Our Clergy

Senior Rabbi

Rabbi Ruth A. Zlotnick (she/her)
rabbiruth@templebetham.org

Rabbi Ruth A. Zlotnick has been described by her community as a teacher of Torah and Jewish values and is beloved for her gifts of knowledge, leadership, and counsel; inspirational worship services; and creative programming.

Rabbi Ruth has served as the Senior Rabbi of  Temple Beth Am since 2014. Before joining the Beth Am community, Rabbi Ruth served as Rabbi at Temple Beth Or in the Township of Washington, New Jersey and as Associate Rabbi and Director of Lifelong Learning at New York’s Central Synagogue. She also worked as Associate Director of Programs at Synagogue 2000, a national project aimed at revitalizing synagogues from all streams of American Judaism. In the New York-area, she taught at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) and Fairfield University. She currently sits on the Board of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Advisory Board for the Center for Religious Wisdom and World Affairs at Seattle University.

Rabbi Zlotnick is a graduate of HUC-JIR where she was ordained in 2001. She earned a Master of Hebrew Letters from HUC-JIR; she also holds a Master’s in the Philosophy of Religion from Yale University and a Bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Wesleyan University.

Associate Rabbi

Rabbi Laura Rumpf (she/her)
RabbiLaura@templebetham.org

Rabbi Laura Rumpf is a passionate proponent of lively, come-as-you-are Judaism, and delights in making ritual relevant for all ages. She is animated by community connections at the intersection of social justice, spirituality and creativity. Whether in the classroom, on the bima, or on a hike with the community, she seeks to deepen belonging to each other, and to the unfolding story of the Jewish people.

Rabbi Laura joined the Beth Am clergy team in 2024. She previously served as Director of Project Kavod (Dignity) for Jewish Family Service of Seattle where she helped anchor a mission of reaching those most vulnerable in our community to Jewish values. A Seattle native, she was previously the Associate Rabbi at Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo, CA, where she spearheaded social justice efforts and led immersive youth and teen experiences. She is a trained Creative Arts Facilitator with the national Jewish Studio Project. Rabbi Laura finds joy making artful messes daily with her kids, Ami and Nava, and taking as many opportunities to plunge into cold water as possible in the Pacific Northwest.

Assistant Rabbi

Rabbi Jesse Epstein (he/him)
RabbiJesse@templebetham.org

Rabbi Jesse Epstein is a dynamic and visionary rabbi committed to making Jewish life more accessible, meaningful, and resonant for today’s diverse and evolving community. Grounded in a deep love for Jewish text, tradition, and ethics, Rabbi Jesse brings a creative and entrepreneurial spirit to his rabbinate, finding innovative ways to help people connect with Judaism beyond the walls of a synagogue.

Ordained through Hebrew Union College in New York City, Rabbi Jesse’s path has included hospital chaplaincy, campus engagement, congregational leadership, and Jewish communal entrepreneurship. He is especially passionate about fostering inclusive spaces where people feel comfortable asking big questions, exploring their spiritual identities, and building lasting community rooted in Jewish values.

As the owner of Shmaltz Brewing Company, Rabbi Jesse has reimagined the beloved Jewish craft beer brand as a platform for education, justice, and connection. Through pop-up events, learning gatherings, and creative holiday programming, he weaves Jewish tradition into contemporary experiences, inviting participants to engage with ancient wisdom in ways that feel joyful, relevant, and grounded in ethical living.

Rabbi Jesse believes that Judaism can and should show up in all areas of life, not just in prayer, but in how we eat, gather, celebrate, and care for one another. With humor, heart, and a deep reverence for Jewish learning, he is helping to shape a more expansive, creative, and inclusive future for Jewish life.