Photo credit: Rabbi Scott Shafrin
Submitted by Adath Israel Congregation
Adath Israel Congregation is pleased to announce the appointment of Rabbi Scott Shafrin as its next Senior Rabbi, succeeding Rabbi Moshe Smolkin. Rabbi Smolkin will be relocating to Los Angeles at the end of June to take on a new role at Milken Community School. Rabbi Shafrin will officially begin his tenure on March 3rd, working alongside Rabbi Smolkin for four months before stepping into the Senior Rabbi position in July. During this transition period, Rabbi Smolkin will continue in his role as Senior Rabbi. Rabbi Smolkin said, “I am excited that Rabbi Shafrin is joining our community. My family and I care deeply for our congregation, and this seems like a great fit. I am grateful to have time together to get to know him and to share what I’ve learned from this wonderful community.”
Rabbi Shafrin comes to Cincinnati from St. Louis. He was the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) in St. Louis. Previously, he was the Associate Rabbi and Religious School Director for the Conservative congregation Kol Rinah in the St. Louis area. He served as Rabbi-in-Residence at The Epstein School, a Solomon Schechter Day School in the Atlanta metro area, while also working as a rabbinic partner at Congregation Etz Chaim in Marietta, GA.
Rabbi Shafrin was already in the process of moving his family to Cincinnati. His wife, Rabbi Jessica Shafrin, is the new Director of Mission for the Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati. They are moving with their two children to Amberley. We asked Rabbi Shafrin about his decision to come to Adath Israel. He said, “I think the thing that drew me in immediately was the warmth and kindness of the Adath community. 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.”
Adath President Hamilton Lempert said, “Throughout our Town Hall meetings, we engaged deeply with our congregation to identify the qualities that were most important to us in a Senior Rabbi. From the moment Rabbi Shafrin interviewed with the search committee, it was clear he embodied all the traits we were seeking. He is deeply committed to pastoral care, has a genuine passion for teaching, and brings with him valuable leadership experience. More importantly, Rabbi Shafrin has a compelling vision for our congregation’s growth and a profound desire to be a spiritual guide, helping us all find greater meaning, purpose, and connection.” Adath C.O.O. Chris Hannon added, “I look forward to welcoming Rabbi Shafrin to our Adath Israel team and know that he will continue to build upon our congregation’s strong foundation.”
Mitch Cohen, Adath’s High Holiday Cantor and Choir Director, said, “Rabbi Shafrin is a very talented singer and musician who plays guitar, piano, and several other instruments. I had the opportunity to attend services at Kol Rinah in St. Louis when he was Associate Rabbi there with Senior Rabbi Noah Arnow. I was in town for Song Leader Boot Camp, and I remember how welcomed I felt and how the music helped me connect spiritually. I look forward to working and playing music with Rabbi Shafrin and seeing him in St. Louis at Song Leader Boot Camp in February.” Rabbi Shafrin will be returning to St. Louis over Presidents Day weekend as one of the faculty at the Song Leader Boot Camp retreat which is held at the St. Louis JCC each year.
Rabbi Shafrin is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin native. He graduated from Brandeis University with a B.A. in Psychology and in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. He received an M.A. Ed. from the Fingerhut School of Education and rabbinic ordination from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, both housed within the American Jewish University in Los Angeles. He has a wealth of experience in the areas of social justice and community organizing. He was the Director of Social Justice for JCRC. He worked with OneLA, which partnered with clergy and lay leaders in local synagogues to engage in internal relational meetings and community justice campaigns. With JOIN for Justice in Boston, he developed strategies enabling new communities of faith to foster broad-based power and work collectively for change.
Adath President Hamilton Lempert updated the congregation saying, “After an incredible weekend meeting with congregants and staff in dozens of settings and a tremendously positive response from our congregational survey, our Adath Israel Board unanimously voted to offer Rabbi Scott Shafrin the position of our next Senior Rabbi. This milestone was made possible by the unwavering dedication of our Rabbi Search Committee: Josh Lisman – Chair, Elisa Abes, Ed Frankel, Beth Guttman, Joel Kling, Ilana Linder, Sue Pressman, Adam Symson, and Daniel Webber.” He added, “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. 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.”
