Getting to Know Rabbi Joel Seltzer 

As vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement at The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), Rabbi Joel Seltzer will be working with Torah Fund closely. He attended JTS, was ordained in 2008, and served as a pulpit rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Providence, Rhode Island, and as executive director of Camp Ramah in the Poconos. A graduate of the Executive Leadership Institute for the Foundation of Jewish Camp, Joel has been a presenter on strategic planning and philanthropy, and he has numerous published writings.

When I asked Joel about his motivation to become a rabbi and how he was influenced by his mentors, he mentioned, “It takes a village” and told me about his village. His grandparents were secular Jews. When Rabbi Sidney Greenberg of Temple Sinai invited them to a dinner for young married couples, they decided to become more involved with their synagogue, sent their children to Camp Ramah, became kosher, and, along with Joel’s parents, encouraged Joel on his path to Jewish observance.  

At age eight, Joel began attending Camp Ramah in the Poconos, which led to a spiritual love of Judaism. In high school, his family moved from the Philadelphia suburbs to Boca Raton, Florida. They joined a small synagogue without a teen program, and that presented a problem, as Camp Ramah had a study requirement during the school year. Rabbi Jack Reimer (now turning 95!) took on the responsibility of studying with Joel every week, teaching him Torah and much more. 

After attending The Rabbinical School of JTS, Joel fulfilled his dream of becoming a pulpit rabbi. He was eager to get to know the congregation, explore a new geographical area, and teach, lead, and care for a community. 

But his love of Camp Ramah beckoned.   

Joel had met his wife at Camp Ramah, and as a camper, he had enjoyed life-changing experiences. When Camp Ramah was seeking new leadership, Joel found the challenge compelling. With 400 campers and 200 staff members, the opportunity to make an impact was inspiring. Over a 10-year period, Joel’s experience was multifaceted. There was the traditional aspect of teaching (serving as a rabbi and mentoring others), plus the opportunity to learn and grow as executive director by expanding communication, fundraising, and operational-management skills. The executive director was responsible for township approvals and even had to be familiar with wastewater-treatment plants, an aspect of his role that Joel particularly enjoyed. Joel shared, “Innovation leading to fruition, connecting to alumni, and creating new programs such as the special needs program all brought great satisfaction.” As a rabbi, he learned how to become a communal professional. 

Looking for a new challenge and confident that Camp Ramah was now in a strong financial and staffing position, Joel reached out to JTS Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz to serve yet another alma mater. 

Joel described how important it is for a rabbi to be financially savvy and to develop lay leadership, fundraising, and financial and executive skills; they are crucial for a Jewish institution to thrive.  

Joel is excited to work with Torah Fund, embracing continuity and forward thinking as part of the approach. Torah Fund volunteers are a force of strength and work hard in every community. The multi-generational aspect of Torah Fund supporters is an advantage, but more needs to be done structurally and with innovative programming to attract and cultivate the next Torah Fund leaders. Joel says, “In seeking the next generation of Jewish leaders, rabbis, cantors, and educators, and in seeking the potential talent in Women’s League and Torah Fund, we need to identify and encourage people with intelligence, enthusiasm and ruach.” He added, “After all, Rabbi Akiva did not start studying until age 40!” 

I asked Joel if he is happy with his life. He thanked me for posing this question and affirmed how happy he is with his journey so far. It has been a career of “soul satisfaction,” and he is committed to finding others who are interested in a path of Jewish leadership. It is his calling—and he hopes ours, as well—to identify, encourage, and support our future leaders.