Synagogue serving about 85 families from communities including Melrose, Malden, Medford, Reading, Saugus, Stoneham and Wakefield. In addition to religious services, TBS also offers Shalom School for school-aged children, Jewish-themed programming for very young children, adult Torah study, an active social action committee and groups including parenting, Sisterhood, book club, knitting, mah jongg and more.  

For more information, email rabbi@tbsma.org, visit tbsma.org, or call 781-665-4520.