Central Family,

I am excited to announce that on July 1, we will welcome Rabbi Rebecca Thau as a member of the Pulpit Clergy Team.  

Our congregation has gotten to know Rebecca over the last three years as she’s served as Central’s Rabbinic Intern. As an Intern, Rebecca has led worship, taught numerous Adult Education classes, hosted multiple podcast series, among many other high-impact projects. Above all, Rebecca has impressed our members, Clergy Team, and Senior Leadership Team with her warmth, pastoral care, curious intellect, endless energy, and authentic ability to connect with those in our community.  

Linked here you’ll find Rebecca’s sermon from this past Kol Nidre, Forgiveness is Possible. 

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Harvard University, Rebecca jointly majored in History & Literature and French, with a minor in Jewish Studies. Her undergraduate thesis won multiple prizes, including Harvard’s prize for best dissertation in Jewish Studies. Before matriculating at HUC-JIR, Rebecca worked at a New York-based investment bank. 

Rebecca will be ordained by Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in May 2026, where she received the Tisch and Weitzman-JDC Fellowships, as well as prizes for academic excellence in Theology, Rabbinics, Bible, Midrash, Liturgy, Hebrew, Jewish History, and Pastoral Care. 

We very much look forward to formally welcoming Rabbi Thau to the congregation this summer.  

Rabbi Ari Lorge 
Senior Director of Clergy Study