Rabbi Jay Perlman
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Rabbi Jay Perlman is a Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom. Since his arrival in Needham in the summer of 2003, Rabbi Perlman has been dedicated to nurturing a warm, vibrant, spiritually meaningful community. He is proud to share in this sacred service with many outstanding clergy, professional, and lay leaders.
Rabbi Perlman is active in both the Needham and the Greater Boston Jewish community. He is an active member of the Needham Clergy Association, including having recently served as president. He currently serves on the New England Regional Board of the Anti-Defamation League. He frequently dedicates two weeks during summer to serve on the faculty at the Union for Reform Judaism’s Camp Eisner. Rabbi Perlman has served as a rabbinic mentor for both the Hebrew College Rabbinic Program and the rabbinical school at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He is a regular teacher for the URJ’s “Taste of Judaism” and “Introduction to Judaism” programs and is a member of the Needham Coalition for Suicide Prevention.
Before coming to the Boston area, Rabbi Perlman served at Congregation Shaare Emeth in St. Louis, MO. While there, he was awarded UJA Federation’s Rabbinic Award for outstanding community leadership. Rabbi Perlman was active in the development of innovative worship experiences, creative youth programming, and in working with the St. Louis Jewish deaf community. In addition, Rabbi Perlman was the founding Rabbinic Director of the Fleischer Jewish Healing Center of St. Louis.
Rabbi Perlman was ordained from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in 1996. While at HUC, he was the recipient of a number of academic awards, including his selection as a Steinhardt Scholar for his work in informal education.
Rabbi Perlman is originally from the Boston area. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Brandeis University, where he received his B.A. in both History and Near East and Judaic Studies. Rabbi Perlman has participated in numerous study opportunities in Israel, including programs at the Hartman Institute, the Conservative Yeshiva, the Pardes Institute, Hebrew University, and through the World Zionist Organization.
Rabbi Perlman has a passion for teaching, learning, building bridges, and sharing the beauty of our Jewish tradition. He joyfully shares his life with his wife, Emily, and their children Liana and Jonah.
K-12 Learning At Temple Beth Shalom
Etzim Programming
Unlike our K-7 learning programs, there are no specific requirements for participation in Etzim; you can choose to participate in as many or as few of these programs as you'd like. With a variety of ways to engage - at different price points and commitment levels - there is something for everyone.
Tuesday Nights
On Tuesday evenings, 8th-12th graders come together for grade-based Jewish learning that honors who they are as young adults.
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8th and 9th graders participate in Chugim (electives) on a trimester basis such as art, games and leadership, J-Ball basketball league, book club, and Madrichimot training (in the fall).
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10th graders participate in Confirmation, learning with our rabbis and working toward a beautiful culminating Confirmation Service, in which the entire class participates.
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11th graders spend the year learning with our clergy and senior educators about Israel (fall) and Theology (spring).
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12th graders participate in a “Packing for College” curriculum that prepares them for Jewish life in college and beyond, including topics such as Jewish pluralism, antisemitism, Israel on campus, and being Jewish on campus.
THURSDAY LOUNGE
Join us on Thursday nights for lounge nights- open to 8th-12th Graders.
Thursdays at Etzim are lounge nights! Join us for dinner, and then games and activities, or to hang out with your friends and work on homework.
One lounge night each month will be a special theme and whole group activities.
Mitzvah Corps
Make a difference, earn community service hours, and meet other teens committed to making the world a better place! Join us for monthly mitzvah opportunities, in-house at TBS and at local social service organizations
SHABBATONIM (RETREATS)
A Shabbaton (plural: Shabbatonim) is a retreat over Shabbat. Etzim offers TWO overnight Shabbatonim throughout the year. We will head out to the beautiful Berkshires for a meaningful Shabbat together as well as amazing teen-led programming and some fun activities. Each weekend includes an excursion such as zip-lining or tubing.
Trips
Travel to a fun destination to see the sights, learn some Jewish history, and engage in social action!
The 8th and 9th grade trip alternates between traveling to New York to explore the history of the Jewish Community there and a service trip
In 10th grade, we participate in the Religious Action Center's L'Taken Seminar in DC. Spend time meeting new people, exploring Washington, DC, and traveling to Capitol Hill to meet with Congress and advocate for the things YOU care about
The 11th and 12th grade trip alternates between visiting the South to learn about the history of the civil rights movement and to explore why Jews, as a people who have known oppression, must care and act when others are oppressed and a service trip volunteering with Habitat for Humanity working to break the cycle of poverty, helping more people achieve homeownership and a better future.
Leadership
We have two types of leadership opportunities in Etzim!
Our Etzim Leadership Team (ELT) is a small group of 11th-12th graders who function as co-presidents of Etzim.
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Open to 11th-12th graders with at least two years of prior leadership experience
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Application and recommendation required
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ELT is closed for the 2025-2026 school year
Our options for Emerging Leaders are bite-sized ways to develop leadership skills without a full-year commitment. These open leadership opportunities take the form of serving on planning teams for retreats, events, and more.
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Open to all 8th-12th graders
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No application required
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Opportunities will be introduced as they come up throughout the year
MADRICHIMOT (TEACHER ASSISTANTS)
Madrichimot serve as teacher assistants on their day of choice, working with younger children and supporting educators in TBS early childhood and K-7 learning programs. All madrichimot also participate in 3 training sessions per year (August, January, and March).
Madrichimot must complete an application to indicate which days they are available and their preferences for age groups. As madrichimot gain experience and skills, they are given more responsibility and new opportunities.
First-Year Madrichimot:
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Open to 8th-12th graders new to the madrichimot program
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First-year Training Course:
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Meets for 6 weeks in the fall
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Tuesday evenings from 6:15-8:00 pm
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Dinner is included
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Compensation:
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8th graders earn community service hours
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9th graders+ earn community service hours during the 6-week training period, then may work for pay (minimum wage)
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Returning Madrichimot:
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Open to 9th-12th graders with at least one year of experience
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Compensation:
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May work for pay (minimum wage) or earn community service hours
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Master Madrichimot:
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Open to 11th-12th graders with 2+ years of experience; recommendation required
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Additional Learning Opportunities:
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First Aid / CPR Certification
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EEC Ass’t Teacher Certification
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Additional leadership opportunities:
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Teaching Small Group Hebrew
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Mentoring first-year madrichimot
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Compensation and Perks:
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Higher pay rat
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