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In order to meet the unique needs of our congregation during this transitional time, Etz Hayim welcomes two highly accomplished rabbis and a student rabbi to guide us in the coming year. We are also assisted by a number of Rabbinical candidates, as well as occasional lay leadership!
Meet Rabbi Jonathan Biatch
We are honored to introduce Rabbi Jonathan Biatch who will serve as our High Holiday Rabbi this year and will also lead our monthly Family Shabbats. Rabbi Biatch recently concluded an interim post in Tempe, Arizona and previously led congregations in Madison, Wisconsin (for nearly 20 years) and Virginia for six years. He has recently moved to Connecticut where his wife is taking on a new Rabbinical position herself. His thoughtful leadership and inspiring High Holiday and Family Shabbat services are sure to be deeply meaningful for us all.
Meet Rabbi Marcia Plumb
Rabbi Plumb will be visiting monthly to lead erev Shabbat, and Saturday morning Shabbat and Torah Study. Rabbi Plumb brings decades of experience in both pulpit leadership and Jewish education. Ordained at HUC-NY in 1988 with a Master’s in Hebrew Literature that she received in 1985 at the same institute, she has served communities across both the U.S. and the U.K. She also served as rabbi and chaplain for Hebrew Senior Life. She lived in London, England for 25 years, and served as a congregational and day school rabbi and founded and directed the Spiritual Formation program at Leo Baeck College (a rabbinic seminary).
She was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. She studied at St. John’s Seminary in California and earned her Master’s in Feminist Spirituality with the Immaculate Heart Center in Los Angeles. She was the program director for Seminarians Interacting, which took students from 25 seminaries to study at each other’s seminaries, then on retreat together.
Her focus is on Mussar, prayer, interfaith and social justice work, and spirituality. She lives in Needham, MA with her husband. They have two children in graduate school.
Meet Student Rabbi Joanna Lubkin
Joanna Lubkin is a Rabbinical student at the Hebrew College in Boston. Joanna is deeply committed to cultivating pluralistic, accessible, and welcoming Jewish communities. A native of NH, Joanna holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelors of Jewish Studies, a Masters of Public Administration, and a Master of Divinity.
Joanna was raised and rooted in Judaism here in New Hampshire. Her experience includes leading Shabbat and holiday services that range from Traditional Egalitarian to experiential, interpretive services, all while engaging in her studies at Hebrew College. While maintaining a strong personal commitment to Judaism, Joanna has served as an interim minister and Minister for Lifespan Learning for Unitarian Universalist churches. She also served as the Interfaith Chaplain and Interim Hillel administrator at Wellesley College. Joanna enjoys song leading to liturgy and community-building both of which are loved here at Etz Hayim.
