PARKLAND, Florida, United States – Congregation Kol Tikvah has welcomed Rabbi Cookie Lea Olshein as its interim rabbi, bringing an experienced Reform Jewish leader to the South Florida congregation as it begins a year-long process of transition and prepares to select its next permanent spiritual leader.
The congregation, which serves more than 300 Jewish families in northwest Broward County, announced Olshein’s arrival this month.
Olshein brings nearly two decades of rabbinic leadership experience, including guiding Jewish communities through periods of institutional change. She will work with congregants and lay leaders over the coming year as Kol Tikvah evaluates its priorities, explores new approaches to Jewish life and prepares for the eventual arrival of a settled rabbi.
She will work closely with Cantor Debbie Hafetz, whose continuing role is intended to provide continuity on the bimah and help preserve the congregation’s established traditions during the transition.
The appointment follows the departure of Rabbi Bradd Boxman after 17 years of leadership at Kol Tikvah.
“Congregation Kol Tikvah has always been a community built on relationships, belonging, and a shared commitment to Jewish values,” congregation president Alan Rosen said in a statement.
“Following Rabbi Boxman’s remarkable 17 years of leadership, our Board thoughtfully chose the interim rabbi model because it gives our congregation the opportunity to reflect, explore new ideas, and thoughtfully prepare for the future,” Rosen said.
He described Olshein’s experience and approach to congregational leadership as well suited to the transition.
Leading the High Holy Days
One of Olshein’s first major responsibilities will be leading Kol Tikvah through the 2026 High Holy Days.
Rosh Hashanah services are scheduled for Sept. 11 through Sept. 13, followed by Yom Kippur services on Sept. 20 and 21, according to the congregation.
For Olshein, the High Holy Days will also provide an early opportunity to begin developing her relationship with the congregation.
“I believe every new beginning carries the possibility of something extraordinary,” Olshein said.
“The High Holy Days invite us to look inward, celebrate the blessings we share, and imagine the possibilities ahead.”
Olshein said she hopes the coming year will allow the congregation to respect its established identity while considering new approaches to worship, education and community engagement.
“My hope is that this journey will be filled with inspiration, celebration, and transformation,” she said.
Experience Across Reform Jewish Communities
Olshein most recently served as resident rabbinic scholar at Congregation Ner Tamid in Henderson, Nevada. Her responsibilities there included leading worship, teaching Torah and adult education, supporting social action initiatives and working on community engagement.
Before that, she served as senior rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Tempe, Arizona.
She also spent eight years as rabbi of Temple Israel of West Palm Beach. According to Kol Tikvah, she became the first woman to lead an established congregation in Palm Beach County.
Her work there extended beyond the synagogue. Olshein served as interim religious school director and became the first woman to serve as president of the Palm Beach County Board of Rabbis.
She currently serves as a vice president and member of the executive committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the rabbinic organization of the Reform movement.
Her previous communal work has included service on the National Campaign Leadership Team of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. She also participated in the inaugural Rukin Family 18Doors Rabbinic Fellowship, an initiative focused on supporting interfaith and intercultural couples and families engaging with Jewish life.
From Law to the Rabbinate
Olshein followed an unconventional path to rabbinic leadership.
Before entering the rabbinate, she worked for more than a decade as a civil litigation attorney in Las Vegas. During her legal career, she became the youngest person to chair the State Bar of Nevada’s Continuing Legal Education Committee, according to her biography provided by Kol Tikvah.
She later received rabbinic ordination and a Master of Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. While studying there, she received the Cantor William Sharlin Award for Excellence in Liturgy.
Olshein also holds a Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business from George Washington University.
Her communal work has included serving as an Olympic chaplain and teaching internationally as a scholar-in-residence. She has also received the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s inaugural Tikkun Olam/Community Service Award and the Judy Waltzer Award for service to Women’s Philanthropy.
A Year of Transition
Unlike a permanent congregational appointment, the interim rabbi model is designed to provide a period between long-term spiritual leaders in which a congregation can assess its identity and future direction.
At Kol Tikvah, that process will include examining worship, Jewish learning, community programming and other aspects of congregational life before beginning its next long-term chapter.
For a congregation emerging from 17 years under the same rabbinic leadership, the coming year will therefore involve both continuity and change.
Olshein said she intends to approach that process by listening to the community while encouraging members to consider what they want Kol Tikvah to become.
“Throughout the coming year, I look forward to exploring new ideas together, honoring the traditions that define Kol Tikvah while creating opportunities to learn, grow, and discover what will help this community flourish for generations to come,” she said.
