Temple Beth Am of Framingham, MA announces new Rabbi

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - Aug. 23, 2016 - PRLog -- RABBI DONALD ROSSOFF ASSUMES THE PULPIT AT TEMPLE BETH AM

Framingham, MA: Temple Beth Am of Framingham is pleased to announce the arrival of Rabbi Donald B Rossoff who will serve as Interim Rabbi for this coming year. Along with taking on all the duties of a regular full time Rabbi, Rabbi Rossoff will help guide the congregation during this time of transition as it conducts its search for a new settled Rabbi. The Temple brought the Rabbi in following the departure of its longstanding Spiritual Leader, Cantor Jodi Schechtman for a cantorial position in Albany, NY.

Said Temple President Howard Schwartz, "Cantor Schechtman served Beth Am for 28 years, the last five of which as our Spiritual Leader, so her leaving was a great loss.  In anticipation of her departure this summer, it made sense to bring in an Interim Rabbi. Rabbi Rossoff will help us through this transition and help assure a long and successful tenure for the new Rabbi whom we will select this year."

"It is a blessing to be serving at Temple Beth Am this year," says Rabbi Rossoff. "People here are so warm and welcoming! With its outstanding Religious School, its large and active youth group, its energetic Sisterhood and Brotherhood, its engaged committees such as Caring Community, and a lay leadership second to none in dedication, Beth Am is well poised for a vibrant future! Certainly Cantor Schechtman's moving to a Temple out of the area was a tremendous loss. Yet I have experienced the membership as united in its optimism for the Temple's future and excited about this year and the years ahead! This is a place people want to be – and I have found that equally true for both adults and children!"

Rabbi Rossoff is Rabbi Emeritus at Temple B'nai Or, in Morristown, NJ. Prior to his retirement from that congregation in 2015, he trained with the national Interim Ministry Network and became a certified Interim Rabbi. His first interim pulpit was in a congregation in the Chicago area which was in turmoil after the sudden departure of its Rabbi.

Among his rabbinic roles at the Temple, Rabbi Rossoff will conduct Shabbat services, train b'nai mitzvah students, teach in the high school, conduct classes for the Lifelong Learning Committee, and be available to Temple members for all their pastoral needs. He will alternate with Rabbi Emeritus Donald Splansky in conducting the weekly 8:45 a.m. Shabbat morning minyan. Rabbi Rossoff will conduct High Holy Day Services with Cantorial Soloist Linda Myer. Dara Rosenblatt, a cantorial student at the Hebrew College, will provide music for Shabbat morning services in the sanctuary as well as during two Friday Evening Shabbat Services a month. Temple member Don Levey will also be leading music during Friday night services.

Affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism, Temple Beth Am is a "people-oriented" congregation which is enriched by its diversity as it welcomes individuals and families, intermarried, LGBTQ, traditionalists, non-traditionalists, and seekers.

Visit us at http://www.tempbetham.org