Interior view of Congregation Brith Sholem, facing the front, May 2021.

In 1989 Congregation Brith Sholem began hiring student rabbis from the Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles and the Jewish Theological Survey in New York to conduct High Holy services.[1] Andrea Weiss was the first student rabbi hired to serve High Holy Days for Congregation Brith Sholem. Andrea graduated shortly after as Rabbi Wenger of Congregation Kol Ami of Salt Lake City conducted High Holy services throughout 1990. Rabbi Weiss led a few services after Rabbi Wenger until Congregation Brith Sholem hired Student Rabbi Janet Oser of the Jewish Theological Survey in New York, who was under contract for the year from 1991 to 1992.[2] Congregation Brith Sholem partnered with Congregation Kol Ami once again, and Rabbi Weiss conducted services and even taught adult education classes in 1992. According to the meeting minutes of January 1989 to May 1993, finding a rabbi to conduct religious services at Congregation Brith Sholem was very difficult, especially since the cost to hire a rabbi was great. 

In 1993 Rabbi William Blank of Sacramento, California, went into contract with Congregation Brith Sholem and begin conducting High Holy services at the synagogue. In September 1996, Congregation Brith Sholem partnered with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC), also referred to as The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), and was formally accepted into the program January 1997.[3] This partnership allowed Congregation Brith Sholem to be part of their student-rabbi program. Student Rabbi Eve Rudin was the congregation’s first official rabbi from this program, which they continue to work with today.[4]

Since 1996, Congregation Brith Sholem continues to utilize the student-rabbi program, specifically at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles (HUC-JIR/LA). The student-rabbi program works with students at HUC-JIR/LA who are in the process of obtaining a graduate degree in rabbinical studies to become a rabbi.[5] The student rabbi commits to visiting the synagogue in Ogden once a month. While they spend a weekend in Ogden, the student rabbi conducts Shabbat services (held Saturday mornings), leads Friday evening adult education courses, socializes with congregation members, and sometimes meets with religious education students on Sunday. The student rabbi program greatly helps the congregation as it provides a rabbinical student to conduct High Holy services, B’Nai Mitzvahs, and provide community support and inspiration for Congregation Brith Sholem. This also benefits the student rabbis as they gain hands-on experience by conducting their own services, teaching children and adult religious education, and forming personal connections with the local Jewish community.

In 1998 Congregation Brith Sholem sent out a survey to their members asking for feedback on various aspects of the congregation. This included feedback on the student-rabbi program. All members who participated in the survey agreed with keeping the student-rabbi program, with one member exclaiming, “it is fabulous!”[6] The members believed the student-rabbi program had many benefits, including many educational opportunities, reading and teaching how to read the Torah, personal spiritual growth, and a meaningful connection to the community. One member commented that the student-rabbi program allows for “more learning and [offers] more activities for the community. It builds the [local] Jewish community.”[7]