Rabbi Laura M. Rappaport, rabbi of Temple Beth Orr in Coral Springs since July 1, 2020, was officially installed at Shabbat services on Friday, June 25.
Rabbi Rappaport received her B.A. in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She received her M.A.H.L. and rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (Jerusalem and Cincinnati campuses).
Rappaport most recently served as associate rabbi and educator at Temple B’nai Shalom in Fairfax Station, Virginia. Originally from northwest New Jersey, Rappaport spent most of her adult life in Boise, Idaho, where she focused on serving small congregations around the Pacific Northwest, including Sun Valley, Idaho; Great Falls, Montana; Bainbridge Island, Washington; and Bend, Oregon, in addition to working as an adjunct rabbi at her home congregation in Boise. While in Idaho, she was founding director of the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, a statewide child abuse prevention foundation. She taught Introduction to Judaism classes at the College of Idaho. For 10 years she worked as a board-certified chaplain at both of Boise’s acute care hospitals and the physical rehabilitation facility. She loves working with children and youth and has spent many years teaching and leading programs and special Shabbat and holiday services for children of all ages.
Rabbi Rappaport believes in a values-based approach to Judaism and Jewish life. In her words, “The major lesson we draw from the Torah, our people’s earliest book, is that each of us is responsible for more than just ourselves. Each of us has a holy responsibility to go out of our way to help create an environment for all that is just and compassionate, one that is safe for and respectful of every member of society.”
Rappaport’s approach to Jewish life is one of both joy and meaning. “My ideal Jewish program, service, or event is one that is fun and creative and leaves you with a slightly different perspective. You should leave with excellent questions to mull over: questions that you didn’t have when you arrived. Judaism encourages us to wonder about and question everything. This is how we move forward individually and as a society.”
Rabbi Rappaport has loved getting to know the very special Temple Beth Orr community over these past months and looks forward to continuing to build on the decades of warmth, inclusiveness, and caring that have marked Temple Beth Orr as a Coral Springs Jewish institution since 1972. You may find out more about TBO at templebethorr.org or on the Temple Beth Orr Facebook page.