B’nai Shalom’s Newest Boomerang- Rachel Kriegsman

Rachel & her family enjoy Thanksgiving at B’nai Shalom

Rachel Kriegsman, B’nai Shalom alumna from the Class of 2001, recently returned to Greensboro after many years away. A Greensboro native whose family has been part of the community for a century, Rachel is now the Executive Director of Beth David Synagogue. Her journey has taken her from B’nai Shalom to Grimsley, to Israel, to Washington, D.C., and back home again, and she brings with her deep roots and a strong sense of community.

Rachel, top left, with students in her class

Q: Can you tell us a little about your family's history and your own history in Greensboro?
A: My grandfather and his brother moved to Greensboro in the 1920s to open Kriegsman’s, and I very much grew up in that family business. B’nai Shalom was a close second in terms of a home outside of the home after my family’s store. 

Q: What differences do you see between how you grew up here and the environment your child is growing up in now? Has the city changed?
A: Greensboro has so much to offer, at least from what was on my radar as a kid. There are so many great cultural events, activities, and new coffee shops to explore. It has a nice blend of things to do while not being a big city with overwhelming traffic, and still offering a nice quality of life.

Q: What stands out the most when you reflect on your time at B’nai Shalom as a student?
A: The quality of life at B’nai: The love, the education, the way the teachers let us blossom as people. Looking back, we likely took it for granted. Having lived in many places since my B’nai days, I can now appreciate how well-prepared B’nai makes you as a human being.

Q: Can you give an example of something you felt prepared for going into high school?
A: Confidence in who we are as people. Coming from a smaller place like B’nai to a big high school at Grimsley, it’s a totally different world. I spent part of my senior year in Israel as part of the Alexander Muss High School and then returned to Israel for a gap-year program before starting college. Through high school and the start of college, I realized how much a sense of community and confidence was instilled in me. 

Q: Is there a specific core memory, moment, or person you think about from your years at B’nai?
A: So many remarkable teachers come to mind. Every grade had amazing teachers. The love and care they showed really stands out. I remember coming back to visit years after graduation and still feeling a sense of connection and community here.

Q: Was there a tradition you remember?
A: We used to have “Shabbat Surprise,” which I think is quite similar to Family Shabbat now. On Friday mornings, we would gather in the gym and there would be a surprise guest, story, or something fun. It built excitement and helped instill a sense of connection through tradition. It wasn’t about being observant – it was about the ritual and bringing everyone together.

Q: What did you do after B’nai Shalom?
A: After B’nai I went to Grimsley, then spent a year in Israel where I lived in Jerusalem and later on Kibbutz Saad working in the refet (the cowshed). After returning from Israel, I went to Goucher College in Baltimore and then began working in Washington, D.C. after graduation. In 2017, I moved back to North Carolina to pursue my master’s in environmental management at Duke. That’s where I met my husband and the rest is history. It has been so nice to be back in Greensboro close to family.

Q: What do you hope for your child now that he is at B’nai?
A: I wish for him that he grows up with a sense of values and confidence - similar to what was instilled in me here at B’nai - that put him on his best path forward. Being on the synagogue side of the building, I have the joy of getting to hear the students’ laughter and joy throughout the day, which really is such a perk of the job. Kids from all backgrounds love the school and the community. Even the youngest ones walk through the building, wave, say good morning. I see that confidence and resilience already building - they can do anything.