Rabbi Eric B. Wisnia to retire from Cong. Beth Chaim

RABBI ERIC B. WISNIA announced his retirement after 42 years as senior rabbi at Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction.

He will retire on Jan. 31, 2019 from the congregation he joined in 1977. Beth Chaim will hire an interim rabbi and will then begin the search for a new senior rabbi.

Wisnia has led the congregation through substantial growth in his more than 40 years as senior rabbi and has presided over more than 4,000 lifecycle events.

He is a voice for religious liberty who said he believes that “We are all brothers and sisters, and when any of our rights are diminished, all of our rights are diminished.”

Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

His strong support for the building of the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton in West Windsor led the mosque to honor him with a Community Service Award in December 2014. He was also honored by the Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks in September 2018 for his service to the community.

Wisnia was born in Brooklyn in 1949 and was raised in Levittown, Penn. He graduated with a bachelor’s in religious thought from the University of Pennsylvania in May 1970 and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in March 1999.

He was ordained at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati in May 1974 and served as assistant rabbi at Congregation Shomer Emunim in Toledo, Ohio, before assuming his role at Congregation Beth Chaim.

Wisnia is married to Judith Glassburg of Philadelphia. He is the father of three children, Sara (married to Matthew Schiffer), Avi, and the late Dov.

The congregation is celebrating the role Wisnia has played in the synagogue and the community at large by hosting a benefit gala on Nov. 3, 2018. For tickets and journal ads please visit bethchaim.org/benefit.