Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal fell in love with Judaism and the Jewish community early in her life. Active in her childhood synagogue and youth group, Judaism was more than a religion or culture to her — it was the epicenter of her entire life. Since then, Rabbi Lowenthal has dedicated her life to fostering a robust, inclusive, and value-driven Jewish community.

Education has always been a passion, and Rabbi Lowenthal is honored to have the opportunity to teach many different communities. In addition to running the Shalom School and tutoring our students, she speaks extensively on the history of early Zionism and Israel, 2nd Temple Judaism, Talmud, and other topics. She co-teaches Conversations Unpacking Whiteness, a five-week course offered multiple times a year, and speaks with the Children of Holocaust Survivors at schools and other audiences throughout the community.

Rabbi Lowenthal was born and raised in Framingham, MA. She attended George Washington University, graduating with a BA in religion and psychology, and spent the following year working as an engagement associate at American University Hillel. She then spent a semester at Pardes in Jerusalem before returning to Boston to work for the American Jewish Committee. Rabbi Lowenthal went on to earn her MBA/MA through the Hornstein Program at Brandeis University and worked for the Anti-Defamation League before beginning her rabbinical studies at Hebrew College. She was ordained in 2019 and came to Temple Beth Shalom that fall.

Rabbi Lowenthal is a contributing writer for Shalom Magazine and the Jewish Journal of Greater Boston, as well as the host of the Speaking Torah podcast produced by Hebrew College.

She was part of the Hillel Rabbinical Fellowship and the Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship through 18 Doors (formerly Interfaith Families), and continues to work with many interfaith couples, loving the opportunity to create life cycle rituals that reflect each individual couple. She recently completed the Amplify Israel Fellowship through the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in NYC, a selective yearlong program for early-career Reform rabbis focused on incorporating Israel education into congregational life.

You can follow Rabbi Lowenthal’s writing on her Substack.

Rabbi Jessica invites your comments and questions at any time and can be reached at [email protected].

From the Rabbi