Rabbi Ilana C. Garber Accepted into National Leadership Program

Beth El Temple is excited to announce that Rabbi Ilana C. Garber is one of only 18 rabbis throughout the country selected to participate in the 2008-2009 STAR PEER Executive Leadership Program. The STAR PEER Executive Leadership Program provides rabbis of all denominations an entire year to study with world-renowned rabbis, sociologists and organizational practitioners to help them meet key challenges facing American Jewish religious life.

Rabbi Garber applied to the program because, “it is an opportunity for me to continue learning and growing as a rabbi. I know this will greatly benefit Beth El Temple, our members and our community. I look forward to bringing home to Beth El all that I learn and to helping shape our Jewish future with creativity, vision, and new leadership skills.”

Rabbi Jim Rosen, Beth El’s senior rabbi, said “We are sure that this experience will give Rabbi Garber the opportunity to explore how to take her spiritual vision and put it into actions that will make our community more vibrant.” Temple President, Stephen Aronson added, “this is a great opportunity that Rabbi Garber will be undertaking while continuing to work full time for Beth El. We look forward to learning from Rabbi Garber.”

Since joining Beth El Temple in 2005, Rabbi Garber has helped energize existing programs such as “PJ Shabbat,” a popular Friday afternoon program for children, and a monthly Women’s Rosh Hodesh group. She helped to create the spirited and musical “Shabbat LIVE!” and recently brought the national “Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing” to the synagogue. Rabbi Garber particularly enjoys teaching children with modern Jewish music. She likes creating experiences for Jewish women, including “Relax, ReJEWvenate, Renew: A Spiritual Retreat for the Women of Beth El,” to be held in September 2008, and “Eretz Yisrael Sheli: Israel is Mine – A Women’s Journey” scheduled for December 2008. For more information on programs at Beth El Temple, please contact 860-233-9696 or visit www.bethelwesthartford.org.

The STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal) Program promotes Jewish renewal through congregational innovation and leadership development. The STAR PEER program has been designated as an “EXCELLENT” program for leadership effectiveness training. STAR is a philanthropic partnership of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation and The Samuel Bronfman Foundation. STAR PEER is funded by a grant from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.