Exciting News About Shomrei Torah's Next Rabbi 

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Rabbi Jeremy S. Morrison as Congregation Shomrei Torah’s settled Senior Rabbi.  Rabbi Morrison was unanimously selected by the Rabbinic Search Committee (RSC) and unanimously approved by the Board.  We look forward to his joining us as of July 1.

Here’s a little about Rabbi Morrison:

He loves to learn: He received a Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters and ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He earned a Ph.D. from Brandeis University and studied Hebrew Bible at Harvard Divinity School and Talmud at The Conservative Yeshivah in Jerusalem.  

He loves to teach: He has experience creating new curriculum and preparing teaching staff to be as effective as possible. He engages learners of all ages.

He inspires from the Bimah: His sermons are described as “insightful” and give the listener something to think about.

He’s committed to social action: He looks forward to working in collaboration with our Social Action Committee to identify and pursue the social justice goals that are priorities for our congregation. 

He’s all about connecting: Former colleagues and congregants describe him as “a people person” who is “bright, warm, and personable” and who “engages deeply in one-on-one interactions, from the littlest to the oldest, and with those in need of pastoral care.”  When asked about what’s most important in the life of a synagogue, Rabbi Morrison says, “It’s all about seeing one another.”

                                                                                                 Read more about Rabbi Morrison.

                                                                                                 Hear from the Rabbinic Search Committee.

Rabbi Morrison’s appointment comes after many months of work by the Rabbinic Search Committee, who considered eight applications and met virtually at least once with six candidates and in person with two.  The Committee thoroughly reviewed Rabbi Morrison’s training and professional experience, and spoke directly with many of the past congregants, colleagues, and rabbinic supervisors most familiar with his work. 

During his in-person visits to Shomrei Torah, Rabbi Morrison addressed even more questions posed by the RSC; presented a teaching to the committee and the Board of Directors; met with clergy and staff; and heard from past presidents about Shomrei Torah history and culture.  Members of the search committee and the Board enjoyed getting to know him and his wife Molly over meals, during tours of Santa Rosa, and on a walk around Spring Lake.

If you have any questions about the search process or about Rabbi Morrison, you are welcome to reach out to Judith Richlin-Klonsky or Eli Weinzveg.  Contact them by clicking here.  

The Rabbinic Search Committee brought together Shomrei Torah members of different generations, a wide range of Jewish journeys, and various types of involvement in congregational life.  We thank them for their commitment and collaborative effort to find a good fit in our rabbinic leader:

Eli Weinzveg and Judith Richlin-Klonsky, Co-Chairs
Elisette Weiss
Ellen van den Berg
Stan Roodman
Jeremy Olsan
Nicole Novach
Erica Magers
Marguerite Longtin
Alissa Hirshfeld
Sharon Bauman

We are also grateful to our staff and clergy, who generously supported the search process:

Erica Wisner, Erev Cantor
Katie Evenbeck, Executive Director
Lara Brown, Director of Education and Youth Engagement
Rabbi Andi Berlin, Interim Rabbi