Rabbi Sara Rich Assumes Pulpit at Temple Beth Tzedek

Temple Beth Tzedek (TBT) is pleased and excited to formally announce that Rabbi Sara Rich will begin as the new senior rabbi of Temple Beth Tzedek at the end of July, marking not only a new era for the synagogue, but a bold move into the community’s future as the first female rabbi in the 176-year history of Conservative congregations in Buffalo.

With the overwhelming support of the Board of Trustees and the congregational membership, Rabbi Rich will take over the leadership from Rabbi Adam J. Rosenbaum, who is returning to South Carolina after three years in Buffalo to be closer to his family.

“We appreciate Rabbi Rosenbaum’s efforts during his time in Buffalo and join together to wish him well in his future endeavors,” said TBT Board President Linda Boxer.

Rabbi Rich comes to TBT after serving as executive director of Hillel of Buffalo for the past six years, where she has stewarded the strengthening of an organization that is critical to Jewish life at University at Buffalo and throughout WNY. During her tenure, she has creatively introduced new opportunities for Jewish learning, travel, career development, and community service to hundreds of students, while supporting and enabling their own growth as Jewish adults on their own. Previously, she served as director of education at Princeton University Hillel in New Jersey.

Rabbi Rich received her ordination from the New York campus of the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, and subsequently earned a Certificate in Experiential Jewish Education in 2015 from Yeshiva University. She is also a member of the Rabbinic Assembly (RA), the international association of Conservative rabbis. TBT is Buffalo’s flagship congregation affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), the global umbrella organization of Conservative synagogues.

“I am thrilled for Temple Beth Tzedek that Rabbi Rich will begin her tenure soon as the synagogue’s new Rabbi,” said Miriam Abrams-Stark, Synagogue Consultant for USCJ’s Northeast District. “I am looking forward to working with Rabbi Rich and wish both her and the synagogue community ‘B’Hatzlachah’, much success, as they begin this new chapter together.”

Additionally, Rabbi Rich has served as the chair of the Buffalo Board of Rabbis and Cantors for the past three years, helping to facilitate discussions and connections between the various synagogues and denominations in Western New York that comprise the Buffalo Jewish community. She is also the secretary on the JCC Buffalo Board of Trustees.

“Rabbi Sara Rich is a terrific team partner. I am excited to see her in her new role. We’re blessed to have her in our community,” noted Rabbi Alex LazarusKlein of Congregation Shir Shalom and a Hillel of Buffalo board member.

In turn, these experiences have prepared her well to become TBT’s new congregational rabbi. At Hillel, Rabbi Rich conducted religious services, including High Holy Day services for the campus and broader communities, performed life-cycle events, and provided pastoral support for students, their families, and the community at large. She worked with a staff and a board of directors, and was responsible for both donor engagement and development to strengthen Hillel’s financial capacity, including through the LIFE & LEGACY® at Buffalo initiative of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, in which TBT is also participating.

This familiarity with synagogue life, nonprofit management and relationship-building gives Rabbi Rich the ability to not only maintain but accelerate the momentum at TBT. Even more, she and her family already have deep roots and engagement at TBT, where they have been members since arriving in Buffalo. Rabbi Rich is married to Ezra Rich, the co-chair of TBT’s Youth Education committee, co-chair of Buffalo Jewish Federation’s Israel & Oversees committee, and marketing communications manager at Uniland Development Company. They have three daughters, Miriam, Sivan, and Naomi, who have demonstrated an active presence at Shabbat services and in educational programs, as well as with Camp Ramah in Canada.

“Rabbi Rich has been generous with her time as she transitions from Hillel to Temple Beth Tzedek, working with leadership for a smooth start,” Boxer said. “She is well known and beloved within the congregation, and we look forward to sharing our future with her.”

Rabbi Rich has previously co-officiated at rituals with longtime TBT Cantor Mark Spindler and has also shared Divrei Torah, read from the Torah, chanted Haftarot and taught adult education classes for the congregation. Together with Cantorial Intern Zahava Fried, they will form a strong team capable of meeting the spiritual and pastoral needs of the congregants while also mentoring those who wish to master synagogue skills such as layning Torah, chanting Haftarah, or davening parts of the service.

“They work flawlessly together,” Boxer said. “They have established a deep mutual respect and look forward to being clergy partners in the coming years.”

Temple Beth Tzedek is located at 1641 North Forest Road in Amherst. More information about TBT’s history, services, and other activities is available online at btzbuffalo.org.