Congregation BJBE welcomes new Senior Rabbi

Rabbi Philip Sherman became the Senior Rabbi of Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim in July 2022. A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rabbi Sherman is thrilled to be back in the Midwest after spending 9 years serving Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Rabbi Sherman holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Distinction and Honors in Jewish Studies from Indiana University. He was ordained in June 2013 from Hebrew College in Newton, Massachusetts, where he also received a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education.

From a young age, Rabbi Sherman loved being immersed in Jewish communities. He was president of Emtza Region USY, and spent summers at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. While in rabbinical school, he held various positions in the Boston area and New England, including MIT Hillel, the Jewish Community of Greater Stowe, and as a chaplain at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Rabbi Sherman found his connection to Reform Judaism while in rabbinical school. During those years of study and throughout his tenure at TBE, he explored and experienced the beauty of the theology, practice, and prophetic call for justice that are the foundation of the Reform Movement. As a member of the CCAR, Rabbi Sherman is deeply committed to the meaning and purpose that Reform Judasim can bring to our lives.

Rabbi Sherman aspires to bring more light and wholeness into the world through connection with others in community, engagement in acts of social justice, the exploration of Jewish texts, and prayer.

He and his wife, Leah, live in Deerfield with their children, Elsie, Azi, and Nava. They consider themselves blessed to be part of the BJBE community. Outside the temple Rabbi Sherman can be found cheering on his favorite sports teams, exploring in nature, or drinking a great cup of coffee.