Almost five months after the Adath Israel Congregation started looking for its next senior rabbi, the search is over: Rabbi Scott Shafrin, previously the executive director of the St. Louis Jewish Community Relations Council, will take on the role.
“We engaged deeply with our congregation to identify the qualities that were most important to us in a senior rabbi,” said Hamilton Lempert, Adath Israel’s president, in an emailed statement announcing Shafrin’s hiring. “From the moment Rabbi Shafrin interviewed with the search committee, it was clear he embodied all the traits we were seeking.”
Shafrin will join the congregation on March 3, overlapping with Rabbi Moshe Smolkin, the current senior rabbi. Smolkin is leaving in June, when he and his family are relocating to Los Angeles. After that, Shafrin will officially become the senior rabbi.
“My family and I care deeply for our congregation, and this seems like a great fit,” Smolkin said. “I am grateful to have time together to get to know him and to share what I’ve learned from this wonderful community.”
Shafrin has also served as religious school director at a conservative synagogue in the St. Louis area, a rabbinic partner at a Georgia synagogue, and a rabbi-in-residence at The Epstein School, a Jewish day school in the Atlanta area. He is also a singer and multi-instrumentalist, and brings a background in social justice and community organizing.
Shafrin was already in the process of moving to Cincinnati as his wife, Rabbi Jessica Shafrin, is joining the Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati as the director of mission. Joining Adath Israel is an added benefit to the move.
“I think the thing that drew me in immediately was the warmth and kindness of the Adath community,” Shafrin said. “People are excited to be with one another and care about building a community that works for everyone. I am thrilled to be a part of an institution that has not only learned from a historic legacy but is so focused on looking forward to the ways we can connect more people to vibrant Jewish experiences that can last a lifetime.”
Lempert said the Adath Israel board vote was unanimous in deciding to hire Shafrin.
“When our search committee embarked on this journey, we weren’t simply looking for a rabbi to fill a position; we were seeking the right match for our community,” Lempert said. “Thanks to the search committee’s dedication of time and effort, it was apparent that Rabbi Shafrin was the perfect fit. I am excited for the many years of growth, inspiration, and shared learning that lie ahead.”
