Senior Rabbi Jeremy Barras

Rabbi Jeremy Barras is a native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he grew up in a strong Jewish community, attending an Orthodox day school until seventh grade. He descends from a long line of distinguished rabbis who have passed on the traditions of Jewish scholarship throughout the generations.

Rabbi Barras attended Connecticut College, where he majored in International Relations and competed on the Men’s tennis team. During his junior year, Rabbi Barras studied for one semester at Tel Aviv University. Realizing that he wanted to create a life imbued with strong and lasting meaning, he went to Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion right after college. During his time in rabbinic school he received awards for teaching and for his role in community relations.

Following ordination Rabbi Barras served as Associate Rabbi for five years at Temple Beth El in Charlotte, NC, and then served as Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth El in Fort Myers from 2007–2015. During his rabbinate he has served as a Board member for the National Conference of Community and Justice, the Interfaith Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System, the Harry Chapin Food Bank, the Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center, the Lee County Human Services Council, AIPAC’s National Council and as a national Board Member of the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA).

Rabbi Barras currently serves as a member of the CCAR Board of Trustees, as Co-Chair of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Synagogue Relations Board and on the Executive Board of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami.

Rabbi Barras is married to the light of his life, Jodi. They have two children, Ella and Ethan, who both graduated from Temple Beth Am Day School. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf, tennis, reading and playing with their dog, GiGi, and their cats, Miracle Sox and Parrot.