Rabbi Stein joins Beth Shalom this summer
By Rick Hellman
The leaders of Congregation Beth Shalom are eagerly anticipating the arrival this summer of their new assistant rabbi. Adam Stein is a freshly minted seminary graduate with extensive experience in youth work.
Rabbi Adam Stein
Both Rabbi Tobin and synagogue President Dr. Fred Bodker used the word "thrilled" to describe their feelings about reaching an agreement to hire Rabbi Stein. He starts work in mid-July on a two-year contract.
"He is a warm, outgoing young man with a strong background," said Rabbi Tobin. "He brings expertise in informal education, youth work, summer camping and adult education. He is experienced and prepared for the full slate of pulpit duties, and has a marvelous sense of humor.
"His wife, Tamar, is also an avid Jewish learner, and they are a pleasure, as newlyweds, to be around. We look forward to his outreach to young professionals as well as young families."
Rabbi Stein received his ordination and master's degree in rabbinic studies from the American Jewish University's Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles.
"He is a yode'a sefer (one who knows text) and a mensch. He also has other talents in technology, photography and more. He's already on Facebook along with me as a part of our Congregation Beth Shalom Facebook page, for anyone looking to link up with him.
"While we've had a great year with me working as the only rabbi along with Chazzan Rob Menes this year, I can't wait to fill out our clergy team for the congregation with Rabbi Stein's arrival this coming July."
Tradition and modernity
Rabbi Stein grew up in a Conservative congregation in Palo Alto, Calif.
"I went to public school and Hebrew school," Rabbi Stein said in a phone interview. "I was a kid who'd raise his hand and be involved."
Conservative Judaism, he said, has always made sense to him as a balance of tradition and modernity.
A post-confirmation trip to Israel was "very influential for me," Rabbi Stein said. "I came home and got even more involved. _ I started becoming a little more observant, cutting out shrimp and bacon; separating milk and meat at home. _
"When I went off to college at UC-San Diego, I became involved with Hillel. My junior year abroad at Hebrew University in Jerusalem was also very formative. I became even more observant, and I learned Hebrew."
After finishing up his bachelor's degree, Stein returned to Israel for a year to attend the Pardes Institute and "to see if this whole Jewish-text study for five or six days a week, eight hours a day, would work for me. If so, maybe it will work for five or six years (Ed. note: the time needed to be ordained), and it did.
"After Pardes, I took a job at an LA Hillel for a year. But a few months into it, I decided to go to rabbinical school."
As part of his training at the seminary, Rabbi Stein said, he has been working with rabbis, synagogues and youth directors on the uses of technology, such as the Internet, "and especially things like podcasting and social networks like Facebook and Twitter." He said they can be used both "for outreach and inreach."
Rabbi Stein said he was impressed by Beth Shalom and greater Kansas City generally when he came for a visit earlier this year.
"People were so friendly and kind to us," Rabbi Stein said. "I was impressed by how many multi-generational families there are. I think it's testimony that people either like the place and stay or move back."
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