During our Erev Shabbat service, the Beth Am community will warmly welcome the newest member of our Beth Am clergy, Rabbi Shoshana Nambi.

Rabbi Shoshana grew up in Eastern Uganda’s Abayudaya Jewish community, learning Hebrew at her synagogue and teaching Jewish songs to the children in her village of Nabweya. After graduating from Kampala International University in 2011, she worked part-time as an HIV counselor and agricultural educator. 

Rabbi Shoshana worked three summers as a camp programmer and tefillah coordinator at URJ Camp Coleman in Cleveland, GA. Learning more about Judaism there paved the way for her dream of becoming a rabbi. She traveled across the USA in the fall of 2013 and 2014 with Kulanu, Inc. (which supports emerging and returning Jewish communities around the world), teaching about her Jewish community with an emphasis on the role of women in her villages. After a year of studying Hebrew and Jewish texts at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, she was offered admission to the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City and spent her first year at its Jerusalem campus.

Rabbi Shoshana recently authored a picture book, The Very Best Sukkah: A Story from Uganda which she describes as being “about the Jewish holiday of Sukkot and the joyful way it is celebrated in my community.” The children’s book won a 2023 National Jewish Book Award. She was also named one of NY Jewish Week’s 36 to Watch 2023, honoring those who are making innovative contributions to the Jewish community.

When talking about Rabbbi Shoshana, both those who met with her and her references used the same words: kind, grounded, thoughtful, humble, warm, engaging, eloquent, connected, responsible, naturally at ease with teens, inclusive, a team player.

Following the service, we’ll join in a festive Oneg Shabbat on the Social Hall Patio.

If you attend virtually, please join the livestream starting at 6:15 PM. You may follow along in our texts for the Erev (evening) Shabbat service using the digital version (available for purchase) of the Mishkan T'filah: A Reform Siddur.

To enhance your enjoyment of Shabbat, please visit betham.org/shabbatcorner (including "Social Stories" in the Resource Box to prepare children ahead of time for what to expect during the Shabbat service).

*These services will be live video streamed. By entering the Sanctuary you give Beth Am permission to record you.