Andrew Guckes | Staff Writer
Hiring a new rabbi is not an easy process. When the leaders at Temple Beth Shalom in Brigantine began the process more than a year ago, they were concerned that they would struggle to find someone who met their unique requirements. As a synagogue whose membership is mostly snowbirds who are back and forth from Florida and beachgoers who live mostly in Philadelphia, they were looking for someone to be part-time.
“We didn’t know what to expect, and we were concerned that we might not be able to find a part-time rabbi, and we would have to be lay-led for a little while,” said Jan Sarratore, who just ended one four-year term as synagogue president and is starting another.
They were surprised to receive more than a dozen inquiries for the role, and even more surprised when they realized that they didn’t have to look further than the first person they interviewed. Rabbi Stephanie Breitsman, whose one-year anniversary comes later this summer, blew them away.
“We interviewed Rabbi Steph — she was the first interviewee, and honestly, as a committee, we said we don’t need to look any further. She checked off every box we had,” Sarratore said.
To put it simply, Breitsman is special because of how much she cares for each member of the congregation.
“Everybody adores this young woman,” Sarratore said. “She is so passionate about Judaism and life and learning — she brings a lot to the congregation.”
Case in point is a Tot Shabbat that is coming up for Temple Beth Sholom. This event is commonplace at most other synagogues, but at the shul in Brigantine it has never made much sense to hold one because the members are almost entirely elderly and without young kids. But there is one young family who belongs, and Breitsman decided that was enough to put on a Tot Shabbat.
The synagogue first made sure the young family could come and then built the event out from there. Now, the Tot Shabbat has been expanded and will see other members bring their grandkids and younger relatives. It will breathe some new life into Beth Shalom, even if just for one service.
Breitsman’s effect is being felt across the congregation. Her part-time nature even offers some unique perks that a full-time member of the community wouldn’t be able to take part in. The rabbi is not based in Brigantine, and when she comes for in-person services, she prefers to stay with some of her congregants instead of a hotel. The queue for hosts reflects the warmth that the community feels towards the rabbi, and vice versa.
“You cannot even believe the list I have of people that want her to come, that have invited her for dinner,” Sarratore said. “I’ve got her booked now into August. We’ve even joked we should make it a fundraiser, because everybody wants Rabbi Steph to be at their house and it has just been wonderful.”
Since Breitsman joined the congregation, attendance has risen. The synagogue updated their technology and kashrut policies — processes led by Breitsman — along with a committee of members. The synagogue sells plaques for its Yizkor service, and after years of interest in these plaques dwindling, the community has taken to them again. They also added a digital display for names at these services.
Breitsman also came up with another idea that Sarratore said has helped increase engagement at Beth Sholom: Torah study.
“This year we started to do Torah study after Saturday services and lunch,” Sarratore said. “She prepares something about the Torah portion, and she is amazing at letting [the discussion] go wherever it goes and then bringing it back to where she wanted it to go.”
Even with all of these wonderful highlights, Sarratore said there was a particularly notable moment that she will never forget. The synagogue held an atypical fundraiser: a fashion show. “Rabbi Steph,” as the congregation knows her, served as one of the models.
“She came out in a beach romper for the first outfit and she was in a wetsuit for the second outfit!” Sarratore said. “It was just a lot of fun to have her participate like that.”
As for why such a beloved and skilled rabbi opted for a part-time job, Sarratore said that Breitsman has a good reason. Her full-time job is that of a sofer.
In an interview with the Jewish Exponent from 2023, Breitsman said that her goal was always to serve the community in each of these two roles.
“Torah scrolls are precious. It feels like communal care. Caring for the heart of a community,” she said during that interview. “We carry these ritual objects with us. They maintain that connection with our ancestors, with that long-standing tradition.”
Breitsman’s contract at Beth Shalom is for two years, which means she is halfway through her originally outlined tenure. However, all indications are that the relationship will continue past next summer when that contract is up. For Beth Sholom, the future is bright, and it’s not just because of Breitsman. With Brigantine’s Jewish population growing, the synagogue is poised for success moving forward.
Coming in August, Beth Sholom will receive a new mural for its front doors that depicts the sun setting over the ocean, mirroring the view that congregants have from the nearby Brigantine Beach.
In her open letter to prospective members, Breitsman said that these doors are more than just a way to enter the temple.
“They’re a reflection of the light, beauty and warmth that we hope everyone finds inside,” she said.
