I am so excited to announce that I will be joining Congregation Dorshei Emet as Synagogue Educator in August! In this role, I will be working on congregational holiday programming, high holidays, bnai mitzvah education, and children’s and families’ programming. I am thrilled to be joining such a wonderful team, and I am excited to be working with Rabbi Ron Aigen, Executive Director Robyn Bennett, and the rest of the Dorshei Emet team.

From the press release:

May 1, 2013

Congregation Dorshei Emet, the Reconstructionist Synagogue of Montreal, is thrilled to announce that Rabbi Julia Appel will be joining the synagogue staff in August as Synagogue Educator.

“I know that Rabbi Appel will be a most enriching addition to our community, and that her energy, her devotion to community building, and her many well developed skills and talents will be an inspiration to all of us,” said synagogue president Rosana Caplan.

Rabbi Appel brings with her extensive experience in Jewish education and outreach. Previously serving here in Montreal as the Outreach Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, Rabbi Appel led ground-breaking outreach initiatives to young adults and West Islanders, as well as leading Shabbat congregational and family services, teaching adults and children, and leading life cycle rituals. She also served as the Jewish Educator of M.I.T. Hillel; high holiday rabbi and guest scholar of Amherst College Hillel; student rabbi at Congregation Dorshei Tzedek of Newton, Massachusetts; and faculty of the Temple Israel of Boston Hebrew high school and Sunday school.

Born and raised in the Boston area, Rabbi Julia Appel graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies, for which her undergraduate thesis focused on feminist reclamations of Jewish ritual. She holds a Master’s in Jewish Studies and Rabbinic Ordination from the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College, a non-denominational rabbinical school in Boston founded by acclaimed theologian Rabbi Arthur Green. A long-time faculty member at the National Havurah Committee Summer Institute, Rabbi Julia also practices and teaches Jewish mindfulness meditation, studies Jewish mysticism, and is an avid singer and prayer leader. Rabbi Julia lives in the Mile End with her husband, McGill Law student Aaron Wenner, and their daughter, Briyah Hoshanna.

“Dorshei Emet has a long history of innovation and a reputation for rigorous Jewish engagement, as well as for our welcoming spirit. Rabbi Appel’s background in outreach and education, as well as her warm personality, are a perfect match for our congregation, especially our children and young families,” said Rabbi Ron Aigen.

Rabbi Appel’s duties will include congregational holiday programming; alternative High Holidays services; children’s and family programming, including Saturday morning children’s education, family prayer services, and family educational opportunities; and pre-bnai mitzvah education.