Temple Shalom News

Temple Shalom makes history
Rabbis Allison Berry and Laura Abrasley officially became the first senior, female co-rabbis in the U.S. at installation services on Friday night at Temple Shalom of Newton. More than 300 people attended this momentous occasion including clergy from area religious institutions. Newton Patch - Nov. 17, 2018.

Making Music with the Jews of Uganda - Story on Grammy nominee Rabbi Jeff Summit, who is speaking on the Jews of Uganda and their efforts to create a coffee business with the help of Muslim and Christian neighbors. JewishBoston.com, Feb. 5, 2018

AJWS names Rabbi Abrasley Global Justice Fellow
Nov. 22, 2017 - Temple Shalom of Newton Rabbi Laura J. Abrasley was selected to be a fellow of American Jewish World Services Global Fellowship program for 2017-18 by the highly respected non-profit organization dedicated to helping those in the developing world.
Rabbi Abrasley, who has been at Temple since 2015, was one of only 14 fellows from the around the U.S. picked for the Fellowship.
“Being a Global Justice Fellow was a natural step in my evolution as a rabbi who deeply believes in the Jewish imperative to rodef tzedek – pursue justice. I am honored to have been chosen for this prestigious fellowship and learn more about AJWS’s inspirational work to promote human rights and dignity in the developing world. I have long admired the work of AJWS and, in particular, its former President and current Global Ambassador Ruth Messenger. I first became acquainted with Messinger’s work when researching a class about inspirational Jewish women. Messinger stood out to me as an amazing advocate for justice and real social change. I frankly wanted to be a part of any justice work she helped to organize.“
“I look forward to bringing back the lessons I learn about how we can join these amazing efforts to pursue justice and ultimately advance the advocacy work already in action, to some of the most vulnerable communities in our world. I see this as not simply a foundational value of my rabbinate, but my work as a human being living out her Jewish values in the world.”
The AJWS Global Justice Fellowship is a selective program designed to inspire, educate and train key opinion leaders in the American Jewish community to become advocates in support of U.S. policies that will help improve the lives of people in the developing world.
The Fellowship includes travel to an AJWS country in Mesoamerica, during which participants will learn from grassroots activists working to overcome poverty and injustice. The travel experience will be preceded by innovative trainings that will prepare rabbis to galvanize their communities and networks to advance AJWS’s work. Fellows will also convene in Washington, D.C. to serve as key advocates to impact AJWS’s priority policy areas.

Temple Shalom rabbi selected as fellow - on Rabbi Abrasley being named a fellow at American Jewish World Serviece. The Jewish Advocate, Dec. 8, 2017.

Kennedy: Americans draw strength from those who ‘refuse to be silenced’ in the face of hate
Boston Globe story on rally at Newton City Hall decrying hatred in America. U.S. Rep Joe Kennedy and our Rabbi, Rabbi Allison Berry, spoke at the event. Aug. 17, 2017.

Films depict remarkable undertakings far away
Boston Globe West on screening of film "Raise the Roof" at the Temple, March 31, 2017.

Two rabbis and a cantor taste 16 briskets and 13 kugels
Boston Globe story on the Sisterhood Brisket (& Kugel) Throwdown, Apriil 14, 2015