The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah has announced Rabbi Stephanie Kramer as its new Senior Rabbi. She will become the 15th person to hold this position in the congregation’s 150-year history.
Rabbi Kramer will begin in her new role on July 1, upon the retirement of Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff, who has served the congregation in this role for 18 years.
“I’m really humbled and excited to serve B’nai Jehudah, and get to know the fantastic team that works there, as well as the congregants and leaders within B’nai Jehudah and the rest of the Jewish community,” she said in an interview with The Chronicle.
Although Rabbi Kramer, 37, has never been to Kansas City (she and her husband are planning a trip to start house hunting soon), she knows of it by reputation.
“I’ve really grown up hearing about the vibrant Kansas City Jewish community,” she said. Her mother’s best friend had lived in Kansas City for years, and always talked about the wonderful Jewish community here.
That was one of the reasons the position at B’nai Jehudah called to her. She also felt that the timing was right for her to make the transition to senior rabbi.
“This was really the perfect time professionally and personally to be able to make a cross-country move. I was at the moment in my career where I was ready to be a senior rabbi,” she said. “It was really just time for me to spread my wings.”
After a rigorous search and vetting process, Rabbi Kramer was voted in by an overwhelming majority of congregants who attended the confirmation vote Sunday.
“It was wonderful to have nearly 200 members come out via Zoom – during a Chiefs playoff game, no less – to learn about, give an approval vote, and meet Rabbi Kramer for the first time,” board president Jocelyn Fry said in a news release. “Especially during these challenging times, it was wonderful to come together as a community to continue in our 150-year tradition of building a strong future of our congregation.”
“Our members have been engaged in many stages of the process, so it was fitting that so many came out to approve the decision of B’nai Jehudah’s board of directors and rabbinic search task force,” said task force chair Zachary Bassin.
B’nai Jehudah spent two years laying the groundwork and implementing the rabbinic search process, with widespread congregational participation beginning nearly a year ago. At that time, congregants began participating in surveys and virtual visioning conversations to help the search task force hone in on what they were seeking in a rabbi.
“Looking back at the work of our vision and transition task force, it is abundantly clear why we met with such success in finding the right candidate,” Fry said.
Rabbi Kramer has served Congregation Shomrei Torah, in Santa Rosa, California, since 2011, most recently as the senior associate rabbi. After the devastating wildfires in Northern California in 2017, Rabbi Kramer became known as the “Fire Rabbi,” due to her leadership in the Sonoma County Jewish community. During this crisis, she organized resources to help families in need, found temporary housing for those who lost their homes, and turned the temple’s site into an evacuation center, a day camp, and a place for comfort.
She is also a leader on the national Jewish scene, and was recently elected to serve on the national board of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Rabbi Kramer’s approach to organization and leadership is inclusive and collaborative. She said one of the things she enjoys most about her current position is her relationships with the other leaders in the area, and organizations like the local Jewish Federation and JCC. That spirit of collaboration will come with her to Kansas City.
“Collaboration is at the cornerstone of rabbinate,” she said. “That’s my leadership style and my development style, it all really hinges on collaboration.”
A native of Houston, Texas, Rabbi Kramer said she is very excited to take a position closer to home. She also looks forward to joining Kansas City’s Jewish community and starting her new role at B’nai Jehudah.
“I’m very, very hopeful that with so many vaccines coming out that we will be able to be together in person or at least with a hybrid model by July 1,” she said, “and if not, we will be creative and we will look at it as another opportunity. But I’m hopeful.”
As to what keeps her going in her vocation, Rabbi Kramer says that this teaching of Micah is a guiding force within her rabbinic service: “Do justice, act with love, and walk humbly with God…”
“These three aspirations work synergistically together. Jewish life encompasses working for justice and is sustained by spiritual practice and learning. Yet, justice and practice are possible only through building relationships,” said Rabbi Kramer.
“As I read over the website and application, it became obvious that B’nai Jehudah’s core mission and vision was in complete alignment with my rabbinic vision. I am excited to serve in such an innovative and spiritual home that possesses a strong history of civic engagement and social justice.”
Fry and Rabbi Kramer both agree that this was beshert, meant to be.
“Rabbi Kramer is a rising star, and I predict she will bring great spiritual, professional, and congregational fulfillment to B’nai Jehudah. As we celebrate our congregation’s 150th anniversary this year, it is fitting that we look forward to the next 150 years with a strong spiritual leader at the helm,” said Fry.
