Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone’s rabbinate is devoted to meeting people where they are, collaborating as partners, balancing tradition and innovation, cultivat- ing a multiplicity of pathways into Jewish learning and living, centering on our relationships with each other, Torah and God.

Rabbi Pepperstone has been serving as the rabbi for Ahavath Achim - Hebrew Congregation in Wichita, KS, which is part of the Wichita Jewish Community Center, since the summer of 2020. Rabbi Pepperstone received rabbinic ordi- nation from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2002, where he also studied Jewish Education at the Davidson School of Jewish education. Following his ordination, he served as rabbi in various capacities in Louisville, KY, including director of their local USY chapter, director of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, and Assistant Rabbi for Youth and Education at Keneseth Israel Congregation. From 2008-2011, Rabbi Pepperstone served as the first Rabbi- in-Residence at the Gross Schechter Day School in Cleveland, OH. From 2011- 2020, Rabbi Pepperstone served as the rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom- Chevra Shas in Syracuse, New York, where in addition to serving his congrega- tion, he was also involved in Syracuse’s interfaith community, both in the areas of dialogue and education as well as social action and justice. He holds a BA in Linguistics with a Minor in Hebrew Language from the University of Califor- nia in San Diego.

During the past decade, Rabbi Pepperstone has also made professional devel- opment a cornerstone of his growth as a rabbi, including non-profit manage- ment, davening leadership, and pastoral care.

Rabbi Pepperstone is married to Cantor Paula Pepperstone, who also served Keneseth Israel Congregation in Louisville, KY as their first female cantor be- tween 2002-2008. They have three children: Hadar, currently in her third year at SUNY Plattsburgh, Aviyah, a high school junior, and Matan, a recent gradu- ate from the Syracuse Hebrew Day School, is in 7th grade this year.

In addition, Rabbi Pepperstone is an avid cook and bread baker (he has already begun to make a local sourdough starter), board game enthusiast (including as- piring to develop a series of role playing games based on the Jewish lifecycle and festival calendar), Hebrew grammar guru, stand-up comedy aficionado, Star Wars expert, and pop culture trivia master.

The Pepperstones are delighted to be in Wichita, and despite the current COVID pandemic, happy to be part of the Jewish community here.

Rabbi Pepperstone can be reached at rabbipepperstone@gmail.com.