Rabbi Jessica Barolsky
Rabbi Jessica Barolsky is honored to be at Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun. She loves the connections and relationships that are part of working in a congregation, and she enjoys marking milestones of all sizes along individuals’ and families’ Jewish journeys. She believes that there is always more to learn, that there are almost limitless ways to be Jewish, and that moments of connection are what make Judaism as beautiful and as special as it is.
Rabbi Barolsky has been in Milwaukee since 2011, in various roles including Assistant Rabbi/Director of Lifelong Learning at CEEBJ and School Rabbi/Jewish Studies and Hebrew teacher at Milwaukee Jewish Day School. She is a past chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council, and has also volunteered with the Jewish Community Pantry, MJDS Family Teacher Organization, CEEBJ’s Welcome Circle, Wisconsin Council of Rabbis, After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Aurora’s Team Phoenix, and more. Before moving to Milwaukee, Rabbi Barolsky was in Cincinnati at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She grew up in Maryland, where Temple Beth Ami in Rockville was her first synagogue home. She went to Princeton University, where she earned a BA in Psychology, which she chose because she knew that whatever she decided to do with her future, it would certainly include working with people.
Rabbi Barolsky is married to Michael, and they have two children, Yael and Noah. When she’s away from the synagogue, Rabbi Barolsky can be found biking and running around the area, baking delicious goodies, and curled up with a good book.
Contact Rabbi Barolsky at jbarolsky@ceebj.org.