Rabbi Matthew Soffer
Rabbi Matthew Soffer grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ and spent his summers at URJ Camp Joseph and Betty Harlam (Kunkletown, PA). Matt received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. Following his undergraduate studies, he worked as an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Fellow at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, DC, and from 2003-2005 he worked for the Union for Reform Judaism, as the advisor to the Executive Board of the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY). During his years at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), Matt was a Bonnie and Daniel Tisch Rabbinical Fellow, A Kavod Tzedakah Fellow, and he served as Revson Rabbinical Fellow at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, NY, where he coordinated social justice activities and organized Brooklyn Jews, the 20s and 30s project of the congregation. After his ordination in May 2010, he joined the Temple Israel community as an assistant Rabbi and the Director of the Riverway Project. Matt lives in JP with his wife Nicole. Matt plays guitar, loves running, and is an obsessive Philly sports fan. You can follow his blog, Jewminations, here or find him onTwitter. Contact Rabbi Soffer.
Andrew Oberstein
Andrew Oberstein is originally from Los Angeles, California. He moved to Boston in 2005 to study Musical Theater at Emerson College. His work in the Jewish community began when he was living in New York, as Program Director for a Jewish arts camp at the 92nd Street Y. In 2011, he moved back to Boston to work as a stage actor and fell in love with Boston's young, vibrant Jewish scene. After finding a home for himself at Temple Israel and in Boston's other Jewish learning communities, he is incredibly excited to serve as the Coordinator of Social Justice and Young Adult Engagement at Temple Israel. Andrew is a member of Actors Equity Association and enjoys going to the Coolidge Corner movie theatre, wandering around the Museum of Fine Arts, and planning his wedding (this fall at Temple Israel!). He is enthusiastic to meet new people, learn, and contribute to the Temple Israel community. His enthusiasm for Jewish life, open-mindedness, and curiosity uniquely position him to serve as the Coordinator of the Riverway Project and Social Justice Programs at Temple Israel. Contact Andrew Oberstein.
Rabbi Jeremy S. Morrison
Rabbi Jeremy S. Morrison, the Founder of The Riverway Project, joined the clergy of Temple Israel in 2001 with a mission to reach out and engage greater numbers of adults in their 20's and 30's. Rabbi Morrison was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, N.Y., in May, 2001. During his tenure at HUC-JIR, Rabbi Morrison was awarded a Steinhardt Scholar Fellowship and served internships at Temple Beth El, Great Neck, here at Temple Israel, and was a Wexner Rabbinic Resident at Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo. He has extensive experience and credentials as an educator, has served as a Project Coordinator for the URJ-CCAR Commission on Education, and has worked for the URJ-CCAR Commission on Reform Jewish Outreach. Jeremy is a member of the Union of Reform Judaism's Commission on Outreach and Synagogue Community, and he is a doctoral student in Bible and the Ancient Near East at Brandeis University. On July 1, 2010, Jeremy officially transitioned away from Riverway, but he hasn't gone far: he is now the Director of Education at Temple Israel. A native of Brookline, Jeremy and his wife, Molly, live in the South End. Contact Rabbi Morrison