Rabbi Sarah Smiley brings great experience as a rabbi. She was ordained on the Cincinnati, Ohio campus of Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 2010. She began her rabbinic career as the campus rabbi at The Ohio State University Hillel. Before coming to The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, she spent 7 years serving at Temple Emanu-El in Westfield, New Jersey. In New Jersey, she had the opportunity to be a rabbi-educator, a director of youth engagement, an associate rabbi and more. She brings a well-rounded perspective to her vocation, having gained professional experience as a leader in Jewish life both on a college campus and in congregational life.
As part of an intentional transition strategy, the congregation brought Rabbi Smiley on as a Sustaining Rabbi – a senior position on the multi-clergy team – three years before the planned retirement of the synagogue’s longstanding Senior Rabbi. She took a key leadership role in maintaining a stable community during three seismic transitions; renovation, Covid and a Senior Rabbi transition. This coming year Rabbi Smiley will help the new Senior Rabbi acclimate to the role.
Locally, Rabbi Smiley serves as the treasurer for the Rabbinical Association of Greater KC, participates in interfaith speaking engagements with Faith Always Wins and teaches in the local Jewish community. On a national level, she has served on the URJ youth engagement advisory council, participates in programs with Women’s Rabbinic Network, collaborates with Planned Parenthood of America as a member of the national Clergy Advocacy Board and is known to help her colleagues across the country. She was awarded NFTY GER lifetime membership and received the Cora Kahn prize for best sermon delivery and oratory while at HUC-JIR.
Rabbi Smiley is passionate about building relationships with people and serving as a Jewish resource so people can best figure out how they want to live their personal Jewish lives. She lives in Overland Park with her husband, Rabbi Josh Leighton, and their daughter Eliana.
Rabbi Sarah Smiley
The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah | (913) 663-4050