Rabbi
Norman Gerstenfeld
Personal
BornSeptember 1, 1904
London, England
DiedJanuary 27, 1968
Washington, D.C., United States
ReligionJudaism
SpouseLouise Mundheim Gerstenfeld
DenominationReform Judaism
SemikhahHebrew Union College

Norman Gerstenfeld was an English-born American Reform rabbi who served as the senior rabbi of Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, D.C. He played a prominent role in the Jewish community of DC and the national Reform movement.[1]

Early life

Gerstenfeld was born in London, England, on September 1, 1904, the son of Rabbi Shmuel Gerstenfeld and Braina Pechman. Gerstenfeld's father was born in Rava-Russkaya, Galicia, in what is now Ukraine.[2] He was married to Louise Mundheim Gerstenfeld, who died in 1970 at age 64, two years after his death.[3]

Career

Gerstenfeld was ordained by the Hebrew Union College (HUC) in Cincinnati and also held a degree from American University in Washington, D.C. From 1935, he was a Fellow in Jewish Philosophy at the HUC.[4] He became an assistant rabbi at Washington Hebrew Congregation in 1935, a synagogue that had been in disarray and decline for several decades. Three years later he became senior rabbi of the congregation.[5]

On November 16, 1952, President Harry S. Truman attended the cornerstone laying at the Washington Hebrew Congregation's new synagogue building. President Truman addressed Rabbi Gerstenfeld in his opening statement, who was in attendance.[6]

Rabbi Gerstenfeld was initially a vocal anti-Zionist, however, by 1948 he had come to support the State of Israel.[7]

Death

Gerstenfeld died of a heart attack on January 27, 1968, at the age of 63.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Senior Rabbis". Washington Hebrew Congregation. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  2. ↑ "Rabbinical Profiles". JewishGen. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  3. ↑ "AIRS. GERSTENFELD, RABBI'S WIDOW, 64". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  4. 1 2 "Funeral Services Today for Rabbi Norman Gerstenfeld; Dies at 63". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  5. ↑ Raphael, Marc Lee (2000). "FROM ANTI-ZIONIST TO CHAMPION OF ISRAEL: THE METAMORPHOSIS OF REFORM RABBI NORMAN GERSTENFELD". Retrieved 2023-10-25. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ↑ "Remarks on Laying the Cornerstone of the New Temple of the Washington Hebrew Congregation". The American Presidency Project. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  7. ↑ "Washington, D.C." Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
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