 |
Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel
432 Scotland Road
South Orange, NJ 07079
Expert in Biblical Studies and Duke University Professor will Help Commemorate the 20th Anniversary of her former student, Rabbi Daniel Cohen
Event Date: June 07, 2013
Download Word Doc: Click Here
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J., May 13, 2013 – Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel (TSTI) will welcome Dr. Carol Meyers, the Mary Grace Wilson Professor of Religion at Duke University, to their Friday night service on June 7, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend and hear Dr. Meyers speak on “The Relevancy of Archaeology in Today’s Political World,” while children enjoy a special enrichment program.
The memorable evening will kick-off the festivities surrounding Rabbi Daniel Cohen’s 20th anniversary at TSTI. Dr. Meyers was one of Rabbi Cohen’s undergraduate professors and was instrumental in guiding his career path to the rabbinate. Refreshments and more lively discussion will immediately follow the service.
Dr. Meyers is a prominent scholar and widely published author in the areas of archaeology, biblical studies, and gender in the biblical world. She is a sought-after consultant for media productions and a board member of several national organizations. She currently serves as President of the Society of Biblical Literature, the first and largest learned society devoted to biblical research.
The community’s anniversary celebrations will culminate the following weekend on Saturday, June 15, with an elegant cocktail and dessert reception. Rabbi David Ellenson, president of Hebrew Union College and one of Cohen’s professors at rabbinical school, will serve as guest speaker that evening.
In addition to the June celebrations, TSTI has established an educational endowment to honor Cohen’s passion for progressive Jewish education. The Rabbinic Endowment for Jewish Learning will enhance the synagogue’s ability to provide high-quality Jewish education to future generations, regardless of financial capability. Announced late this winter, the endowment has already raised over $500,000 in pledges.
Based in South Orange, New Jersey, Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel is a Reform congregation that welcomes all who wish to participate in and celebrate Jewish traditions and rituals. The temple draws members from many towns including South Orange, Maplewood, Short Hills, Millburn, Livingston and West Orange. It is recognized throughout the region for its innovative programs, worship services, community events, and groups dedicated to a wide array of religious, social and educational interests.
###
About Rabbi Daniel Cohen
Rabbi Cohen was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1993. He is a Certified Bereavement Facilitator and holds a master’s degree in Hebrew letters from HUC-JIR and a D.Min. in pastoral counseling from HUC-JIR and the Post-Graduate Center for Mental Health. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Duke University.
Cohen joined the clergy staff at TSTI upon ordination and has served as the community’s senior rabbi since 1999. He is credited with overseeing the renovation of TSTI’s sanctuary to become barrier free, spearheading the integration of technology into the temple’s many activities, and bringing the Torah commandment of bal taschit (“do not destroy”) to bear on TSTI’s green initiatives.