Brooklyn Community Foundation welcomes Rabbi Rachel Timoner, the Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE) in Park Slope, to our Board of Directors effective Friday, January 25, 2019.

Rabbi Timoner has led CBE since 2015, where her signature initiatives have included a study series on systemic racism in America, a sukkah about the refugee experience, a dialogue and study series with the breadth of views and perspectives on Israel, and a Dismantling Racism Team, which was part of the successful “Raise the Age” campaign and is now working to end cash bail in New York State.

Notably, in November 2016, Rabbi Timoner, in cooperation with City Councilmember Brad Lander, opened CBE’s sanctuary to #GetOrganizedBK, a coalition of thousands of Brooklyn residents “working together to defend democracy and human dignity, shine a light on corruption, resist hate and injustice, and love and protect neighbors from harm.”

“We are so pleased to that Rabbi Timoner has joined the Foundation’s Board of Directors, bringing with her a strong commitment to faith and justice, and deep connections to our community,” said Brooklyn Community Foundation Chairman Alan Fishman. “Her leadership and vision will greatly serve us as we expand our partnerships, our advocacy on key issues, and our mission to spark change for a fair and just Brooklyn.”

Before moving to Brooklyn, Rabbi Timoner served as Associate Rabbi of Leo Baeck Temple in Los Angeles from 2009-2015, where she helped to develop a Community Organizing Leadership Team that took on public transportation, affordable housing, and immigrant rights.

Rabbi Timoner grew up in Miami, Florida, received a B.A. from Yale University, and received her rabbinical degree from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. In her previous work, she raised funds to rebuild the San Francisco Women’s Building, worked to mitigate the impact of welfare reform in California, and founded two leadership programs and a peer hotline for LGBT youth.

She and her wife Felicia, and their two sons Benji and Eitan live in Park Slope.