Seven months after assuming the role of executive director at the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of St. Louis, Rabbi Scott Shafrin will step down in January 2025 as his family begins an exciting new chapter. Shafrin’s wife, Rabbi Jessica Shafrin, has been appointed director of mission at the Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati, a role that aligns with her passion for compassionate care and spiritual leadership.
Shafrin’s legacy of social justice
Shafrin joined JCRC in July 2023, serving as deputy director and the Lee & Milford Bohm Director of Social Justice before becoming executive director in April 2024. In a statement sent to the Jewish Light, the JCRC expressed deep gratitude for Shafrin’s impact and is proud of the organization’s accomplishments under his leadership.
“Rabbi Scott has left an indelible mark in the time he has been with us. We will miss him,” said JCRC board chair Joel Iskiwitch. “First, as deputy director, he brought passion and vision to our social justice work. Stepping up to executive director, he strengthened and deepened relationships with our existing partners while forging new connections with the next generation of community leadership.”
Shafrin has represented JCRC in the St. Louis Jewish and interfaith communities. He is a member of the Interfaith Partnership’s Clergy Cabinet and serves as treasurer of the St. Louis Rabbinic and Cantorial Society. Under Shafrin’s leadership, JCRC expanded its efforts to educate the St. Louis community about Israel and provided training on strategies for engaging in respectful conversations about difficult topics.
Most recently, Shafrin received a LEADSTL (formerly Cultural Leadership) “Troublemaker of the Best Kind” award for his contributions to social justice.
“It’s been an honor to be part of the JCRC family, where I’ve been able to live out my passion for creating partnerships between people of many faiths as well as within the Jewish community,” Shafrin said in a statement. “I feel blessed to have been able to be a part of this community, which is filled with incredible leaders, laypeople and volunteers of all kinds who are doing incredible work to build a secure and growing Jewish community within a thriving St. Louis region.”
Search committee to ensure smooth transition
A search to replace Shafrin will begin soon. JCRC vice chair David Rosenstock will lead a search committee, which is now being formed, and assist in ensuring a smooth transition. The committee aims to continue the organization’s mission without interruption while seeking a successor who shares JCRC’s dedication to social justice and interfaith engagement.
Rabbi Jessica Shafrin’s current role in St. Louis
Jessica Shafrin currently serves as the manager of Pastoral and Spiritual Care for SSM St. Joseph Hospitals in St. Charles, Lake St. Louis and Wentzville. She is also the clergy advisor for Nishmah: The St. Louis Jewish Women’s Project, where she leads services and facilitates sessions focused on grief and caregiving. The Shafrins are members of Kol Rinah.
