Rabbi Jon Prosnit to lead Temple Beth El  

Rabbi Jonathan (Jon) Prosnit is the new spiritual leader of Temple Beth El in Madison, having started on July 1, 2024. 

Rabbi Jonathan Biatch, who served there for 19 years, is now rabbi emeritus. 

For the past 12 years, Rabbi Prosnit has been part of the rabbinical team at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, Calif., according to a news release. Originally from New York, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., and was ordained by the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. As a rabbinical student, he worked in cities spanning from East Liverpool, Ohio to Melbourne, Australia and worked at Reform congregations such as The Village Temple in Manhattan and Temple Micah in Washington, D.C.  

Rabbi Prosnit is married to Erin Gleeson, who is an artist and author of the Forest Feast cookbook series. They have two sons and a daughter. 

“In last year’s listening sessions and survey, the congregation told us what they were looking for in our next rabbi,” search committee co-chairs Niles Berman and Julia Katz wrote in the news release. “That vision guided our diverse Search Committee at every step of the process. The traits the congregation identified as most important to them describe Rabbi Prosnit ‘to a T.’ We could not be more enthusiastic.” 

Rabbi Prosnit said: “I am thrilled to be joining the community of Temple Beth El. It has been such a delight to feel the warm embrace of such a thoughtful, compassionate and welcoming community. Every person I’ve interacted with, from the outstanding professional staff to the strong lay leadership to the wonderful community members, has demonstrated a love and desire to bring the best of Jewish history, teachings and practices to life. My family and I are excited to be able to join Temple Beth El.” 

Temple Beth El, the largest synagogue in Madison, is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism. Founded in 1939, Temple Beth El serves nearly 600 member households. Rabbi Prosnit will be the fifth senior rabbi in the congregation’s history.