On April 28, 2025, Moving Traditions honored Rabbi Darcie Crystal and celebrated 20 years of our incredible impact on Jewish youth. If you feel inspired, you can still make a gift in honor of Rabbi Darcie Crystal and Moving Traditions’ 20 years of impact.
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Rabbi Darcie Crystal
Rabbi Darcie Crystal embodies the essence of bold leadership, perfectly poised for just such a time as this.
As Board Chair from 2020-2023, Darcie steered Moving Traditions through a pivotal period with her intelligence, compassion and strength. Darcie is driven by the belief that Judaism can be both a relevant and powerful force for our youth. She ensured that Moving Traditions persisted as a much-needed support system for our teens throughout and beyond the isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic while simultaneously shepherding the transition from founding CEO Deborah Meyer to Shuli Karkowsky in 2021.
Darcie’s connection to Moving Traditions is deeply personal. Early in her rabbinical career, she saw the power of Moving Traditions’ Rosh Hodesh program for teen girls at her congregation. Many years later, all three of her children have participated in Moving Traditions’ programs, experiencing firsthand the transformative power of the organization’s approach to Jewish education and youth engagement. Darcie appreciates how Moving Traditions creates safe and supportive spaces for teens to explore their Jewish identity, develop meaningful relationships, and cultivate the skills and values needed to become active and engaged citizens.
Currently, at Central Synagogue, Darcie provides guidance and support for those becoming Jewish, teaching Exploring Judaism and studying with students individually. Darcie also teaches various Adult Education classes for the Central Synagogue community on topics including ethics, Midrash and Jewish history. Prior, Darcie was a faculty member at HUC-JIR, where for over a decade she taught rabbinical students about leadership and social responsibility. As a rabbi, educator, and parent, Darcie believes that Judaism has the power to inspire and guide individuals in navigating the complexities of the modern world. She is passionate about ensuring that Jewish teens have access to deeply impactful experiences that connect them to their heritage, empowering them to make a positive difference in our world.