RELIGION
Top 25 Pulpit Rabbis in America
Updated: 5:09 p.m. ET Apr 11, 2008
Based on the overwhelming response to the "influentials" list last year, Lynton, Ginsberg and Sanderson put together a list of the best pulpit rabbis in the country. The most powerful people, it turns out, are not always the most inspirational. Here are the criteria for pulpit rabbis:
• Ability to inspire congregation through scholarship and oratory
• Success in growing and expanding congregation
• Community leadership and innovation
• Ability to meet spiritual and personal needs and goals of his/her congregation
• Leadership within denominational movement
| The Rabbis | ||||
| 1. | David Wolpe (Conservative)
Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, CA |
14. | Mark Schiftan (Reform)
Ohabai Sholom, Nashville, TN |
|
| 2. | Haskel Lookstein (Orthodox)
Congregation Kehilith Jeshurun, New York, NY |
15. | Peter Rubinstein (Reform)
Central Synagogue, New York, NY |
|
| 3. | Jack Moline (Conservative)
Agudas Achim, Alexandria, VA |
16. | Rachel Nussbaum (Conservative)
Kavana, Seattle, WA |
|
| 4. | David A. Lyon (Reform)
Congregation Beth Israel, Houston, TX |
17. | Rick Block (Reform)
Tifereth Israel, Cleveland, OH |
|
| 5. | J. Rolando (Roly) Matalon (Conservative)
B’nai Jeshurun, New York, NY |
18. | Janet Marder (Reform)
Congregation Beth Am, Palo Alto, CA |
|
| 6. | Avi Weiss (Orthodox)
Hebrew Institute, Bronx, NY |
19. | Kenneth Hain (Orthodox)
Congregation Beth Sholom, Lawrence, NY |
|
| 7. | David Stern (Reform)
Temple Emanu-El, Dallas, TX |
20. | Ed Feinstein (Conservative)
Valley Beth Shalom, Encino, CA |
|
| 8. | Brant Rosen (Reconstructionist)
Jewish Reconstructionist, Evanston, Ill |
21. | Amy Schwartzman (Reform)
Temple Rodef Shalom, Falls Church, VA |
|
| 9. | Sharon Brous (Conservative)
IKAR, Los Angeles, CA |
22. | Asher Lopatin (Orthodox)
Anshe Shalom, Chicago, IL |
|
| 10. | Andy Bachman (Reform)
Congregation Beth Elohim, Brooklyn, NY |
23. | Terry A. Bookman (Reform)
Temple Beth Am, Miami, FL |
|
| 11. | Yosef Kanefsky (Orthodox)
B’nai David-Judea, Los Angeles, CA |
24. | Mordechai Finley (Reform)
Ohr HaTorah, Los Angeles, CA |
|
| 12. | Harold Loss (Reform)
Temple Israel, Detroit, MI |
25. | Moshe Waldoks (Renewal)
Temple Beth Zion, Brookline, MA |
|
| 13. | Jeffrey Wohlberg (Conservative)
Adas Israel, Washington, DC |
|||
For video interviews with Rabbis from the list visit www.jewishtvnetwork.com
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: llydia @ 04/26/2008 10:58:47 PM
Comment: I am not sure who was polled; Rabbi Vogel at Temple Aliyah in Woodland Hills is one of the best Rabbi's and didn't even appear on the list. I don't know who Lynton, Ginsberg and Sanderson spoke to ... apparently not anyone from the West San Fernando Valley or any of the hundreds of people Rabbi Vogel encounters on a regular basis.
Posted By: shimr @ 04/22/2008 5:19:58 PM
Comment: Was this list Divinely Revealed? If I do not accept this listing, am I an "Apikoris"?
Posted By: shimr @ 04/22/2008 7:40:50 AM
Comment: Is this list Divinely-inspired or man-made? If one does not believe that these Spriitual Leaders are spokesmen for the Jewish faith, is he an "Apikorus"?