Rabbi Jessica Locketz is a rabbi and Educational Leader in the greater Pittsburgh area. Recently, she served Rodef Shalom Congregation Support Rabbi and Engagement Director. It was a return to her roots – she previously served this congregation as an Assistant Rabbi upon her ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1999. In between, she served Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria, VA, and Temple Emanuel of the South Hills as Rabbi and Director of Education.

 Rabbi Locketz is passionate about creating Jewish community and exploring the many ways to live authentically Jewish lives. As her love for Jewish education – both, teaching and learning – continued to grow, she returned to her alma mater – HUC-JIR and graduated in 2016 with an Executive Masters of Religious Education and was granted the highly coveted distinction of Reform Jewish Educator (RJE). In her capacity as an Educational Leader, she currently teaches an education class to students at the Academy of Jewish Religion in Los Angeles, CA.

 Rabbi Locketz served for many years as the co-chair of PAJE (Pittsburgh Area Jewish Educators). She is a past board member of the Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh. She is a current board member of the Association of Reform Jewish Educators and a lay leader on the Camp Harlam Council. She is an alumna of the Leadership Development Initiative of Leadership Pittsburgh and the STAR PEER (Synagogues Transformation and Renewal Professional Excellence in Education for Rabbis) Program.

 Rabbi Locketz enjoys doing yoga, taking long walks, reading good books and hanging out in coffee shops. She lives with her husband, two sons, and two cats in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.