Temple Beth El Holds Installation Ceremony For Third Rabbi

The installation ceremony for Rabbi Michael S. Churgel, RJE, includes special music and liturgy led by Rabbi Churgel, Cantor Arlene Frank and adult and youth choirs beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Rabbi Churgel said he looks forward to working with synagogue members to build a warm, welcoming and spiritual communal home for liberal Jews.

"Temple Beth El (TBE) is undergoing a renaissance," said Rabbi Churgel. “I am thrilled to be supporting the congregation as its new spiritual leader at this exciting time.”

Since he joined TBE on July 1st, Rabbi Churgel has shared his love of music, prayer and teaching with the congregation and created and instituted new generational friendly liturgical innovations and prayer books, re-instituted family worship services and re-envisioned Tot Shabbat. He teaches Confirmation and Post-Confirmation students and will lead a family education course for b’nai mitzvah students and their families.

“Temple Beth El has a rich and meaningful history, and I am looking forward to working with our members to forge the next several chapters through engaging worship and educational experiences, and other meaningful opportunities for our community to come together,” he said.

Rabbi Churgel previously served at Temple Beth Elohim in Old Bethpage, NY as well as with congregations in Brooklyn, Southern California and Montana. He is a graduate of UCLA and was ordained in 2001 by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. The Forest Hills, NY native received Masters of Arts degrees in both Hebrew Letters and Jewish Education.

His background includes training as an educator and tour guide for the North American Federation of Temple Youth’s summer Israel programs; he led three high school groups and one college Birthright trip. Rabbi Churgel served for two years as the religious school principal in Staten Island.

Rabbi Churgel is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, New York Board of Rabbis and treasurer for the Rockland County Board of Rabbis. He and his wife, Shara Newman, have three children: eight year old Daphne, four year old Zoe and two year old Jason and will be living in the Airmont/Suffern area.

Synagogue leaders including Congregational President Steven Forman, trustees of TBE’s Board of Directors, and officers of the Temple Men's Club and Women of Reform Judaism groups, Rabbi Emeritus Ronald Mass, and representatives of the Union for Reform Judaism will support Rabbi Churgel's mentor, Rabbi Stephen J. Einstein, Ph.D., Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation B'nai Tzedek in Fountain Valley, CA during the formal installation.

"I've been a member of Temple Beth El for the past 46 years, and it is great to see us entering this new phase" said Forman. "We are thrilled to celebrate this Temple milestone with our community.”

Temple Beth El was chartered in 1947 by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the predecessor to the Union for Reform Judaism and grew under the leadership of Rabbi Louis Frishman. Its first building was dedicated in 1951 and the current building at 415 Viola Road was dedicated in 1965. With more than 300 families, Temple Beth El remains the largest Reform congregation in Rockland County.

On Sunday, Nov. 17th at 12 p.m. Temple Beth El invites the community to Family Fun Day to enjoy bounce toys and games for children, a video game truck for teens, cards and board games for adults, food and the chance to meet Rabbi Churgel and his family.