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Noah Fabricant
WASHINGTON HEBREW CONGREGATION
Noah Fabricant is a product of Reform Judaism's youth programs: His experiences in the movement's National Federation of Temple Youth and Union for Reform Judaism summer camps influenced his decision to become a rabbi.
Now that he has his first job following ordination - as an assistant rabbi at Washington Hebrew Congregation in the District Fabricant, 27, is hoping to learn a lot and build alliances.
"My goal is to develop real, deep mentoring relationships with the other clergy and staff and as many congregants as I can get to know," he said.
Fabricant, who comes to the area with his fiancee, Ali Harwin, a Yale University Law student, grew up in West Orange, N.J. Before entering Hebrew Union College, he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where he received a bachelor's degree in literature and a language citation in modern Hebrew - and was on the fencing team.
As a rabbinical student, he interned at the K.K. Bene Israel/Rockdale Temple in Cincinnati and was a student rabbi at congregations in Terre Haute, Ind., and La Salle, iLL. During the 2008 academic year, Fabricant was awarded the Rabbi Morris H. Youngerman Memorial Prize for the best sermon preached in the HUC Chapel.
He's also been a song leader at Union for Reform Judaism summer camps.
Fabricant admits to being a bit nervous about his new job, particularly the idea that it's his first full-time professional job. As for the actual rabbinical duties, he's not too apprehensive.
"The rabbi things are the easiest leading services and life-cycle events," said Fabricant, a fan of Israeli poetry. "The seminary trains well."
After spending time in the Midwest, Fabricant is happy to be back East, particularly in the Washington area.
"[I like] the size of the Jewish community, engagement with cultural and civic life of the community, and I especially like WHC's size. It gives me opportunities to do things that are rare in congregation life," he said.
Rachel Goldsmith
B'NAI ISRAEL CONGREGATION
When she would hold her babies in synagogue, Rachel Goldsmith used to hope that her children would one day be as comfortable with seeing one of their parents leading services as she had been seeing her father, a rabbi,...
