On July 1, Rabbi Valerie Lieber will assume the pulpit of Pittsfield’s venerable Temple Anshe Amunim, a congregation that has been central to Jewish life in the Berkshires since 1869.
Founded by 25 German Jewish families as an Orthodox synagogue, TAA adopted Reform practice in 1879 and in 1904 joined the precursor to today’s Union for Reform Judaism, making it the movement’s second-oldest congregation in the United States. Its 1964 building on Broad Street is a gem of mid-century modern architecture, with a domed sanctuary and a striking ark designed by the building’s architect, Henry Blatner. The bold metal Hebrew lettering that adorns the façade was created Williams College professor of sculpture.
In recent years, however, membership rolls at TAA have reflected the declining number of Jewish families in Berkshire County, and the congregation has entered a period of retrenchment and reinvention. Its building in the process of being sold – per a 2024 article in the Berkshire Eagle “Board President Robyn Rosen said the vote [to sell the building] was made with ‘trepidation and emotion,’ but ultimately, she believed it was ‘the right thing to do for the congregation.’” The congregation will remain at its current location as other possibilities are explored.
Enter Rabbi Valerie Lieber, who in 2015 was chosen by The Forward as one of its ‘Most Inspiring Rabbis.’ Currently the Director of Education & Family Programs at the Kane Street Synagogue in Brooklyn, she and her wife, Leah Kopperman, purchased a home in Pittsfield during the pandemic. After a few years of being here part time, Rabbi Lieber will take over at TAA and help navigate the congregation’s path forward.
Rabbi Lieber spoke with the BJV about her new role in May. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
The BJV Interview – Rabbi Valerie Lieber
What would you like the community to know about yourself?
I grew up in a Reform congregation in Indianapolis. Our family was very active, and it was very meaningful for me. I come from a line of Reform Jews, particularly on my mom's side. I loved going to Sunday school. I didn't it realize then, but it became apparent later, was that I really love Judaism. During college, I had thought all along that I would be a lawyer. But then I realized I wanted to be with people at really important, meaningful moments that were not antagonistic, like in a trial. I wanted to be people at these moments of key meaning in their lives. Anyway, right after college I went to Hebrew Union College and was in Israel three weeks after graduation. It was a really immersive and wonderful experience. Then I moved to New York for an additional four years at HUC. I met my now wife during that time, and we've been together for 31 years.
You were a Berkshire second-homeowner – what has been your impression of the Berkshires and what made you decide you wanted to work as a rabbi here?
The first time I really spent time in the Berkshires was when I was a rabbi at one of my previous congregations and I came up to Camp Eisner in 1990. I didn't see very much. I came back to work on faculty at Camp Eisner, which involves two weeks of working as a rabbi and leading and teaching kids. My wife also came up for part of that time and we both really liked the Berkshires. We came back maybe in 2018, really just for a vacation to see whether this was a place where we might want to retire. We thought about a of different places and decided against anything in the Southern United States because of politics, largely – they don't collect taxes or do anything. In the Berkshire, there is a similar political perspective that we can share with the vast majority of people who live there, and they do collect taxes. And the services in Pittsfield are fantastic, in my opinion. I think it's a great town, a great city. It has certain things that a larger city might have, but it's also calm and it's beautiful.
When we came during COVID in the summer of 2020, we were a little bit out of our minds being in a New York apartment with no outdoor space. We looked for homes, and we made an offer. By November, we moved in. And it's wonderful. We love it. I love having a garden and looking out on trees. I love that when I ride my bike, it takes three minutes to get to just gorgeous beauty, which in New York takes about an hour and 15 minutes for me to get to a place of stunning beauty.
The people are all incredibly nice. I also connected with Dara at Federation and I ended up a volunteer on the Education committee. All the people I worked with were just incredible, really wonderful people. When this job came up, I knew I wanted to apply. People are incredibly warm, and I feel like they're my people. It feels very comfortable. So that's how it came to be a Berkshirian. I don't know if that's the right word.
No one does. This isn’t a slide-into-retirement job, though – you’re going to have to be creative and lead a congregation that is in the process of change. How did that challenge register when you decided to take on the job?
I've been a head rabbi rabbi at a congregation in similar circumstances where they had to pivot because of lower and aging membership. So, I understand what that's like and the really great feelings of loss. I feel I have something to offer this wonderful community and help them grieve a certain loss – certainly the loss of the building, but I hope not the loss of the wonderful memories that they have from the events that they celebrated and observed there. I hope to help people feel community in a new space.
I also am very I'm really positive about the Berkshires and about Pittsfield in particular. My wife and I talk a lot about how many hipster young people we see there, which is always a great sign. The hipsters come first, then the gay people come, then the artists come, and then the Jews come. There are a lot of people who are Jewish in the Berkshire who can come to us and find meaning and relevance and joy and fun. And that's what I intend to do. I intend to, for sure, minister to the people who are members and have sustained the congregation for many, many years, but also try to find new people who are who are not active. And I know that's hard and doesn't just happen automatically. That takes a lot of work and sometimes a lot of time. But it's something that I'm interested in doing. And if that part doesn't work out, the growth, I will be there for these people as we diminish in number and be with them in that sorrow and that difficulty.
In the short term, what can folks expect if they want to engage with Temple Anshe Amunim?
Well, I think they're going to see a new Temple Anshe Amunim, something different from what they've seen over the last many, many years. I am really committed to creating a vibrant and warm and joyous atmosphere. Not that that wasn't there before, but I think they will feel a difference and feel a great sense of hope and community. Plus, we also have some great events planned. I've done a lot of work over the last two or three months with the leadership of TAA to come up with an array of events and special celebrations on different Shabbatot. And I think people are going to find that there are opportunities to learn and to do social action work and outreach. I plan to connect with people. I really also just plan to get to know everybody and hopefully have them get to know me.