On July 1, Congregation Shaare Emeth welcomed newly ordained Rabbi Jonah Zinn and his wife, Jamie, to the congregational family. He was ordained May 11 at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and began serving Shaare Emeth July 1.

“We are very excited to have Rabbi Zinn join Rabbi Jim Bennett, Cantor Seth Warner and myself,” said Andrea Goldstein, rabbi at Shaare Emeth. “With his help, we’ll be able to better serve the growing number of b’nai mitzvah students, expand our outreach to teens, and develop meaningful relationships with young adults and interfaith families.”

Joe Pereles, immediate past president at Shaare Emeth, agreed.

“He will have a special focus on our children, teens, young adult and young family populations as well as expanding our outreach into the larger community,” Pereles said.

Zinn said Shaare Emeth was a perfect match.

“It became clear to me that Shaare Emeth is a congregation on the cutting edge of Jewish life,” Zinn said. “I’m excited to join the clergy team and look forward to working with Rabbis Bennett, Goldstein and Stiffman (Emeritus) and Cantor Warner along with our talented staff and dedicated lay leadership. “

Prior to his rabbinic training, Zinn served as a community organizer, Jewish educator, mentor to students, leadership development coach and fundraiser for the Jewish students at University of Virginia (UVA). During his four years at UVA, the number of students engaged in Jewish life grew from a handful to several hundred on a campus with only 1,000 Jewish undergraduates. Zinn also served as a Leadership Consultant and Director of Jewish Programming for the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity’s national office in Indianapolis.

The Zinns moved to St. Louis from New York City to take the position.

“We are thrilled to be a part of Shaare Emeth,” Zinn said. “Jamie and I have been overwhelmed by the warm welcome we received and look forward to building our lives in St. Louis.”