Rabbi
Rabbi Debra Rappaport serves as rabbi and executive director of B’nai Vail Congregation, serving the Jewish community of Eagle County and beyond. Originally from Minneapolis, Rabbi Rappaport was active in Reform Congregation Temple Israel’s education programs, youth groups, and Camp Teko. After earning her BA at Vassar College, Rabbi Rappaport pursued a business career over the next ten years, in sales, marketing, and management roles, as well as earning an MBA in Marketing from the Wharton School of the University of PA. In the 1990’s she was an active board member for the Minneapolis Jewish Federation and the Jewish Community Relations Council.
In 2000, Rabbi Rappaport returned to school years to become a rabbi, earning Rabbinic Ordination and a Masters in Hebrew Letters from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia in June, 2007. While in rabbinical school, she served as rabbi for Congregation Shirat Hayam in Duxbury, MA. Rabbi Debra Rappaport joined B'nai Vail Congregation in June 2007.
Rabbi Rappaport was inspired to become a rabbi in order to help connect Jewish people with what is vibrant and meaningful about Judaism to each in one’s own life. Her interest in religious life stems from a belief that religious life offers more depth and meaning to a spiritual life, through practice within a community.
