Articles by Rabbi Anthony Fratello

Anthony Fratello was born in 1972 in Long Beach CA. In his childhood, Anthony was a member of Temple Beth David, a Reform congregation in Westminster, CA, and was active in BBYO (The B'nai Brith Youth Organization). Rabbi Fratello graduated from Pomona College in 1994, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, and in the summer of 1994, began his studies toward the Rabbinate at the Jerusalem Campus of the Hebrew Union College (HUC-JIR). He returned to the United States to continue his studies at the Cincinnati campus of HUC-JIR in 1995. While in seminary, Rabbi Fratello served pulpits in Mississippi, Indiana, and Illinois, as well as a Summer Residency at Har Sinai Congregation in Baltimore, Maryland. While serving these congregations, he had the honor of teaching and praying with Jews from all age groups, movements, and walks of life. Rabbi Fratello earned his MAHL Degree (Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters) from the Hebrew Union College in 1998, and was Ordained as a Rabbi in June 1999. In April of 2000, Rabbi Fratello was elected to the pulpit of Temple Shaarei Shalom, in Boynton Beach. Over the last 14 years, the congregation has grown to over 550 families, and has almost 300 children in its religious school programs. Rabbi Fratello served as President and Treasurer of the Palm Beach County Board of Rabbis, and also served as a board member of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, the Mandel Jewish Community Centers of the Palm Beaches, and is currently on the board of the Friedman Commission for Jewish Education. Rabbi Fratello has written extensively for a variety of publications, and is a popular and sought after speaker. Rabbi Fratello is married to his Hebrew Union College Classmate, Rabbi Joanna Tract. Rabbi Tract serves as Jewish Chaplain at JFK Hospital in Lantana, FL, and Spiritual Care Coordinator at Palms West Hospital in Wellington, FL. The couple have been blessed with two sons, Samson and Eli.