Rabbi RuthE Levy installed as the first rabbi to lead Mountain Synagogue during the High Holidays 5786.

Joy and spirituality belong together,” Rabbi RuthE said with a smile. “When people are smiling, singing, and connecting — that’s sacred.”

— Rabbi RuthE Levy

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, October 16, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — The start of the Jewish New Year brought both renewal and celebration to Mountain Synagogue in Franklin, North Carolina, as the congregation officially welcomed Rabbi RuthE Levy as its new rabbi and spiritual leader during the High Holidays. 

For her first Shabbat this past weekend she offered a “Blessing of the Animals” inspired by the Torah portion Genesis, inviting congregants to bring their beloved pets for blessings of gratitude and compassion.

For a number of years Rabbi RuthE served as a Jewish lay leader for military families at the Goldsboro Air Force Base, ensuring that Jewish personnel had access to ritual life and pastoral care. She was ordained in 2022 through the Jewish Spiritual Leaders’ Institute (JSLI), an innovative online seminary that prepares modern rabbis and cantors to serve diverse communities across the globe.

“JSLI empowered me to bring Judaism to places where it might not otherwise flourish,” Rabbi RuthE said. “Mountain Synagogue has an incredible warmth and openness — the moment I met them, I felt at home.” She continues to lead biweekly Ma’ariv services for Sim Shalom Online Synagogue. You can find her there on every other Thursday evening. 

To read the full press release go here.