Rabbi Talya Weisbard Shalem joined Congregation Agudas Achim as its spiritual leader in July 2022. She has had a varied career as a rabbi, including serving as the rabbi of Temple B’nai Israel of Revere and at Wellesley College, and as education director at Tifereth Israel Congregation in New Bedford. She has taught across the Jewish world, at a Habonim Dror camp and the Worker’s Circle Shule, as well as at Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, and unaffiliated Hebrew Schools and adult education programs. She helped plan for and open the first Reconstructionist summer camp (now called Camp Havaya) and youth movement Noar Hadash. Before studying for the rabbinate, she worked as a community organizer through the Jewish Organizing Initiative (JOIN for Justice) fellowship, working on immigrants’ rights and cross-cultural programming at the Irish Immigration Center in downtown Boston. She is a 2006 graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard in Anthropology. She recently completed a graduate certificate in Jewish experiential education at Hebrew College.

Rabbi Talya lives with her 12-year-old son Noam, and in her off time, she enjoys playing Wordle and other puzzle games, baking, watching movies, and enjoying nature from her hammock. She looks forward to getting to know the Agudas Achim community. Please reach out if you would like to talk to her, anytime.