Henry M. Weiner

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             I was ordained on June 5, 1962 by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion at Temple Emanuel in New York City and served my first congregation in Glen Falls, NY, from 1962 – 1967.  In 1967 I accepted a position at Temple Shalom, Aberdeen, NJ, where I served as rabbi until my retirement in 1999.

My thirty two years at Temple Shalom evolved around three personal philosophical levels: the rabbi and his responsibilities towards his congregation; the rabbi and intra-Jewish community relations and the rabbi and the non-Jewish community.  Functioning within these three levels brought me great honor and great satisfaction.

I have served as president of the Bayshore association of Priests, Ministers and Rabbis from 1968 – 1969; as, Commissioner of Human Rights, Matawan, NJ, from 100 – 1974; Chairman, Bayshore Association of Priests and Rabbis, Committee on Drug Addiction 1975 – 1976; Chairman, Monmouth County Committee for Recreational Facilities and Programs 1977 – 1978; Pastoral Board, Bayshore Hospital, Holmdel, NJ, 1988 – 1998; received a certificate of appreciation for aiding in the establishment of the Matawan/Aberdeen Orthodox Congregation, Bet Tefilla in 1979; received the Citizenship Citation for Meritorious Service from B’nai B’rith in 1980; Certificate of Appreciation for Ten Year Dialogue on Christian/Jewish Relations from Communities of Saint Benedict, Holmdel, NJ, 1988 – 1998; certificate of appreciation for Building American-Jewish relations from the Matawan/Keyport Chapter of Hadassah 1994 – 1998; Award of Appreciation for Service in Establishing Interfaith Chapel, Bayshore Community Hospital, 1996; Award of Appreciation for Service on Pastoral Board Bayshore Community Hospital 1997 – 1998; Award for Family Issues Programs, National Council of Jewish Women, 1997 and Award of Appreciation for Educational Services, New Jersey Regional Reform Kalla 1990 – 1998.

During my tenure at Temple Shalom, and with the intent to better serve my congregation, I attended the Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute of Religion and Health in NYC and received a certificate in Advanced Studies in Pastoral Counseling for rabbis in 1988 and a certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seton Hall University in NJ, that same year.  In 1992, I earned the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Psychology from New York Theological Seminary.

I have been proud of my ongoing commitment to Israel, leading with my wife the National Federation of Temple Youth Bible Institute programs in Israel annually, during the summers of 1968 – 1981 as well as numerous congregational trips to Israel.

From 1999 – 2004, upon retirement from Temple Shalom, I served as a part- time rabbi at Congregation Adas Emuno in Leonia, NJ, and held a part-time position from 2004 – 2007 at Congregation Sha’arey Ha-Yam in Barnegat, NJ.

My wife, Rickie and I are currently living in Washington DC where I have been teaching the Outreach Program sponsored by the Reform movement; engaged in pastoral services for

GW Hospital and served as rabbi for the High Holidays at Leisure Village, Silver Spring, MD.

We are enjoying the proximity of living near our family and having the opportunity to travel for extended visits to Jerusalem, home to our Israeli extended family.