Amy Perlin

Rabbi Amy R. Perlin, D.D., elected October 12, 2012

HUC-JIR NY 1982, Princeton University 1978

Rabbi Amy Perlin is the first female rabbi to start a congregation, founding Temple B’nai Shalom in Fairfax Station, Virginia in 1986. She was also one of the first women to become a senior rabbi. She served TBS for thirty-two years, until retiring in 2018 as the Founding Rabbi Emerita.

Her rabbinate focused on teaching , counseling, and innovative preaching and worship, all with a goal of establishing a caring community guided by and living its Jewish values. She is proud of sending nine rabbis to HUC-JIR. As another first, Rabbi Perlin was also made Rabbi Emerita of the congregation’s sister Lutheran congregation. In 2012, she was honored by Jewish Women International as one of its “Women to Watch.” In 2013, she was included in the Forward’s list of America’s 36 Most Inspiring Rabbis.

A committed philanthropist and lifelong Zionist, Rabbi Perlin is president of the Perlin Family Foundation, serves on the Board of Governors of HUC-JIR where she co-chairs the Israel Committee, and continues to mentor rabbis in the US and Israel.