Beth Shalom welcomes Rabbi Steven Schwarzman

(Edmonton) – The Board of Directors of Edmonton Beth Shalom Synagogue is pleased to announce that Rabbi Steven Schwarzman will be joining Beth Shalom Synagogue as their Rabbi effective July 1, 2019.

Rabbi Schwarzman comes to Beth Shalom from Congregation Beth El in Montreal, Quebec. Prior to serving as Rabbi at Beth El, he served congregations in Toronto, Massachusetts and Maine. The Rabbi and his wife Bettina have lived in Israel, the United States and Eastern Canada.

The Rabbi was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York and has degrees in Jewish Studies from the University of Jerusalem and the University of Pennsylvania. He has authored four books and numerous articles.

“We wish everyone who is part of Beth Shalom and, in particular Rabbi Steven Schwarzman and Bettina, a hearty Mazal Tov as we begin our new journey together,” stated Beth Shalom President Lana Black. “May we go from strength to strength.  With the Rabbi’s knowledge, leadership, energy and positive outlook we look forward to Rabbi Schwarzman guiding our congregation forward in an environment where each and every congregant has the opportunity to build a meaningful Jewish life through prayer, learning and Tikkun Olam.”

Rabbi Schwarzman and Bettina are excited to be moving to western Canada and becoming part of the Beth Shalom kehila.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the people of Beth Shalom as your rabbi this summer,” he remarked. “Bettina and I were impressed from the start with the good work that so many of you do at Beth Shalom and we look forward to becoming part of this wonderful community.

“My first and very pleasant task will be to get to know each of you when we arrive. I look forward to seeing you in shul, to inviting you to our home (once we find one), to hearing your stories and to working with each of you to help Beth Shalom and all of its members grow.

“We have just finished observing Pesach, with its message of a new beginning for our people and for us, because we see ourselves, also as having personally left Egypt. May our new beginning together bring us new growth as human beings and as Jews.”

Rabbi Schwarzman made aliyah to Israel in 1982 where he met his wife Bettina, who made aliyah from Sweden. His first career was with an Israeli software company, where he began as a technical writer and later sold and managed training projects. He served in the IDF and now two of his children have done the same. Another has volunteered as a teacher in an Israeli development town for a year and all four of them have been campers and then counsellors at Camp Ramah. He and Bettina are now also ecstatic grandparents.

On behalf of the entire Jewish Community of Edmonton we extend a warm welcome to Rabbi and Bettina Schwarzman.