About Rabbi Crystal
Rabbi Crystal is entering his 19th year as an Interim Rabbi, with Temple Isaiah being the 17th congregation he has served. In this specialized role, he works with congregations for one or two years. Prior to his work as an Interim Rabbi, Rabbi Crystal served as the Senior Rabbi of North Shore Synagogue, a 1,000-household congregation in New York. While there, he established a flourishing center for adult Jewish learning and a dynamic youth program.
Rabbi Crystal has also worked as an Eisendrath Intern at the Religious Action Center in Washington, DC and trained as a chaplain at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He has worked on a wide range of social justice issues including immigration reform, reproductive rights, and the abolition of torture.
Learning is central to Rabbi Crystal’s life. He has studied at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem, Hebrew College in Boston, and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
In his role as the Interim Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Crystal fulfills all of the responsibilities of a settled Senior Rabbi and is a guide for the rabbinic transition. This includes officiating at life cycle events, visiting people who are ill, providing pastoral care, leading worship, teaching congregants of all ages, representing Temple Isaiah in the larger community, and being actively involved in all areas of synagogue life.
In his capacity as a guide for the rabbinic transition, Rabbi Crystal supports the lay leadership of the congregation, staff, and congregants as they adapt to the retirement of a long-time rabbi and welcome a new Senior Rabbi. He also serves as a resource about the latest ideas and activities in the Reform movement and Jewish community.
