Rabbi Allie Klein
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange welcomes Rabbi Alexandra “Allie” Klein, who will join the synagogue’s clergy, effective July 1. Klein earned a master’s degree in Hebrew literature from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Reform movement’s seminary, and received her rabbinic ordination May 3. Klein will be active in all aspects of the temple’s life, including teaching all ages, working with b’nai mitzvah and officiating at services, and pastoral care.
“Throughout the search process we were consistently impressed by the caliber of the students approaching rabbinic ordination,” TSTI senior Rabbi Daniel Cohen said in a release. “Rabbi Klein was, however, far and away the individual we hoped to engage and we are gratified that she will be joining us. Although just ordained, Rabbi Klein brings a wealth of experience of work within the Jewish community. We look forward to the richness and enthusiasm she will bring to the TSTI community.”
A native of Montclair, Klein has extensive experience in Jewish education, programming, Jewish summer camps and pulpit work. She was most recently a student rabbi in Fredericksburg, Va., where she served a broad array of communal needs. Other professional experiences as a rabbinic student include serving as the co-coordinator of Synagogue 3000’s pilot initiative with Jewish young adults called “Next Dor NYC,” the pastoral counseling intern at Central Synagogue in Manhattan, and the rabbinic intern at DOROT in Manhattan, a leading social service organization. She has also worked in a variety of roles in summer camps, from programming to serving as a liaison with families of special-needs children.
“I’m delighted to be joining TSTI and working with Rabbi Cohen and cantors Rebecca Moses and Joan Finn,” Klein said in the release. “I feel my experience working with a broad range of people, from the very young to the very old, those with special needs and those seeking ways to connect with Judaism, will serve TSTI’s diverse community well.”