Beth-El welcomes new assistant rabbi

The Island Now

On July 1, the congregation of Temple Beth-El of Great Neck warmly welcomed its new Assistant Rabbi, Rachel Van Thyn. Rabbi Van Thyn was ordained from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in 2013. She is excited to join the clergy team at Temple Beth-El, where she will be serving the congregation alongside Senior Rabbis Meir and Tara Feldman and Cantor Lisa Hest.

As a rabbinical student, Rabbi Van Thyn served for two years as a Rabbinic Intern at Central Synagogue in Manhattan. Her time at Central Synagogue was focused towards community organizing and helping the congregation advance its social justice agenda. She has also worked at Congregation Kolot Chayeinu in Brooklyn, NY and Temple Shaarey Tefila in NYC. Rabbi Van Thyn spent two summers doing chaplaincy work at NYU Langone Medical Center, which provided her with experiences that she values deeply.

Rabbi Van Thyn was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario, and grew up at Solel Congregation, where she began her Jewish journey. She holds a B.A. in Honours Anthropology from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. Prior to entering rabbinical school, Rabbi Van Thyn moved to New York to participate in a one year volunteer program with AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps, in which post-college graduates engage in Jewish study, community building, and anti-poverty work. Rabbi Van Thyn later worked on the staff at AVODAH. From 2005-2007, she worked for the Union for Reform Judaism, both for the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) and their Youth Division.

Rabbi Van Thyn spent ten summers at the URJ Kutz Camp, and has a profound love for Jewish summer camp. She was also heavily involved in the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY), culminating by serving on their North American Board during her first year in college. She loves writing, the arts, and hockey. Rabbi Van Thyn looks forward to her journey at Temple Beth-El, where she has already become a part of its vibrant community.

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