LONGMEADOW – Congregation B’nai Torah is gaining a new Rabbi this fall.  Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe will be bringing his extensive experience and knowledge to the Longmeadow Congregation in a few short weeks.

Yaffe was raised in Portland, ME and Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Yeshivot (rabbinic colleges) in New York, Miami, and London and received his rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat tomchei Temimim in Lubavitch, Brooklyn, NY in 1989.

From 1990 to 1992 Yaffe was a fellow of the post-ordination program at the Leeds Kollel in England.  He is a member of Rabbinical Council of America, and was director of the Hartford Kashrut Commission. Yaffe is a past scholar-in-residence to Chabad at Harvard. When he was in the area, he served the greater Harvard and MIY communities.

Yaffe had authored several articles on online forums and was also the lead author for the Jewish Learning Institute’s “Living with Integrity” course.  Additionally, he’s served as a pulpit rabbi at Hull Hebrew Congregation in England and at the Young Israel and Congregation Agudas Achim, both in Connecticut.

Currently, Yaffe is Dean of the Institute of American and Talmudic Law based in New York. He also directs the Institute for Judaic Knowledge, which offers lecture, seminars and other programs both online, and in person throughout North America as well as in Australia, Latin America, Europe and Africa.

With a well-versed past and copious experience, Yaffe’s next move is to Longmeadow. He says he’s joining the community because of how strong the congregation is.

“B'nai Torah has a long and distinguished history, and is at present a wonderful community of committed and intelligent people, who are passionate about their Judaism,” Yaffe said. “I think that this a very well informed and serviced Jewish Community. What I hope to bring is my experience in enhancing and expanding the good things I found in the communities I served.”

Considering he’s new to the area, Yaffe hadn’t heard of Heritage Academy and their year long-closure for re-branding. However, he expressed he would be open to offering any guidance they may seek.

“My policy, everywhere I have lived and worked, was and is openness to being of assistance to any community organization that sought my input,” Yaffe said.

Rabbi Yaffe will be joining Congregation B’nai Torah on September 1.

“I am looking forward to helping the community grow in depth and breadth, and it is a great honor and opportunity to serve as their rabbi.”