Temple Rodef Shalom (Falls Church, Virginia) Explained

Building Name:Temple Rodef Shalom
Native Name:Hebrew: רודף שלום
Map Type:USA Virginia
Map Size:250
Map Relief:1
Location:2100 Westmoreland Street, Falls Church, Fairfax County, Virginia 22043
Country:United States
Geo:38.9057°N -77.1726°W
Religious Affiliation:Reform Judaism
Status:Synagogue
Functional Status:Active
Leadership:Rabbi Amy Schwartzman
Established:1962
Year Completed:1962

Temple Rodef Shalom (Hebrew: רודף שלום) is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 2100 Westmoreland Street, Falls Church, in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the United States. Founded in 1962, it counts a membership of over 1,700 households and is the largest congregation in Virginia.[1]

In 1963, the Temple hired Laszlo Berkowits as its first rabbi. In 1998, it became one of the largest congregations in the United States to have a female rabbi, when it replaced Berkowits, who had decided to retire, with then-Associate Rabbi Amy Schwartzman.[2]

The Temple's Associate Rabbis are Jeffrey Saxe and Stephanie Bernstein. It hired its first cantor, Michael Shochet, in 1998. Rachel Rhodes is the Associate Cantor. Other Rabbis are Rachel Rhodes and Alexandra Stein.

Notable members

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://urj.org/congregations/temple-rodef-shalom-falls-church-va Union for Reform Judaism: Temple Rodef Shalom
  2. Murphy, Caryle. "Like their Christian counterparts, Jewish women are breaking down barriers and taking on leadership roles. In doing so, they are adding a new dimension to Jewish teaching.; Female Rabbis Break the Glass Ceiling", The Washington Post, July 25, 1998. Accessed June 21, 2011.
  3. Web site: Delegate Candidate Aims to Make a Difference in the World . Sun Gazette . March 21, 2013 . November 7, 2013.
  4. News: Boorstein . Michelle . The Washington Post. October 8, 2008 . D.C. Area's Take on Yom Kippur's Downtime . August 14, 2011.