United Brothers Synagogue welcomes a new rabbi

Rabbi Carolan Glatstein /Photo | Carolan GlatsteinCarolan Glatstein, the new rabbi at the United Brothers Synagogue in Bristol, owes some prime treats to her dog Petunia. When she was studying in Jerusalem during the first year of her graduate program at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, she brought Petunia along. Afraid to walk the dog in the neighborhood where another dog had attacked them, Glatstein asked Eric Mollo, a fellow student, to walk with them. Long story short – the two are now married, and their baby girl is some serious competition for Petunia and Yeti, the family’s other dog. Since her husband is also a rabbi – he works at Temple Chayai Shalom in Easton, Mass. – Glatstein loves practicing questioning, her Jewish values and pursuit of knowledge with him. The two study side by side, pushing each other to grow.

Glatstein’s job arrived as unexpectedly as her love – the contact was made through Etsy, the site where she sells her handmade kippot and prayer shawls. She plays bridge with one of her husband’s congregants, who informed a mutual friend at United Brothers to contact her through Etsy. The position appealed to her right away. She says, “It was clear our priorities were aligned, and the timing was right.” Glatstein appreciated the synagogue’s approach to interfaith issues, a topic that’s dear to her heart because of her upbringing. Rather than panic that Jewish people are dying out because of intermarriage, she prefers to acknowledge this demographic, welcoming them.

The synagogue’s congregation is comprised of 50 couples from various Rhode Island and Massachusetts locations; the members are committed to their community, where they meet for services once a month. Even though the congregants are on “widely different levels,” Glatstein says they unite on common ground. Currently, the synagogue doesn’t offer a religious school. However, the new rabbi “would love to see kids at services.” She is looking to add new members to their “amazingly welcoming group of people,” who like one another so much that they get together outside of services to take part in activities such as mahjong night and book club. Glatstein says, “One thing that impresses me is how hard they are willing to work to maintain this community.” After all, the synagogue has no staff – everything depends on the members and the board.

Glatstein has been a believer in community from a young age. She says that her grandfather was the one who planted the idea for her to devote herself to Judaism. She and her parents lived together with her paternal grandfather in Denver. One day, when looking at his little granddaughter who resembled her Irish Catholic mother, he commented that she ought to know something about being Jewish with a last name like Glatstein.

The girl and her parents started attending Stepping Stones, an educational program for interfaith families. Her mom converted, becoming “a Jewish powerhouse,” when Glatstein was 5. In high school, Glatstein took advantage of many learning opportunities, including a trip to HUC to attend a teaching assistants’ weekend. She now knows that her rabbi and educator encouraged the campus visit so that she would begin considering the rabbinate as a career path.

In 2014, Glatstein achieved that goal.  On June 5, she led her first service at United Brothers. Because Glatstein considers her presence to be a big change for the community – she is its first ordained spiritual leader, Glatstein is not looking to make any drastic transformations. She says, “My job is to learn who they are.” Glatstein would like to get to know the community’s needs and desires, as well as meet the members. Right now, her focus is on worship, education and listening. Asked about the most important qualities for someone in her role, she responds with “patience and presence.”

Glatstein says that her mentor, Rabbi Julie Schwartz, head of the pastoral care and counseling program at HUC, was instrumental in instilling these qualities and teaching her the importance of relationships over text, ritual and scripture.

To fulfill her training requirement, Glatstein spent two years as a hospital chaplain. She considers this time to be absolutely critical to her skill as rabbi. “I learned so much about life, people, what matters most sitting in hospital rooms late at night.” During particularly difficult moments, Glatstein discovered that sometimes it’s best not to say anything and just be there with people, providing a shoulder to cry on and letting them take the lead. She says that powerful connections and stories inspire her. They are what drew her to the role that allows her to create bonds with people, to share with one another.

IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.