Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Rabbi Erin HirshWe are pleased to welcome Rabbi Erin Hirsh as JRF’s new Education Coordinator.

Since entering the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College as a student twelve years ago, Erin has focused her work on Reconstructionist education. She has taught at several religious schools and served as Education Director at two of them. She has served as the Education Director at Congregation Mishkan Shalom for the past seven years and will continue in that role on a part-time basis.

Erin has worked for JRF in various capacities since 1994; serving as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Education Liaison for two years and subsequently as a grant and educational curriculum writer for three years. We welcome her return to JRF!

Erin authored the Etz Hayim We adult text study curriculum and served as a member of the JRF’s “Educational Services to Congregations” subcommittee, the National Education Commission, and subsequently the National Education Committee. In addition to these roles, Erin has served as an educational consultant to a dozen congregations, both on behalf of JRF and as an independent consultant. She has also been an active member of RENA, the organization of Reconstructionist Educators of North America.

Erin will be working at JRF 10 hours a week. She will generally be in the JRF office from 10 am–2 pm on Mondays and Fridays and also available by appointment. She can be contacted by e mail at ehirsh@jrf.org and by phone at (215) 782-8500, ext. 16.

Education directors, rabbis, youth, adult education committees, and other congregational constituencies are invited to contact Rabbi Erin Hirsh to gather information and learn about best practices for providing formal youth and adult education in congregations. She is also an excellent consultant about educational resources currently offered by the Reconstructionist movement (and elsewhere) that may serve specific congregational programming needs.

In addition to her direct work with congregations, Erin will develop plans for new and ongoing JRF educational projects, develop proposals and help JRF solicit funding for these new projects.