R A B B I J OSHUA W H I N S T O N

678 Ives Row Cheshire, CT 06410 | cell: 858-735-7824 | RabbiJoshWhinston@gmail.com

RabbiJoshWhinston.com

Proven innovator with attention to history and an eye to the future

A focus on strategic fundraising & management oversight as multigenerational initiatives pursued
Over 10 years touching the lives of congregants from coast to coast
Led change initiatives in partnership with key stakeholders

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

Empathetic Listener and Pastoral Provider

Nationally recognized prayer leader
Change agent

Track record of meaningful communal change

Community Organizer
Lifelong and Experiential Judaic Educator

EXPERIENCE
Temple Beth David, Cheshire, CT
Rabbi

2010 - Present

Leadership
Increased congregational membership by over 10%
Established new guidelines for non-Jews to participate in worship and in governance following major
study effort and ad hoc committee discussion
Lead staff including: Office Administrator, Director of Education, & Student Cantor
Partner with Lay Leadership on every aspect of synagogue life
Served as interim Religious School Director; hired new successful religious school director
Reimagined High Holy Days moved congregation to one shared space to worship together for first time
in congregations history entailed change management protocol
Facilitate ongoing synagogue visioning meetings
Inaugural member of URJ Youth Engagement Advisor Committee
Created and continue monthly mens spirituality group, Spirits and Spirituality"
Community Relations/Partnership
President of Interfaith Clergy Association
Established involvement with Abrahams tent, and continue to house homeless men for a week while
partnering with New Haven homeless shelter and other faith organizations
Designed community garden on synagogue property and donated 6,348 pounds of produce to local food
pantry since inception
JCRC board member
Established monthly teen class taught by three local clergy with focus on interfaith dialogue and social
justice issues; included trip to D.C.
Reimagined interfaith Thanksgiving service to include community wide Thanksgiving basket
Rejuvenated interfaith clergy association in town; currently serve as president
Established Shabbat greeters
Created community organizing group

Fundraising
Collaborated on endowment committee and partnered with laity to secure donations
Established new funds at synagogue, including youth fund and memorial fund for beloved synagogue
administrator
Conceptualized and secured fundraising dollars for shared fulltime youth professional for all three local
congregations
Established regular artist in residence programs and scholar in residence programs through fundraising
efforts
Innovative Lifelong Learning
Quadrupled enrollment from congregation at Union camps and increased enrollment at other local
Jewish summer camps
Designed and executed the inaugural Israel trips for congregation
Lifelong learning educator - facilitate regular Torah study; established monthly Shabbat morning minyan
Implemented a creative rotating Shabbat morning schedule of Torah Yoga, Tot Shabbat, Shabbat minyan,
and Shabbat Torah study
Regular teacher and rabbinic presence for religious school
Planned and held a successful first ever religious school retreat
Pulpit, Pastoral Care, Ritual Guide
Advanced Pastoral Care Practitioner with intensive responsibilities for a wide range of regular support of
pastoral care in hospitals, long-term care centers, home-visits to help congregants facing life challenges
Ritual leader officiating at bar and bat-mitzvahs, baby-namings, weddings, funerals and conversion
ceremonies
Created Family Shabbat and Ruach Chayim siddurs (Shabbat services with guitar and drummer)

Temple Judea, Tarzana, CA

Rabbinic and Community Organizing Intern

Broadened leadership support for Judeans for Justice

Pursued formal community organizing training in region
Taught: Adult education class Vision and Voice surrounding healthcare issues and Turning Secular Choices
into Jewish Choices for the 11th and 12th grade class
Led tfillah, including Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat morning services

Congregation Rodef Shalom, San Rafael, CA

Rabbinic Intern

Summer 2008

Tutored Bnai Mitzvah students in Torah, Haftarah, Dvar Torah writing, and presentation
Created a Death and Mourning pamphlet for the congregation
Developed a family education curriculum guide for Bnai Mitzvah families
Led weekly Shabbat tfillah, Torah study and prepared and delivered weekly sermons
Taught a four-session adult education class based on my MAJE Capstone Project
Shadowed Rabbi Stacy Friedman

Congregation Bnai Brith, Santa Barbara, CA

Rabbinic Intern

2008 - 2009

2007 - 2008

Engaged in a full range of rabbinic responsibilities including teaching, preaching, leading services, and
pastoral care
Led monthly Seudah Shlishit program
Responsible for creating and teaching the Introduction to Judaism class
Shadowed Rabbi Steven Cohen

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles

Student Body President

Reorganized and reinvigorated student government on campus

Represented students to the Faculty and Administration

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles

Minyan Coordinator

2007 - 2008

2006 - 2008

Organized student worship opportunities and holiday observance at HUC-LA

PUBLICATIONS
Blood, Sweat and Tears: The Making Of A Reform Shochet The Sacred Table

2011

HONORS AND AWARDS

Joint Commission on Worship, Music, and Religious Living
HUC-JIR Student Representative, Los Angeles
CCAR Representative

2006 - Present

Rabbi Balfour Brickner Rabbinic Fellowship

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Washington D.C.

2011-2013

The Cantor William Sharlin Award for excellence in liturgy

HUC-JIR, Los Angeles

2007 - 2008

EDUCATION
Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion, New York
Doctorate of Pastoral Ministry
Demonstration project: Sacred aging with congregants

2013 Present

Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles

Rabbinic Ordination
Text Immersion Project: Hilchot ShchitahThe Laws of Kosher Slaughter
Translated major sections of Mishneh Torah, Shulchan Aruch, and Talmud
Wrote three academic papers
Faculty Advisor: Rabbi Stephen Passamaneck

2009

Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles

Rhea Hirsch School of Education,
Master Of Arts In Jewish Education
Capstone Project
Curriculum Guide: ShabbatA Spiritual Quest
Academic Advisor: Dr. Michael Zeldin

2007

Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles

Master Of Arts In Hebrew Letters
Academic Advisor: Rabbi Richard Levy

2006

University of California Santa Barbara

Bachelor Of Arts In Cultural Anthropology
Deans List

2003