Acting Senior Rabbi
Rabbi Tamar Magill-Grimm
Rabbi Tamar Grimm studied at the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College. She grew up in Minneapolis, MN and has also lived in Jerusalem, New York City, Los Angeles and the Quad Cities. She earned a B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology from Brandeis University in 2001 and then worked as a Jewish Educator for three years before beginning her rabbinic education. […]
Director of Congregational Learning
Rabbi Justin Held
Rabbi Justin Held is a native of the Twin Cities. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas where he studied religion and Judaism. While in undergrad, Rabbi Justin spent a semester in Israel at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. After college, he spent two years working at Minnesota Hillel, an organization he would later return to in his first rabbinic role. Rabbi Justin received smicha from Hebrew College where he also graduated with a Masters degree in Jewish Education, and a concentration in Israel education from the iCenter.
Executive Director
Sonya Rapport
Sonya Rapport is the Interim Director of Operations at Beth Jacob as of September 2023. She started her journey in the Beth Jacob community as the Director of Congregational Engagement in September of 2022. Her mission is to help support the Jewish community and to ensure that the Jewish community in the diaspora will be thriving for many generations to come. She is specifically happy to be a part of the Beth Jacob community and to make her impact here.
Finance Manager
Elaine Samuelson
Rabbi Emeritus
Morris Allen
The congregants of Beth Jacob synagogue enjoyed the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Morris J. Allen since August 1986. With Rabbi Allen’s guidance, Beth Jacob grew from a start-up congregation into a thriving community of over 350 households, receiving nine Solomon Schechter Awards from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism for its innovative programming. […]
Director of Congregational Programming
Frances Fischer
Frances has worked at Beth Jacob on and off over the past 25 years, and is pleased to return as the Director of Community Programming. Her background includes Masters Degrees in Jewish Nonprofit Management and Social Work, and agency management experience at the Los Angeles Jewish Federation and the Hillels at both Duke University and the University of Minnesota. She has also been an educator and, and has volunteered for youth, health, and community organizations. Frances brings enthusiasm to our shul, and is eager to hear your questions and ideas about Beth Jacob.
Interim Youth and Education Coordinator
Marisa Goffman
Marisa is excited to step into the Interim Youth and Education Coordinator role at Beth Jacob. As a native to the Twin Cities, she is delighted to be returning home after spending 4 years at Grinnell College and graduating with a Communications degree. Marisa is also an alum of BJUSY and is especially interested in advising and mentoring the current members to ensure BJUSY remains a welcoming and fun space for youth. In her free time, Marisa enjoys training in Taekwondo as a 4th degree black belt and playing the marimba in percussion ensembles around the nation. She is an avid reader and writer and is ready to apply her skills to help Beth Jacob continue its growth.