Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky

“I first met Rabbi Brent Spodek in 2010, about a year before he became the rabbi of Beacon Hebrew Alliance. As a recent arrival to our town, he was soon awakening a dormant but spiritually hungry community of Jewish children and adults with his monthly Shabbat sing-alongs, contemplative hikes and Talmudic study groups in his home. If not for this friendship that predated his ordination at BHA, I am not sure if I would currently be a member of the synagogue. When Brent was asked to be the rabbi at BHA, I joined and have immersed myself in activities at the shul, such as Hebrew school for my son, meditation classes and adult education classes that have greatly enriched my life. Rabbi Spodek has helped me to gain access to a Jewish community that I did not know could exist in my town.”

—DEBORAH DAVIDOVITS (also nominated by six others)

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