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: Templeisaiahmem @ 05/17/2008 11:35:46 PM
Comment: You are so right, Rabbi Sally is the BEST!!!!!!!!!! As I am sure you know how wonderful her Shabbat Services are. We all? love her, she brings our Judaism so close to our heats and makes us so proud to be Jews. Were you @ the healing service on Friday, if not you really misses something wonerful.
Shalom
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"?