Please join us in welcoming Laura McGaha to Temple Beth El as our new Clergy Assistant.
In this role, Laura will support our clergy team with careful coordination that helps the clergy office run smoothly. Her work will cover scheduling, worship preparation, lifecycle support, congregant communication, and many of the behind-the-scenes details that help our clergy be present for the people and moments that matter most.
After six years in a remote role supporting work on a global scale, Laura was ready to be part of an organization with a strong community impact.
“This role immediately stood out as the ideal intersection of my corporate background and my desire for purpose-driven work,” Laura said.
Laura brings a strong background in administrative support, operations, communications, training, education, and church administration. She is especially looking forward to using that experience in support of our clergy team.
“Their community service is essential, and given their packed calendars, I find it highly rewarding to manage the operational details that allow them to maximize their impact,” she said.
As she begins this new chapter at TBE, Laura is also excited to deepen her understanding of Jewish life, lifecycle events, historical context, and the rhythm of the Hebrew calendar. “Gaining a nuanced understanding of these traditions is an aspect of the role I am genuinely excited to embrace,” she said.
Laura is not new to Charlotte, though she may have everyone beat on the number of times she has become new to Charlotte.
“Thanks to corporate moves, we’ve relocated to Charlotte four different times since 1996,” Laura said. “Because we lived in different neighborhoods and made new circles of friends each time, it feels like we’ve lived four different lifetimes right here in the Queen City!”
Outside of work, Laura’s top priority is family. With a granddaughter who is almost 2, she and her family feel grateful to live nearby and be part of her everyday life.
“Being close to our son, daughter-in-law, and their extended family allows us to stay deeply connected and truly share in the joy of watching her grow,” she said.
And just for fun, she will almost always say yes to escape rooms, speed puzzling, and good books, which feels like a pretty wonderful fit for the clergy office.
We are so glad to welcome Laura to our team and look forward to all she will bring to our clergy office and congregational community.
