The date of Ernest Michel’s death was fitting, somehow. A Holocaust survivor and former executive vice president of UJA-Federation of New York from 1970-1989, Michel died at home on May 7, in the week between Yom Hashoah and Yom Ha’atzmaut. Michel was a Jewish communal executive for more than 60 years when such work was…
For the first time in my life, and in the nine years of my Jewish professional life, I find myself yearning to go to shul. Rabbi Justin has figured out how to encourage Jewish learning in a way that is relevant and important, while also being accessible for the “lay learner.” While I have truly…
I can personally attest to Rabbi Shaffin’s ability to change lives, as he very literally changed mine. Nearly three years after I had begun my path toward conversion but had been unable to find someone who both inspired me and was willing to really welcome me into the Jewish community, Rabbi Royi took me in…
Rabbi Goldstein has been able to unite a diverse community of Jews with a wide range of beliefs and practices in a fairly small town with compassion, humor and education. He inspires believers and nonbelievers alike, showing what Judaism has to offer to anyone who identifies with the Jewish community. I feel honored that he…
In a relatively short time at our shul, Rabbi Shapiro has created a sea change in our congregational learning. Every Shabbat our service is preceded by a superb new “Bread and Torah” session in which the rabbi discusses aspects of the weekly Torah portion. This session now always has 40 to 60 people meeting in…
Jessy is a down-to-earth rabbi who works for the JCC in Baltimore. In a city that was previously lacking a community feel for young adults, Rabbi Jessy changed that by starting and running the vibrant young adult group in Baltimore, Charm City Tribe. Rabbi Jessy makes the Jewish community, traditions and holidays accessible for young…
I have seen rabbis come and go in my 58 years of membership at Park Synagogue. Rabbi Skoff came 25 years ago and has been uplifting and inspiring. Our synagogue has grown to 1,800 families. He knows everyone by name and is very friendly to everyone. The most important thing he has done in my…
Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt is one of the most important and inspiring reasons why Adas Israel has evolved in so many positive, meaningful ways over the past several years. As the staff person for the Jewish Mindfulness Center, she has led developing and integrating what used to be “alternative” ways to access Judaism and spirituality —…
It is often difficult to guide young families toward participation in a congregation, other than to enroll their children in preschool or religious school. Rabbi Weinblatt has a special talent for touching this population. I have watched how he attracted my intellectual, skeptical Israeli son-in-law into becoming an active member by initially offering something that…
Rabbi Dan solves problems before others realize they exist. While the rest of the Jewish community was organizing bar nights and singles events to fill a void in the social lives of young pluralistic and secular Jews, Rabbi Dan worried that there was a spiritual void in the lives of this demographic that community leaders…
Rabbi Wilhelm is my biggest inspiration, role model and friend. He is the best example I know of on how to be a compassionate leader. Over the past 11 years, he has been the co-director of the Rohr Chabad House at the University of Colorado along with his wife, Leah. Yisroel and Leah are equal…
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