New rabbi gives Bedford Corners' Shaaray Tefila a temple trifecta

From left are Assistant Rabbi Ranata Shlobin, new Senior Rabbi Ariel Boxman and Cantor Inés Szterenberg.

By MARTIN WILBUR

Temple Shaaray Tefila completed commemorating its 50th anniversary in June. Now there’s another reason for the congregation to celebrate.

The more than 500-family-member synagogue in Bedford Corners recently introduced just the second senior rabbi in its history, welcoming Rabbi Ariel Boxman, officially taking over July 1.

Starting July 10, Boxman has led the Shabbat services at Temple Shaaray Tefila and has been busy since earlier this year, when she was informed by congregation leadership that she would be the new senior rabbi, meeting many of its members, several of whom date back to the synagogue’s founding in 1976. 

Boxman, who served the last seven years as associate rabbi at Temple Shalom in Naples, Fla., and before that as an assistant rabbi at a congregation in Dallas, said she had been looking for a senior rabbi position. She saw a listing for a vacancy at Temple Shaaray Tefila through the Central Conference of American Rabbis and recognized the name from when her sister interned here.

“It’s an incredible place, beautiful grounds, warm community and that’s what prompted me to apply,” Boxman said. “I knew this was the place I wanted to be.”

Her hiring completes an unusual trifecta for Temple Shaaray Tefila as she joins Assistant Rabbi Ranata Shlobin and Cantor Inés Szterenberg to lead the congregation. It is one of the few synagogues in the U.S. that has an all-woman clergy, a distinction that is still rare despite an increasing number of women completing rabbinical studies. 

Boxman said when she attended seminary more than 15 years ago at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, about half of the class were women, but believes that percentage has grown to nearly 70% today. 

Despite the shift, change has come at a slower pace at congregations. She recalled asking temple President William Glenn after getting the position whether the congregation would accept that. Glenn assured her it would be fine, then later called her to say that members were ecstatic, she said.

“This is a new thing to have women, especially a female senior rabbi,” said Boxman, who also holds a master’s in Jewish education. “He was absolutely right. Everyone has been absolutely wonderful.”

Learning the community

Regardless of gender, there is plenty for Boxman to do in familiarizing herself with the members and understanding the culture of Temple Shaaray Tefila. She said she will spend the first year getting to know the congregants before making any major changes. However, one change Boxman has made is greeting everyone at the door before the start of Shabbat services rather than after. 

Glenn said the congregation, led by its founding Rabbi David Greenberg since 1976 until he retired two years ago and was replaced by interim Rabbi Dennis Ross, was looking for a spiritual leader who could carry the temple into the next half-century. 

They sought someone who was focused on community and social action, was an educator, who took a strong stand in support of Israel and in the fight against antisemitism and could appeal to members who’ve been around for decades as well as younger families. 

One call that Glenn received assured him that the congregation made the right hire in Boxman.

“We have a member who’s over 80 and has been with the temple over 45 years saying, ‘I just sat there smiling,’” Glenn recalled. “These folks can be pretty tough, right? But what’s really important is that she’s always learning.”

Emphasis on relationships

A major component of Boxman’s approach as a rabbi is to place a high value on relationships with people. It is part of the reason for greeting people before services start each week, to welcome them, “a symbol of relationships,” as she described it. Boxman also plans to eventually have every member over to her house for dinner once her home is properly organized.

“That is at the core, the value that sits at the core of every decision I make,” said Boxman, who, with husband, Asher, has two sons, ages 7 and 9. “How does this impact relationship-building between congregants, between me and congregants, between congregants and their community? How do we build on that, how do we enhance relationships and are we really building at what we are doing well, and where can we improve?”

Longtime temple member Eloise Goldman said that for some congregants, rabbis can be a bit intimidating.

“I think that we put them on such a pedestal that sometimes it’s hard to get to know them on a personal level,” Goldman said. “For her to make it so easy for members to be able to get to know you and spend time with you and in your home is so unusual. It’s really very progressive.”

Lots of Zoom calls

From the time that she knew she would be taking over as senior rabbi, Boxman spoke with about 75 temple members, many by phone or via Zoom, but others who were on vacation or spend winters in Florida, before she and her family relocated.

Boxman also plans on enhancing adult and family education offerings at the temple and. She has met with other area clergy and hopes to continue interfaith interaction, particularly focusing on area teenagers.

Of course, Boxman wants to carry on the long history of social action that Temple Shaaray Tefila has been known for but will look to engage congregants to learn what they may want to add or change in their synagogue’s offerings.

A family of rabbis

To outside observers, it may seem obvious that Boxman became a rabbi. Her father, who just retired, led the Jewish community in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. One of her younger sisters, who interned at Temple Shaaray Tefila, also studied to become a rabbi and now serves a congregation in Boca Raton, Fla.

Setting here own course

Despite the parental influence, Boxman’s path to her life’s calling wasn’t a straight path. Growing up with few other Jewish children, she announced to her father when she was a teenager that she planned to follow Christianity and hung Christmas decorations in her bedroom. Her father didn’t argue, but made one request when she was 16.

“My father, being very smart and very wise, said ‘I found a study abroad program in Israel. I’d like you to go study, make some friends and live in Israel, and when you come back and still want to be Christian, I’ll take you to the church myself,’” Boxman said.

Instead, she fell in love with Israel and felt a connection to her Jewish peers on that trip, finding pride in who she was and in her identity. After Boxman returned, her father asked if they were going to church, and that was when she announced she wanted to study to become a rabbi.

Overwhelming support

Now in Bedford, Boxman said the overwhelmingly positive support from synagogue members has helped her realize she made the right choice. Although there is the pressure of leading a large congregation in her first senior rabbi position, Boxman believes she’s where she needs to be.

“This community has really set me up for success,” she said. “The support that’s been given to me is outstanding. I love people calling me directly — how can I help? What can I do? I moved my whole family here. I have two young children, my husband, we bought a house, we left our family behind. It’s been both personally and professionally a big move, but we are lucky to have incredible support here.”