Rabbi Alan Freedman. Credit: David Finkel Photography

By Jennifer Kramer

Rabbi Alan Freedman, who has served as the first full-time rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom since 2002, will assume the role of rabbi emeritus at the temple this month. “With gratitude for the blessing of having served Temple Beth Shalom as senior rabbi for over 20 years, I look forward to supporting our temple and its leadership in any way that I am able in the years ahead,” reflected Rabbi Freedman.

While serving as senior rabbi, Rabbi Freedman was committed to working within the interfaith community to advance religious values and to teach. His community activities have included co-chairing the clergy advisory committee for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas as well as serving as a past chair of that organization’s board of directors. He has been an active member of Austin Interfaith and a past board member of Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT).

Rabbi Freedman also has served on the ethics committee for the St. David’s hospital system, and taught in the NOVA and SAGE programs at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a past president of the Southwest Association of Reform Rabbis and is a member of the Rabbinic Cabinet for Israel Bonds. Currently serving as board chair for the SAFE Alliance of Austin, Rabbi Freedman expects to remain active in service to the community.

Ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Rabbi Freedman also holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and an undergraduate degree from The George Washington University. “Rabbi Freedman is a gifted rabbi, teacher, counselor, advisor, and friend,” stated Temple Beth Shalom President Steve Fintel. “Nearly every congregant at Temple Beth Shalom has known him in at least one of those roles. I have been fortunate to know him in all of them. We will miss his daily presence, but his imprint will never be forgotten.”

Dee and Don Coplin were among the original founders of Temple Beth Shalom in 2000. They noted, “When Rabbi and Lori Freedman joined Temple Beth Shalom 21 years ago, they took a significant leap of faith by coming to a young congregation with only 72 membership units. They have played a vital role in our success both ritually and as a Jewish community.”

Succeeding Rabbi Freedman as senior rabbi is Rabbi Eleanor B. Steinman, Ed.D, who is joined by Rabbi Will Hall as assistant rabbi to the congregation, along with Cantor Abby Gostein.