Rabbi Shira Koch Epstein joins Congregation Beth Elohim with her husband Jason Epstein, their son Amichai (1) and their dog, Duffy.

Born in the Bronx, Rabbi Epstein was raised in a large and boisterous family in New Milford, CT and has lived in New York City for almost ten years. After years of public school, she attended Wesleyan University, studying Religion, Political Thought and Theater. As an undergraduate, she also attended Hebrew University and the Wesleyan Program in Israeli and Palestinian Studies in Jerusalem and Ramallah. Rabbi Epstein received her rabbinic ordination, MA in Hebrew Letters, and MA in Religious Education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She wrote her rabbinic and education thesis under the guidance of two of her mentors, Rabbi David Ellenson and Dr. Lisa Grant, entitled, "Towards a Liberal Zionist Philosophy and its Impact on Jewish Education." She has also studied at Machon Hartman in Jerusalem.

As part of her rabbinic training, Rabbi Epstein spent the summer as the Rabbinic Resident of Hevreh of Southern Berkshire, and was a rabbinic intern at Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains, NY. She has also served as a research assistant for Dr. Jacob Milgrom, for Dr. Jo Milgrom, and for Dr. Martin Cohen, doing research on Jewish Art and Handmade Midrash; Leviticus and the Holiness Code; and the Jewish communities of Early Christian Spain.

Most recently, Rabbi Epstein served as the Associate Director—ARZA Initiatives for ARZA. In her role, she was responsible for creating and implementing new programs and initiatives encouraging deeper relationships between American Reform Jews and Israel. In this role, Rabbi Epstein coordinated the Institute for Reform Zionism (formerly the Reform Zionist Think Tank), and ARZA's Development Initiatives.

Prior to joining the ARZA staff, she served as the Family Educator of the Reform Temple of Forest Hills and as Family Educator at Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City. Before attending graduate school, Rabbi Epstein worked in public relations at the Jewish Funders Network and at HUC-JIR/NY, and worked as a kindergarten and first grade Jewish Studies teacher at Rodeph Sholom Day School in Manhattan. Having spent her youth active in NFTY and URJ camps, she has worked at the Eisner Camp, Camp Tel Yehuda, the Berkshire Institute for Music and Art, and Seeds of Peace Camp for Co-existence and Conflict Resolution. A practiced storyteller, Rabbi Epstein has studied improvisational comedy and acting at the Upright Citizen's Brigade, Chicago City Limits, and the School for Film and Television.

Rabbi Epstein is excited to join the leadership of Congregation Beth Elohim, and the Park Slope community. She looks forward to bringing her devotion to Jewish tradition, her love of Jewish community, and her experience in shepherding educational change processes to CBE, helping to enable our continual renewal. Rabbi Epstein understands Jewish community to function as multi-generational extended family—and hopes to facilitate transformational educational opportunities that will enrich the lives not only of our children, but of each member of our community.