Welcome Back, Rabbi Barbara

Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell will be leading our High Holiday services this year. Rabbi Barbara was ordained by Hebrew-Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City in 1985. While a student at HUC-JIR she worked as college outreach coordinator providing programs for college students and young adults for two years in the New York area. She was student rabbi for Beth Chaverim of Virginia Beach for three years, from High Holidays 1982 through summer of 1985.

After her ordination, Rabbi Barbara served two California congregations simultaneously: Etz Chaim in Merced and Congregation B’nai David in Visalia. While in California, she was also the Hillel director at California State University in Fresno. After a year as a Resident Chaplain engaged in clinical pastoral education at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, Rabbi Barbara moved to Pennsylvania.  She served as rabbi for Temple Judea of Bucks County in Doylestown, Pennsylvania from 1988 to 1997. Under her leadership, Temple Judea grew from 140 to 250 families.

Rabbi Barbara has since concentrated on education, serving as Jewish Family Educator with the Jewish Community Center, Congregation Brith Sholom and Temple Beth El in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She has developed programs to support families and enhance their Jewish growth. She runs the Jewish Parenting Place at the JCC, community and synagogue family holiday celebrations, and parent-child education programs aimed at all age groups.

Rabbi Barbara and her husband, Cantor Kevin Wartell, make their home in Pennsylvania along with their two children. She is excited about returning to Virginia Beach to help Tidewater Chavurah welcome in the year 5762.