Rabbi Moshe Scheiner’s 31-Year Journey at Palm Beach Synagogue

When he agreed to do a favor for a friend and come lead services at a new synagogue, he had no idea 31 years later he’d be at the helm of a synagogue that offers three services a day, a plethora of programs for all ages and that hosts standing-room-only events. Welcome to the Palm Beach Synagogue.

“We were newly married and had moved here from Brooklyn for a business venture,” says Rabbi Moshe Scheiner, who is married to Rebbetzin Dinie Scheiner, who graduated from Beth Rivkah Seminary. The two were born and raised in Brooklyn and have six children and four grandchildren, all Floridians.

“It got to the point that there was so much going on every day at the synagogue that we had to make a decision, and we decided that we felt our greatest fulfillment at the Synagogue,” says Scheiner, who has a masters’ degree of Talmudic studies and Jewish philosophy from the Rabbinical College of America. He completed a two-year internship at the Rabbinical College of Australia and New Zealand and returned to New York to receive his rabbinic ordination at the United Lubavitcher Yeshiva. He became founding Rabbi of the Palm Beach Synagogue in 1994. He also founded the Ethel & Eugene Joffe Maimonides Leadership Institute for post-Bar and -Bat Mitzvah students.

“You could not have convinced me when I first came here that 31 years later, I would still be here,” Scheiner says of the favor that became the driving force in his life. “I got a call from someone I knew who knew that I had a rabbinical degree and asked if I could volunteer to lead Saturday morning services.”

He did the part-time thing for three years as the synagogue continued to grow. Finally, he and his wife decided that being the rabbi of the Palm Beach Synagogue was their calling.

“What we were doing was so much more important and meaningful,” says Scheiner, who was in the medical supply business. “I really believe God directed us here. We were building a dynamic, vibrant community. What is so unique about us is that we are an Orthodox synagogue, but 90% of our members are not orthodox. We are very welcoming to everyone.”

The rabbi describes the synagogue as “user friendly.”

“We meet people where they are in their spiritual journey,” Scheiner says. “We also literally meet them where they are because we have outreach programs that go into the community. Yes, we follow Jewish laws, but we also want people to find a warm welcome here. We offer a range of programs that are not just open to Jewish people or to members.”

At a time when other religious institutions may see membership begin to decline, the Palm Beach Synagogue has gotten approval for a $50 million expansion that will add 32,000 square feet to the burgeoning Palm Beach Synagogue. Construction is expected to take around 18 months.

“Everything about it is going to be a wow factor,” says the rabbi of the new construction. “Of course, our current synagogue is beautiful and has the wow factor. We just needed a bigger facility for all the programs we offer. Every day we have something going on.”

Those activities include guest speakers, trips to Israel, programs for children, teens and young adults, as well as a range of programs for adults.

“I really feel that after [the Hamas attacks of] Oct. 7, [2023], people want to connect with our Jewish identity. The beautiful thing about the Palm Beach Synagogue is that we are here to expose, not impose Judaism on people. We want people to go at their own pace.”

He said, because of the structure of Florida with a lot of people who come from other places, it could be difficult to find a religious home, to find a family.

“All human beings want to make a connection,” says Scheiner, who is one of five rabbis on staff now. He mentions one member who came with no thought of making much of a connection to the synagogue who recently mentioned that 90% of her friends are people from Palm Beach Synagogue. “She didn’t expect to make such a strong connection.”

Scheiner is particularly proud of the synagogue’s speakers bureau that has included Israeli dignitaries, the mayor of Jerusalem and others.

“We bring interesting speakers who can stimulate our minds and hearts with ideas that can be transformative and intellectually and spiritually uplifting and impactful,” he explains. “We like that we offer people many points of entry. We have social activities, children’s activities, things for teens and young adults. We also offer things for singles, couples and families.”

What went from being glad that they had the 10 people needed for a minyan, has grown into 750 members and counting. Not bad for a guy who started out just doing someone a favor.

Todd Shapiro is an award-winning publicist and associate publisher of Dan’s Papers.