Congregation Agudath Achim, Savannah’s Conservative Jewish synagogue, is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors and congregation have unanimously selected Rabbi Steven B. Henkin to become its new rabbi.
 
Rabbi Henkin first visited Savannah ten years ago, celebrating his one-year wedding anniversary. As he and his wife, Orly, left Savannah, they remember thinking how nice it would be to live here. He still had a long journey before that vision would be realized.
 
Henkin grew up outside the Chicago suburbs, and, although his father loved synagogue, he was never fully engaged with his faith. It wasn’t until he attended college at the University of Minnesota and discovered the Hillel Jewish Center that he started paying attention.
 
Initially intrigued by their two-dollar breakfast, Rabbi Henkin became a regular at the Hillel. His education deepened as he learned lessons from the faith that he had never heard before. He realized that there were many compelling elements, something that was missing from his childhood services.
 
“I realized that there were many people like me who grew up never knowing how meaningful Judaism could be to their lives, and I wanted to help them see how beautiful and powerful our tradition can be,” Henkin said
 
After graduating from the University of Minnesota, he pursued his Master’s degree in Jewish studies at Emory University, and shortly thereafter took that trip to Savannah. Upon completion of his Master's, Rabbi Henkin worked in the Jewish community in Atlanta for three years.
 
He then moved to Los Angeles to pursue his rabbinical degree at the Ziegler School of Rabbinical Studies at the American Jewish University. He and his wife made the trip to LA with their three month old daughter.
 
After graduating from the AJU, Rabbi Henkin accepted his current position as the
Director of Congregational Learning at Congregation B'nai Tzedek in Potomac, Maryland.
 
Although this will be his first position as head rabbi, he says he feels comfortable and prepared for the responsibilities and challenges that await him.
 
When Rabbi Henkin heard about the opening at Congregation Agudath Achim, he was impressed by how engaged the community was. He’s excited to be among a group of people who are willing to spend their time, talent, and treasure to fashion the congregation that they know Agudath Achim can be.
 
 “When I first saw how invested the members of the congregation were, I knew Agudath Achim was a special place.  My wife and I knew we already loved the city and that it was a place our two children could thrive, but the community's commitment to its synagogue is what really sold us,” Henkin said.
 
Within his first year, Rabbi Henkin's goal is to sit down and meet every member of the congregation. As the synagogue moves forward, he will strive to make everyone feel welcome.

“My job is to build a community where we can celebrate the good times, support each other through the bad times, and share our lives together,” Henkin said on his new role as the rabbi.
 
Rabbi Henkin and his family will relocate to Savannah in early July.  His first services as rabbi will be Friday evening, July 14, and the following morning for Shabbat service.