Innovation in ritual and prayer, profound engagement in social action, leadership, scholarship, and a palpable love of Jewish life are hallmarks of Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s rabbinate. As the senior rabbi of Temple Israel of Boston, she leads the largest congregation in New England, forging close personal relationships within the congregation and the larger community.

 

Rabbi Zecher is outspoken on matters of justice and liberty, a tireless worker in interfaith partnerships, and an advocate of progressive legislation and policy. She is noted as well for personal warmth, deep humanity, quick wit, and humor. She is an engaging teacher who makes scholarship accessible and engaging.

 

Active as well in the national Reform Jewish Movement, she was instrumental in developing new prayer books for Shabbat and weekdays, as well as the machzor, which is used on the High Holy Days. Additionally, she served as Vice President for Leadership of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR).

 

A graduate of Brandeis University, she was ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1988. She is married to Dr. David Eisenberg and has three adult children.