SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Congregation Beth Israel will officially install Rabbi Jordie Gerson as its assistant rabbi in a Shabbat celebration on Friday, December 5 at 6:15 p.m. Rabbi Gerson started as assistant rabbi of Beth Israel in July. Rabbi Gerson’s father, Rabbi Gary Gerson, rabbi emeritus of Oak Park Temple in Oak Park, Illinois will officiate at the installation.
The installation ceremony and Shabbat service are free and open to the public, and will take place in the Glickman-Galinson Sanctuary at Beth Israel. The service will be followed by a celebratory reception.
After pursuing a Master’s at Harvard Divinity School, Rabbi Gerson attended Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem and New York City, where she served Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, Brooklyn, Congregation Rodeph Sholom on the Upper West Side of New York City, and The Edgar Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at NYU. In addition, she sat on panels at Harvard Divinity School, and served as a consultant for the Jewish Museum.
After ordination, she served as the Senior Jewish Fellow and Associate Rabbi at the Slifka Center at Yale University, as associate rabbi and assistant director for Hillel at the University of Vermont, and as visiting rabbinic associate at Temple Emanu-el Beth Sholom.
Rabbi Gerson is a prolific writer who has been published in the Huffington Post, Harvard Divinity Bulletin, MyJewishLearning.com, Jewcy.com, and Lilith Magazine.
Says Senior Rabbi Michael Berk: “The Talmud says: get yourself a friend and a rabbi. In Rabbi Gerson we have both, a friend who cares about every member of our community and a teacher with keen insights into the teachings of our tradition. It’s a joy to welcome her to our Beth Israel family.”
Congregation President Meg Mandel adds, “Rabbi Gerson is a great addition to our clergy team. She has already infused Beth Israel with her warmth, knowledge and deep love of Judaism.”
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Preceding provided by Congregation Beth Israel