Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe

Blessed to be the Associate Rabba at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale in NY, Rabbanit Bracha’s role includes all the responsibilities of a pulpit rabbi: delivering sermons, facilitating tefillot, accompanying people pastorally, teaching classes, guiding and orchestrating lifecycle events such as funerals, shiva houses, and baby namings. She is joyfully responsible for following up on all B’not Mitzvah celebrations, Women’s Tefillah and women’s leyning, as well as creating Halachik guidelines throughout the year, and planning and teaching the conversion program. There is room for creativity as well, Niggun Circle, “One Community | Celebrating Diversity” (Jews of Color), Yom Yerushalayim Israeli song celebration, Bat-Mitzvah LeBogrot (adult Bat-Mitzvah), and her personal favorite: giving out stickers to children on Shabbat and Chag in shul!

Rabbanit Bracha has spoken openly from the pulpit regarding mental health issues; she is passionate about bringing this topic out of the shadows to help remove the social stigma and enable individuals and families to receive empathy and support. She has taught many to leyn and is the voice of the JOFA Megillat Esther and Megillat Rut Apps. Some of her favorite pastimes are kickboxing and reading books to her grandchildren in Israel over Zoom. Rabbanit Bracha lives in Riverdale, NY with her husband, Martin.