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Temple Sinai Hires Rabbi Daniel Fellman as New Senior Rabbi

RELEASE ON RECEIPT: Contact: Saul Straussman (saulstraussman@gmail.com, 412-478-1501) or, Lynn Rubenson, (lynnrubenson@gmail.com, 858-922 9201)

TEMPLE SINAI HIRES NEW SENIOR RABBI AS 75th YEAR COMMENCES

PITTSBURGH PA – April 19, 2021 – After a comprehensive search for a new senior rabbi, Temple Sinai of Pittsburgh, PA has hired Rabbi Daniel Fellman who has been the senior rabbi at Temple Concord in Syracuse, NY for more than a decade. The search was initiated when Rabbi Jamie Gibson retired in July 2020 after his service to Temple Sinai for 32 years. Rabbi Gibson remains as Rabbi Emeritus.

Saul Straussman, president of the Board of Trustees noted the dedication and time investment expended by the 20-person committee, which reflected a broad spectrum of congregants, led by co-chairs Lynn Magid Lazar and Rick Rosenthal. “A search for a new rabbi after such a long and storied tenure such as Rabbi Gibson’s is challenging in the best of times,” noted Straussman. “It becomes complex when you add in a pandemic and the need to conduct all interviews and meetings via teleconferences. Despite not being able to meet in person, Rabbi Fellman’s warmth and engaging personality was apparent.”

Rabbi Fellman formerly served as assistant and associate rabbi at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, NJ. With an impressive track record of community involvement, Rabbi Fellman was selected for Forty Under Forty in Syracuse in 2011. He currently serves on the Board of Interfaith Works and on the City/County Human Rights Commission. He also serves on the board of the Jewish Federation, the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation, and the University Hill Corporation.

Rabbi Fellman graduated from Colorado College with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1996 and from the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion with a master’s degree in Hebrew Letters in 2004 and was ordained in 2005. Rabbi Fellman is married to Melissa and they have three children.

“Temple Sinai’s reputation as an inclusive and innovative congregation that values social action and advocacy was most appealing to me. The more I spoke with various groups of congregants, I came to recognize that our aspirations were completely in sync. My family is enthusiastic about becoming part of the congregation and the thriving Pittsburgh Jewish community,” said Rabbi Fellman.

The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), the professional association of Reform rabbis, provides guidelines for a rabbinic search. The CCAR operates the placement commission in conjunction with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR). In advance of the search process, the synagogue embarked on a research process of surveys and focus groups which resulted in information to form a roadmap for the search.

Temple Sinai is a Reform Jewish synagogue and an inclusive community that embraces, supports and values all people, regardless of ability or needs, to participate in every activity at the synagogue. The congregation will be celebrating its 75th Anniversary beginning in September. Learn more at: www.TempleSinaiPGH.org.

 

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Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784