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Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel
432 Scotland Road
South Orange, NJ 07079
President of Hebrew Union College and Noted Jewish Scholar to Address the Future of the Progressive Movement in Honor of Rabbi Daniel Cohens 20th Anniversary
Event Date: June 15, 2013
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SOUTH ORANGE, N.J., May 22, 2013 – On Saturday, June 15, Rabbi David Ellenson, Ph.D., president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), is making a special guest appearance at Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel (TSTI) to honor his former rabbinical student, Rabbi Daniel Cohen, who is celebrating his 20th Anniversary at TSTI. The I.H. and Anna Grancell Professor of Jewish Religious Thought, Ellenson is an internationally recognized researcher and widely published author in the areas of Jewish religious thought, ethics and modern Jewish history.
TSTI invites the community to attend and hear Rabbi Ellenson’s stimulating address on “Reform Remains a Verb.” The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a lavish assortment of food and drinks and end with an elaborate dessert reception. Tickets for the gala are available to the public by calling the TSTI office at (973) 763-4116 or via email at lsporn@tstinj.org.
“We are delighted to have someone of Rabbi Ellenson’s stature within the Reform movement join us as our community comes together to honor the past and look forward to the future,” said Jay Rice, president of TSTI’s board of trustees.
The June 15 reception is the culmination of a two-week celebration of Rabbi Cohen’s tenure at TSTI. On June 7, the temple will welcome Professor Carol Meyers, one of Cohen’s professors during his undergraduate years at Duke University. During the Friday night service, Meyers, a noted scholar on biblical history and archaeology, will speak on “The Relevancy of Archaeology in Today’s Political World,” while children enjoy a special enrichment program.
Further honoring Rabbi Cohen’s 20-year milestone, TSTI has established an educational endowment in his honor. The Rabbinic Endowment for Jewish Learning will enhance the synagogue’s ability to provide high-quality Jewish education to future generations of temple members and the wider community. The endowment was announced late this winter as a way to create a lasting legacy and reflect Cohen’s passion for progressive Jewish education. Temple members have already responded enthusiastically with pledges of more than $600,000 to date.
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. 1.
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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.