Rabbi Alissa Platcow joined the clergy team of WRT as Assistant Rabbi on July 1, 2024.
Throughout her journey to the rabbinate, Rabbi Platcow exemplified compelling, innovative, and compassionate Jewish leadership and scholarship. She was recognized in 2024 as one of Jewish Week’s “36 to Watch” for her pioneering work as a founder of the Reform Community Chevra Kaddisha of NYC, a sacred burial society serving progressive and unaffiliated Jews in all five boroughs of New York City, providing them with comfort and care in their bereavement.
As Marshall T. Meyer Rabbinic Fellow at B’nai Jeshurun in Manhattan, she served congregants of all ages and stages of life. She has also led services all over the world—from Poland to Vancouver, Belarus to California, New Jersey to Prague, and all throughout New York and Israel.
Originally from Brookline, Massachusetts, Rabbi Platcow earned Bachelor’s degrees in Judaic Studies and Jazz Vocal Performance from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and is an accomplished jazz vocalist and performer. She holds a Certificate in Experiential Education from The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies where she immersed herself in our tradition’s texts and made them accessible for children, teens and young adults. Alissa also earned a Certificate of Clinical Pastoral Education from North Shore University Hospital where she provided pastoral care to patients, families and staff.
Rabbi Platcow loves to travel and has visited 46 of the 50 states. A true Bostonian, Alissa is an avid Red Sox fan. In her free time, she and her wife, Miranda, enjoy attending concerts, cooking, and eating delicious foods of great variety.
To contact Rabbi Platcow, please email Suzanne.Saperstein@wrtemple.org to assist you.