07/05/2026
Dear Members and Friends of the Etz Hayim Congregation,
It is with great joy and excitement that we welcome Rabbi Lisë Stern as the new spiritual leader of our Etz Hayim family. Rabbi Stern officially begins serving our congregation on July 1, and we are delighted to embark on this new chapter together.
Rabbi Stern brings a deep love of Jewish learning, a compassionate pastoral presence, and a commitment to building meaningful relationships across our community. We are confident that her wisdom, warmth, and vision will enrich our congregation and inspire us as we continue to Learn, Grow, and Connect together in faith, learning, and service.
The arrival of a new rabbi is both a milestone and a blessing. It is an opportunity to celebrate our traditions while embracing new ideas and possibilities for the future. We invite every member of our congregation to extend a warm welcome to Rabbi Stern, introduce yourselves, and participate in the many opportunities to learn, worship, and celebrate together in the months ahead.
Please join us in welcoming Rabbi Lisë Stern to Etz Hayim. We look forward to sharing Shabbat, holidays, life-cycle celebrations, educational programs, and countless meaningful moments with her as our rabbi. The first Shabbat service with Rabbi Stern leading us will be Friday evening, July 10.
May Rabbi Stern's tenure be filled with blessing, good health, wisdom, and joy. May our congregation continue to flourish under her leadership, and may we go from strength to strength.
With warmest wishes,
Milt Zweig
President, Etz Hayim Synagogue
A Note from Rabbi Stern:
Greetings Etz Hayim community!
I'm honored and thrilled to be your new rabbi, excited to pray and learn Torah with you, to experience the cycle of holidays and celebrations as we circle through the year.
I came to the rabbinate in a roundabout way, spending a couple decades writing cookbooks, editing food magazines, and raising three children. I still identify as a foodie, although I now spend more time writing about Torah than tortillas.
I was ordained by Hebrew College in Massachusetts in May and took courses in pastoral and interfaith work along with Hebrew and Talmud. My work while in school included chaplaincy roles in a trauma hospital, psychiatric hospital, residential addiction recovery program, and an independent senior living organization, along with pulpit positions in synagogues. I'm very excited to work at Etz Hayim, and to learn and grow with you.
This past Shabbat marked the semi quincentennial (aka 250th anniversary) of the United States. The parsha for the 4th of July week is Pinchas in the book of Numbers. It has its challenging moments, but it’s also one of my favorites, as it mentions nine women by name (unusual in the Torah), including a woman named Serach bat Asher, to whom rabbis ascribe immortality and mystical powers. Happy to talk more about her when we meet.
In the months to come I will be delighted to see folks coming to celebrate Shabbat Friday night or Saturday morning, praying, singing, and studying together.
Rabbi Lisë Stern
Etz Hayim Synagogue
