Rabbi Rael Blumenthal, 28, has joined Boca Raton Synagogue, a Modern Orthodox synagogue in Boca Raton.
As part of his duties with the Boca Raton Synagogue (BRS) rabbinic team, Blumenthal will serve as the rabbi of the BRS West satellite synagogue, as well as being a faculty member at Weinbaum Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton.
Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, senior rabbi at BRS, said: “We are incredibly excited to welcome Rabbi and Aliza Blumenthal to our BRS team. Their high energy, warmth, and passion for Judaism and teaching Torah will undoubtedly enrich not only our satellite synagogue, BRS West, but our entire BRS community.”
Added Blumenthal: “Aliza and I are so excited and humbled to be joining such a warm and engaged community. Together, with the incredible support of Rabbi Goldberg and the entire BRS team, we’re looking forward to building a family-oriented shul committed to Torah, the State of Israel and chessed (kindness).”
The BRS West Rabbi Search Committee, made up of members of BRS and BRS West, reviewed 21 resumes and conducted five video interviews.
Three excellent candidates were identified to potentially fill the position of rabbi of BRS West, meeting with and teaching classes to the entire BRS community as part of the selection process.
Blumenthal was eventually offered the position following the Search Committee’s unanimous recommendation of Blumenthal — which was ratified by both the synagogue’s Executive Board and Board of Directors.
Dr. Jackie Tripp chaired the search committee, which also consisted of Donny Cohen, Lance Cohen, Jennifer Epstein, Sharona Kay, Roger Kurland, Ron Lewittes, Gil Stein and Ashi Weisstuch.
Tripp said: “I am so pleased to welcome Rabbi Blumenthal to our synagogue. He is remarkable for his youthful and energetic exuberance, but he is able to combine that seamlessly with a wisdom and learnedness that are well beyond his years.
“He is truly special, and I feel extremely fortunate that we found him. I am thrilled at the prospect of us growing and succeeding under his leadership and guidance.”
Rabbi Blumenthal comes to BRS from Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck, N.J., where he served as rabbinic intern, and from Yavneh Academy in Paramus, N.J., where he served on the faculty.
Previously, he served as the director of Teaneck NCSY for Orthodox teen youth.
Rabbi Blumenthal also has spent the past six summers as a director of NCSY’s TJJ (The Jerusalem Journey) program in Israel, and currently trains advisors in kiruv (bringing something close) and relationship-building.
Rabbi Blumenthal was born and raised in South Africa and studied for three years in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from Yeshiva University in New York City. He completed his rabbinic studies at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University.
His wife, Rebbetzin Aliza Blumenthal, a New York native, completed her BA in psychology at the Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University, and then went on to receive her Masters in Social Work from Hunter College in New York City.
She worked as a therapist at Jewish Family Services in Clifton/Passaic (N.J.), as well as serving as the outreach coordinator for Project S.A.R.AH. — which serves the needs of Orthodox Jews affected by domestic violence and sexual abuse.
The Blumenthals have two children, Ayelet, 3, and Dovi, 7 months.
Rabbi Blumenthal can be reached at .
