Rabbi Ed Stafman began to serve as Rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom in August, 2008, following eight years of Rabbinic study and ordination in the ALEPH Rabbinic program, which is part of the Jewish Renewal movement. www.aleph.org.

Jewish renewal is a worldwide, transdenominational movement, grounded in Judaism's mystical tradition, and which seeks to bring relevance, creativity, joy, and an all-embracing awareness to spiritual practice, as a way to bring about tikun halev (healing of the heart) and tikun olam (healing of the world). Jewish Renewal rabbis are trained to work in any and all movements of Judaism. Jewish Renewal promotes religious equality for women and all previously disenfranchised Jews, and is open and welcoming towards those of other faith traditions.

Rabbi Ed spent 27 years as a trial lawyer in Tallahassee, Florida, specializing in defending death penalty cases, prior to deciding to attend Rabbinic school. He was largely a secular Jew during much of that time -- although he spent 20 years on the Board of a Reform synagogue and 4 years as president -- when he discovered "the great richness and wonder in Jewish tradition, texts and practices - so much that I decided to make it his full time endeavor."

In addition to a law degree and Rabbinic ordination, Rabbi Ed holds a master's degree in Religion and has completed the coursework (but still lacks a dissertation) for a Ph.D. in Religion of Western Antiquity, which includes early Judaism, early Christianity, and Greek & Roman religion, from Florida State University.

Rabbi Ed is married for 24 years to Beth, a calligrapher, and book and graphic artist, and most recently a web designer. They have two children, Laura, a senior at Wellesley College in Boston, and Logan, a senior in high school.

Rabbi Ed brings much enthusiasm to Bozeman and, working with the Board, plans expansion of many of the programs of Congregation Beth Shalom. The High Holidays this year will include a number of traditional services new to Bozeman designed to deepen and enrich the High Holiday experience, an adult education program will begin, a social action committee will begin its work, and various other innovative activities and services are contemplated. Rabbi Ed is particularly excited about working with interfaith families and with the larger interfaith community in Bozeman. He is also available for individual spiritual counseling, for visits for the ill, and of course, for all life cycle events. Rabbi Ed explains that "I am looking forward to a wonderful first year in Bozeman where I get to know all of you and we get to begin the task of creating holy sacred community within Congregation Beth Shalom."

To speak with him, or to make an appointment, you may contact Rabbi Ed by phone at (850) 933 2637 or by email.

To read Rabbi Ed's Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur sermons click here.