Rabbi with ‘influence’ to address federation annual meeting
Rabbi David Wolpe — who has appeared on lists of the most influential Jews in America and the world — will speak about How Judaism Teaches Us to Improve our World at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, to be held on Wednesday, June 1, at 7 p.m. at the Aidekman Jewish Community Campus in Whippany.
The honoree will be outgoing UJA Campaign chair Maxine Murnick, who has held many leadership roles at federation, raised funds for the organization, participated on federation missions to Israel, and served as a mentor to young leaders.
The 2016 Julius and Bessie Cohn Young Leadership Award recipients, Robert Francis and Shira Rothschild, will be announced by last year’s recipients, Lee Murnick and Ariel Nelson.
Wolpe, whose talk will cover the quest to bring holiness to communal life, is religious leader of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. He was recently named one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world by The Jerusalem Post and the most influential rabbi in America by Newsweek magazine.
Wolpe has been published widely, including in The New York Times, The LA Times, The Washington Post’s “On Faith” website, and The Jewish Week. His eight books include the national best-seller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times and his newest work, David: The Divided Heart, which was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. He has appeared on television numerous times, including on Today and Face the Nation.
Event cochair Merle Kalishman of Livingston said Murnick “is able and willing to step forward and do the hard job, and she always accomplishes her goal with a cool elegance.” Her cochair, Wendy Rosenberg of Westfield, said Wolpe will provide “a new and inspired perspective on our roles as Jews in the greater society.”
Dessert will be served. Donations of gift cards in any amount for Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, or Camp Stuff 4 Less will be accepted to help underprivileged children purchase supplies and equipment for summer camp.
The cost is $18; to RSVP, contact Michelle Zeman at mzeman@jfedgmw.org or 973-929-3019 or visit jfedgmw.org/annual.
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