Rabbi Jenn Mangold's Bio
Rabbi Jenn Mangold began serving as Temple Emanu-El’s senior rabbi on July 1, 2024. Striving to live her life in radical amazement, Rabbi Mangold is eager to discover entrances to holiness that fill her with awe and connect her to an energy greater than herself. She feels blessed to accompany individuals on their journeys, as they discover their own entrances to holiness.
Rabbi Mangold’s passion is pastoral care. Finding deep holiness in supporting individuals through life’s turbulence, she strives to be a warm, non-anxious presence, ready to listen. With a love for community building, Rabbi Mangold relishes the opportunity to help individuals create meaningful relationships within the temple community. She believes building community starts with honoring and respecting all individuals and meeting them where they are on their unique path. She strives to help members of the LGBTQIA+ community and interfaith families feel cherished. Rabbi Mangold’s goal is for everyone at Temple Emanu-El to feel that they matter, that they belong, and that they will be embraced for being their authentic self.
Rabbi Mangold believes in engaging community inside and outside the walls of the synagogue. She especially enjoys leading creative services, classes, and events at parks, beaches, restaurants, and homes. With a passion for social justice, Rabbi Mangold enjoys engaging with community in projects that focus on tikkun olam, repairing the world.
Rabbi Mangold grew up in New City, New York where she formed a deep love for Judaism at her home synagogue. Rabbi Mangold earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University at Buffalo in 2011 and a Master’s degree in English Education at Teachers College, Columbia University in 2012. She received her Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters in 2017 and Rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2018.
Following ordination, Rabbi Mangold served as Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Shalom in Milwaukee, Wisconsin until 2021 and then served as Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth-El in St. Petersburg, Florida until 2024. While in rabbinical school, Rabbi Mangold served at pulpits in Fairbanks, Alaska, Columbus Ohio, Muncie, Indiana, and Jefferson City, Missouri. During her time at Hebrew Union College, she received the Cora Kahn Prize for best sermon delivery and oratory as well as the Rabbi Morris H. Youngerman Memorial Prize for the best sermon preached in the Scheuer Chapel for the academic year.
Rabbi Mangold is grateful for her loving husband, Paul, and their three children. She enjoys marathon and triathlon training as well as playing guitar and baking challah.