Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Poor machine maintenance blamed for fire at Akron business
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
Indians add 7 players to 40-man roster
Body with gunshot wounds found in Canton Township creek
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
The proposed new LeBron mural doesn't do it for me
Akron Zips:
Two blowouts, one night
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Hey, somebody's gotta stick up for the Browns
Kent State Sports:
Singletary update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Indiana Pacers – Here’s to LBJ and Free Throws
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Bowling season starts today
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Muslim McCarthyism & Death Prayers
Akron Law Café:
Federal Judge Declares DOMA Unconstitutional
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Norma asks if Barkitecture is still at Stan Hywet.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Colette M. Jenkins
Beacon Journal religion writer
POSTED: 03:26 p.m. EDT, Jul 10, 2009
The focal point for the new rabbi at Temple Israel is caring for people.
''The most important thing in my rabbinate is going to be pastoral care,'' said Rabbi Robert Feinberg, who officially began his tenure as the 13th rabbi of the reform congregation on July 1. ''Mine will be a rabbinate of presence, being there for people and being present in the community, fulfilling my responsibility to preach, teach, counsel and organize.''
Feinberg, 55, and his wife, Myra, came to Temple Israel from Congregation B'nai Torah in Highland Park, Ill., where he had served since 2004 as an assistant rabbi. His duties at the Illinois synagogue included teaching a Torah study group and adult education classes on Israel and Zionism. He also provided support to several committees and groups at B'nai Torah and provided pastoral care to members in hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
Before his service at B'nai Torah, Feinberg spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy chaplaincy. His assignments included the U.S. Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy; a synagogue in Okinawa, Japan; the U.S. Naval Academy; and Great Lakes Naval Training Center. He was the founding rabbi of the first liberal synagogue in the former Soviet Union, Congregation Hineini in Moscow.
Feinberg is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and has served as the organization's liaison to the Chaplaincy Commission of the Jewish Welfare Board.
In Illinois, he was a representative of the Chicago Area Reform Rabbis to the Jewish Community Relations Council. He also provided rabbinical support at the Great Lakes Naval Base as a member of the Steering Committee of the Jewish Community Centers of Chicago and was chaplain for the Highland Park Police Department.
Feinberg said that in addition to reaching out to the membership at Temple Israel, he plans to be active in the Jewish and general communities.
''I am very much interested in furthering the interfaith role that has been so important to the legacy of Temple Israel,'' Feinberg said. ''This is a congregational community with a rich history, and I am looking forward to being a part of its heritage. This is a wonderful opportunity for me.''
Feinberg was selected from a pool of about 30 candidates to replace Rabbi David Lipper, whose contract was not renewed by the local congregation. Temple Israel President Arthur Krakauer said that Feinberg's personality is the perfect fit for the congregation.
''He is a man of compassion who cares about others even more than himself,'' Krakauer said. ''He has a lot of skills and experience with interfaith and community activities. Perhaps his greatest strength is his pastoral care — he has already demonstrated that by going out and visiting those who are sick during his two brief visits to the area before relocating here.''
Feinberg, who was ordained in 1982, earned degrees from Yale University, Temple University and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
The Riverdale, N.Y., native said his first order of business is to learn about his congregation and the community.
''It will take some time for me to get to know the congregational community and the general community, but I like what I've seen so far,'' Feinberg said. ''I am looking forward to helping the community advance and reach its goals.''
The focal point for the new rabbi at Temple Israel is caring for people.
''The most important thing in my rabbinate is going to be pastoral care,'' said Rabbi Robert Feinberg, who officially began his tenure as the 13th rabbi of the reform congregation on July 1. ''Mine will be a rabbinate of presence, being there for people and being present in the community, fulfilling my responsibility to preach, teach, counsel and organize.''
Feinberg, 55, and his wife, Myra, came to Temple Israel from Congregation B'nai Torah in Highland Park, Ill., where he had served since 2004 as an assistant rabbi. His duties at the Illinois synagogue included teaching a Torah study group and adult education classes on Israel and Zionism. He also provided support to several committees and groups at B'nai Torah and provided pastoral care to members in hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
Before his service at B'nai Torah, Feinberg spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy chaplaincy. His assignments included the U.S. Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy; a synagogue in Okinawa, Japan; the U.S. Naval Academy; and Great Lakes Naval Training Center. He was the founding rabbi of the first liberal synagogue in the former Soviet Union, Congregation Hineini in Moscow.
Feinberg is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and has served as the organization's liaison to the Chaplaincy Commission of the Jewish Welfare Board.
In Illinois, he was a representative of the Chicago Area Reform Rabbis to the Jewish Community Relations Council. He also provided rabbinical support at the Great Lakes Naval Base as a member of the Steering Committee of the Jewish Community Centers of Chicago and was chaplain for the Highland Park Police Department.
Feinberg said that in addition to reaching out to the membership at Temple Israel, he plans to be active in the Jewish and general communities.
''I am very much interested in furthering the interfaith role that has been so important to the legacy of Temple Israel,'' Feinberg said. ''This is a congregational community with a rich history, and I am looking forward to being a part of its heritage. This is a wonderful opportunity for me.''
Feinberg was selected from a pool of about 30 candidates to replace Rabbi David Lipper, whose contract was not renewed by the local congregation. Temple Israel President Arthur Krakauer said that Feinberg's personality is the perfect fit for the congregation.
''He is a man of compassion who cares about others even more than himself,'' Krakauer said. ''He has a lot of skills and experience with interfaith and community activities. Perhaps his greatest strength is his pastoral care — he has already demonstrated that by going out and visiting those who are sick during his two brief visits to the area before relocating here.''
Feinberg, who was ordained in 1982, earned degrees from Yale University, Temple University and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
The Riverdale, N.Y., native said his first order of business is to learn about his congregation and the community.
''It will take some time for me to get to know the congregational community and the general community, but I like what I've seen so far,'' Feinberg said. ''I am looking forward to helping the community advance and reach its goals.''
Comments
Click here to post your comments
