ROCKLAND — Adas Yoshuron Synagogue welcomes Rabbi Lily Solochek as their spiritual leader.

Rabbi Solochek joins Adas Yoshuron as the third rabbi in the synagogue’s recent history. The 107-year-old institution did not have its own rabbi from the mid-1930s until 2004, and has relied on guest rabbis for the last several years.

Board President Stuart Finkelstein shared his enthusiasm: “The Adas Yoshuron community is overjoyed to welcome Lily Solochek as our new Rabbi. Rabbi Solochek has already brought unique wisdom, outlook, and humor to many or our activities. Our rabbi will participate in many events in the larger community as well. We welcome Rabbi Solochek and wife Lanni Solochek to Rockland, and look forward to their presence among us.”

Rabbi Solochek is an upcoming graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. In their 10 years as a Jewish educator, Solochek has served as the director of Jewish Student Life at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Hillel and the education director at Beth Israel Center in Madison, WI.

As a student, Solochek was the rabbnic intern for Family Outreach at Bet Am Shalom in White Plains, NY, and the rabbinic intern at Woodstock Jewish Congregation in Woodstock, NY.

Solochek has been teaching in the Maine Jewish community since 2015, most recently serving as a rabbinic fellow with the Center for Small Town Jewish Life based in Waterville. She is an alum of Brandeis University, Hadar Institute, Romemu Yeshiva, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. 

“I am thrilled to be joining Adas Yoshuron’s vibrant community,” said Solochek, in the release. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation of Jewish life that already exists and making Judaism accessible through social action and community building.”

Based in Rockland, Adas Yoshuron Synagogue serves the Midcoast Jewish community spanning from Damariscotta to Belfast. In its century-long history, Adas Yoshuron has served every facet of the Jewish community. Rabbi Solochek will continue this work leading Shabbat and holiday programming, life cycle events, pastoral care, and adult and Hebrew School education.

Solochek will also join the Midcoast Interfaith Clergy Alliance to help serve the broader community.

Rabbi Solochek will be installed at Adas Yoshuron Synagogue at a ceremony on November 10. 

Adas Yoshuron Synagogue is an unaffiliated, all-inclusive synagogue serving the Jewish community of Midcoast Maine since 1912. Sabbath services are held regularly, a Hebrew School for grade-school children meets weekly, and a variety of cultural and community events take place throughout the year.

For more information, call 594-4523, or email info@adasyoshuron.org.