Rabbi Tom Gardner

Rabbi Thomas Gardner

Rabbi Tom Gardner was born and raised in New York City. Rabbi Gardner received a BA from Oberlin College, with a major in East Asian Studies. After working in Japan for the Japanese Ministry of Education, he returned to work in New York. A few years later, he matriculated at the University of Michigan, where he received an MA in Japanese Studies.

After another year of advanced study in Japan, Rabbi Gardner returned to New York, where he worked at the Consulate General of Japan, and rejoined his childhood synagogue, Rodeph Sholom. In 2003 he left his position at the Japanese Consulate to attend HUC-JIR.

From 2005 to 2008 he was the rabbinic intern at the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue. 

On May 4th, 2008 Tom was ordained a Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in New York City. He was then appointed Rabbi of Beth Shalom Synagogue of Baton Rouge, LA.

In November of 2011, Rabbi Gardner married Alina Vogelhut.

Rabbi Gardner is happy to speak to anyone who has questions about Judaism, and always encourages people to attend his classes as well as services. 

Please come and join Rabbi Gardner and our Beth Shalom Family for Shabbat Services. Click here to view our calendar.