Adath Israel of Newtown is pleased to welcome Rabbi Barukh Schectman to its congregation.congadathisrael.org.

Rabbi Schectman's affiliation with the local synagogue began on February 19 as he led its membership in ushering the Sabbath. The community is invited to welcome Rabbi Schectman to Adath Israel and Newtown at Friday Kabbalat Shabbat services.

In addition to his spiritual responsibilities, Rabbi Schectman will provide counseling support to congregants and oversee educational programs.

Bob Rubinstein, the president of Adath Israel, commented: "As a small congregation, we are thrilled that Rabbi Schectman, with his impressive track record, can offer us the high caliber of spiritual and educational services that we have been searching for over the past year. Our congregation looks forward to his leadership."

Rabbi Schectman brings a wealth of spiritual and educational experience to Adath Israel. For the past 16 years, he has been Rabbi at Congregation Tephereth Israel in New Britain, as well as a substitute and remedial Hebrew teacher at Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford.

Rabbi Schectman previously served as Rabbi at Congregation Beth Ahm, in Windsor, where he was also the principal and a teacher in their religious school.

His experience goes beyond the synagogue. He was the full-time Jewish Chaplain for the Connecticut Department of Corrections from 1998 to 2013.

Rabbi Schectman attended the Jewish Theological Seminary of America where he was ordained. He remarried in 1998, and has a 16-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter.

Congregation Adath Israel is a conservative egalitarian synagogue dedicated to sustaining Jewish culture, learning and spirituality. It offers families and individuals a connection with Judaism that will endure and be passed on to future generations.

Congregation Adath Israel is located at 115 Huntingtown Road in Newtown. For membership information, contact Susan Rubin at 203-426-5188. For additional information visit

[mappress mapid="59"]