Congregation
Cnesses Israel
Green Bay, Wisconsin
rabbishaina@att.net
Rabbi Shaina Bacharach has been the spiritual leader of Congregation Cnesses Israel since August 2003. She was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary. Before entering JTS, Rabbi Bacharach had a varied career. She attended the University of Oklahoma and earned a bachelor of science in nursing. She also worked as a free-lance writer, including work on the Bobbsey Twin series and Nancy Drew. The rabbi's love of Judaism and Torah study led her to teach Hebrew and Judaica at the Solomon Schechter day school in Oklahoma City and at the supplementary school and to assume a number of roles supporting Jewish life.
Rabbi Shaina works actively to foster positive interfaith relations in Green Bay. She is deeply involved in all areas of synagogue life, including pastoral care, education, encouraging congregational involvement, and fostering a sense of spirituality.
Rabbi Shaina is very focused on developing close and open relations with her congregants. Doing so reminds her of the rabbi that inspired her during her youth. She hopes that she can implant love of Torah in all of them … and works diligently to ensure that her students can aspire to anything within their ability, and that gender should not keep them from pursuing their dreams. In the face of harsh criticism, she was the first woman in her synagogue in Oklahoma City to wear a tallis, lay teffilin, and read from the Torah. Today, it is common for women to fully participate in services at that shul. Rabbi Shaina remains proudly dedicated to providing an environment where all Jews can worship as they feel led. She firmly believes and teaches that Judaism is for all Jews - not just rabbis, and that Judaism is a spiritual religion that can and should enhance our day to day lives even in today's world.
Rabbi Shaina and her husband, Bob Dick, have four children – Elise, Jenny, Sean, and Simon, and a grandson, Austin.