Rabbi Shara Siegfeld
Rabbi Shara Siegfeld is a passionate and devoted leader in the Jewish community with a deep love for Torah, study, and Jewish tradition. Born and raised in the Capital District, Rabbi Shara has always felt a strong connection to her Jewish roots, which has shaped her journey as both a scholar and a teacher.
Rabbi Shara attended the Bet Shraga Hebrew Academy Day School through the 8th grade, earned her undergraduate degree in Jewish Philosophy from SUNY at Albany with a combined certificate from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, holds a Masters in Jewish Educational Leadership with a specialization in Israel Education from the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion and a Masters Certificate in Israel Education from The George Washington University. During the Covid pandemic, Rabbi Shara began Rabbinical studies at the Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary and earned her Smicha-Ordination in December 2022. At the end of August she will begin her remote doctoral studies in Jewish Education and Communal Leadership at American Jewish University, in California.
In addition to her rigorous academic training, Rabbi Shara has spent years engaging with the Capital District Jewish community, serving as a religious school teacher, Middle School Judaics educator at the Bet Shraga Hebrew Academy, director of the Temple Israel Midrasha high school program, and most recently as the Director of Lifelong Learning at Congregation Beth Emeth. Her energetic, warm, and empathetic approach to leadership has inspired countless individuals to deepen their own connection to the Torah and Jewish practice.
Rabbi Shara is also active in the Jewish camping movement, having served as the Head of Education for Camp Ramah in New England for 8 years and working as an Israel Education coach for the Foundation for Jewish Camp.
A lover of learning and travel, most of all Rabbi Shara enjoys spending time with her family which includes her husband David, their four children; Zev, Ariel, Aden, and Chaz and their yellow Labrador Retriever, Ellie.
Rabbi Joshua L. Segal, Visiting Rabbi
Rabbi Segal is Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Betenu, Amherst, NH, where he served for 30-years, ending in 2013. He is at least the 4th generation of Segal-family rabbis.
Rabbi Segal was ordained at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, OH. He also holds a doctorate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Engineering. He made most of his living as an engineer, working from 1973 to 2007 for the Mitre Corporation.
Since 2022, he has been the “Visiting Rabbi” of Beth Shalom, serving the community for the High Holy days.
In retirement, he has become a known expert in the field of Jewish Cemeteries, having published many books on the subject. His best known is A field Guide to Visiting a Jewish Cemetery. His entire bibliography can be found on the web at CemeteryJewish.com.
He is also well known in the world of skiing. In addition to being active as a Ski Patroller, he was also a certified Alpine Ski Instructor for 40 years and offers an on-slope course titled, Skiing Using the Terminology of Jewish Mysticism.
Joshua Segal has two grown children and is married to Karen Satz.
Beloved Former Rabbis
Rabbi Mendel Lewkowitz
Rabbi Avigail Young
Rabbi Robert Bronstein
Rabbi Michael Samuel
Rabbi Harvey Spivak
Rabbi Diane Leibovitz z”l
Rabbi Alan Yuter
Rabbi Chanan Markowitz z”l
Rabbi Beverly Magidson
Rabbi Amiel Monson
Rabbi Harry Levin