Rabbinical Leadership
Rabbi Leora Abelson
Rabbi Leora Abelson (she/they) grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, studied to become a rabbi at Hebrew College Rabbinical School, and was ordained in 2017. Prior to serving at Nehar Shalom, she was the rabbi of Congregation Agudas Achim in Attleboro, MA and an Interfaith Chaplain at Hebrew SeniorLife Hospice Care. Leora lives with her partner Ray-ray and their child Heny in Jamaica Plain.
As a rabbi, I love, reflect, and agitate. I meet people with a wise, nonjudgmental, and centered presence, accepting them as they are and supporting them to be - and become - who they want to be. I offer and invite reflection, ask good questions, and cultivate gratitude and belonging. I speak truth to power, ask hard questions, notice and challenge power dynamics, and lead with integrity and a commitment to justice, dignity, and the inherent freedom in all beings. My work is to facilitate access to Jewish learning, practice, and community for anyone who longs for it, and especially anyone working for a more just world - so that they might be comforted, inspired, and supported in their work, and so that our tradition might be deepened, expanded, and renewed by their experience and wisdom.
I am so grateful to serve as the rabbi at Nehar Shalom, a congregation that was founded to be warm, welcoming, unapologetically Jewish, and rooted in values of dignity, care, justice, and nonviolence. We are joyfully continuing to build:
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A culture where participants feel a sense of deep belonging and care, and in turn take responsibility for co-creating the community
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A culture of vital and vibrant engagement with tradition
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A culture of intentional personal and collective spirituality
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A culture in which practicing mitzvot and pursuing liberation are understood as a shared project, in which our community models the world as we long for it to be, and thus serves as both a refuge and a laboratory.
To reach Rabbi Leora email her at rabbileora@neharshalom.org
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Rabbinic Staff
MJ Gilbert
Rabbinic Intern
MJ Gilbert is a rising Shanah Delet (4th year) rabbinic student at Hebrew College. Her rabbinic journey goes back over 45 years, however, as she attended Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem/Cincinnati) in 1980-82. She was raised in the Reform movement, and received significant mentoring from Debbie Friedman during the earliest parts of her career, while MJ was a high school student in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Hailing from Minneapolis for the last 40+ years, she has extensive experience as an educator, prayer leader and songleader. She is going to be a lead teacher at this summer’s Let My People Sing summer retreat at Isabella Friedman retreat center. She has come back around to rabbinic study after a 32 year career as a master’s level social worker, the last 19 years as a faculty member of the school of social work at the University of Minnesota.
Family Education Staff
TBA
Operations Staff
Cynthia Bell
Administrator
Cynthia Bell (she/her) is delighted to be part of the Nehar Shalom community. She has worked with a wide range of nonprofit organizations—professionally and as a volunteer—including schools, synagogues, and after-school arts programs. Cynthia loves supporting the missions of nonprofits by building and maintaining effective systems, strengthening communications, assisting with fundraising, and collaborating creatively to enhance overall organizational impact and efficiency.
Cynthia is also a commissioned artist, creating ketubot, artwork, and design pieces. As an artist—and in every part of her life—she is passionate about continuous learning, experimenting with new techniques, and pushing her creative boundaries. Her creative pursuits include calligraphy, painting, sewing, knitting, cooking, baking, ceramics, costume and set design, and graphic design. Check out her ketubah art here!
A longtime JP resident, Cynthia lives with her husband, a professional pianist and music educator. They have a daughter who recently graduated college and is an advanced competitive figure skater and skating coach.
To reach Cynthia email her at: communications@neharshalom.org.