By Rebekah Steinfeld / Senior Development Officer, Jewish Federation of the Berkshires
In mid-March, I began my journey as the new full-time Senior Development Officer at Jewish Federation of the Berkshires. I’m honored to step into this role and thrilled to join such a vibrant and dedicated community.
I grew up in Tacoma, Washington, in a small Jewish community with just one synagogue and few Jewish peers. That experience taught me never to take Jewish life for granted and gave me a deep appreciation for the opportunities I found through my temple and BBYO. Thriving Jewish life shouldn't be limited to major cities — and that’s one of the many reasons I’m so inspired by this Federation’s work. From supporting innovative religious education, to combating antisemitism, to offering rich cultural programming and publishing the Berkshire Jewish Voice, Federation provides the essential infrastructure that allows Jewish life to flourish in our region.
Throughout my life, I’ve been guided by the Jewish values of chesed, tzedakah, and tikkun olam. I studied theatre in college and later completed a master’s in Performance Studies at NYU, where I focused on theatre for social change. After graduate school, I worked for several years in arts education nonprofits in New York City. A summer at Seeds of Peace International Camp teaching theatre — and a budding interest in Jewish text — led me to leave New York to study at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem.
From that point forward, I worked in the Jewish professional world — from Jewish environmental education with Teva, to classroom education at Lander Grinspoon Academy in Northampton, to UMass Hillel. Choosing a career of service to the Jewish people has been transformative for me and a way to express my personal Jewish values. I see that same alignment in my new role. Federation’s commitment to supporting the most vulnerable — both here in the Berkshires and in Israel — is a powerful expression of our community’s values.
I came to Federation after more than a decade as the assistant director at UMass Amherst Hillel, where I had the privilege of mentoring hundreds of students and supervising over 20 young professionals. I cultivated relationships with countless alumni, parents, community partners, and nationwide colleagues. Midway through my time there, I discovered a passion for development work when a colleague taught me that fundraising is essentially about building meaningful relationships. That insight resonated deeply with me, as authentic connection has always been at the heart of what I do.
I see fundraising as a powerful way to help people connect with what matters most to them, to contribute to something greater, and to make a real and lasting impact. What drew me to Federation is how deeply it connects people to what they care about, empowers them to make a difference, and helps Jewish life thrive. From my very first interview, I was inspired by the strength of this community and how much this small but mighty Federation accomplishes with limited resources.
I live in Northampton with my husband, my two teenage stepchildren, and my four-year-old son, Simon. We signed Simon up for PJ Library books as soon as we could. While Simon and I attend synagogue weekly and our family celebrates Shabbat and holidays at home, PJ Library has given my husband — who isn’t Jewish — a special way to connect with our son around Jewish values, culture, and traditions. I love that Federation makes this kind of access and connection possible for families across the Berkshires.
Everyone I’ve met so far has been incredibly warm, welcoming, and dedicated to the Federation in a way that is deeply moving. I look forward to meeting you and working together to build a vibrant, compassionate, and connected Jewish future.
I invite you to be a part of that future. Please consider making a meaningful gift to our Annual Campaign. Every contribution — no matter the size — helps ensure that Jewish life in the Berkshires continues to flourish for generations to come.
Please reach out if you’d like to talk more. I can be reached at (413) 442-4360, ext. 19 or at rsteinfeld@jewishberkshires.org.