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Rabbi Laurence Milder was installed as spiritual leader at Congregation Beth Emek in Pleasanton last weekend in a Shabbat service on Saturday presided over by Rabbi Avi Shulman of Fremont’s Temple Beth Torah and then a special concert Sunday evening.
The concert in Milder’s honor featured the Josh Nelson Project, one of the most popular acts in modern Jewish music. A multi-instrumentalist and prolific songwriter, Nelson’s music is celebrated and integrated in congregations and communities around the world.
Milder, an accomplished guitarist, himself, performed with Nelson for a few songs. Then Nelson filled the room with music for the next 75 minutes with Beth Emek packed with congregants rocking and rolling well into the evening.
Milder, a native of St. Louis, took the Beth Emek post last July. Known for his exceptional pastoral and teaching skills, he had served congregations in Indianapolis, Bangor, Maine, and Westborough, Mass.
He also served as an assistant professor at the University of Maine, a lecturer at the Bangor Theological Seminary, and for two years was on the faculty at the Hebrew Academy, where he served as its reform rabbi.
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Rabbi Laurence Milder (right) joins popular Jewish singer Josh Nelson at concert Sunday after being installed as spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Emek in Pleasanton. Photo by Rick Altman. -
Rabbi Laurence Milder joins others in “rocking” to the music of popular Jewish singer Josh Nelson at concert in his honor Sunday at Congregation Beth Emek in Pleasanton where he was installed as its spiritual leader. Photo by Rick Altman.
Why is reform is quotes? Is he not a real reform rabbi?
Rabbi Milder is absolutely a Reform rabbi, ordained at Hebrew Union College. The word reform should not be in quotes. If you are interested, Rabbi Milder wrote a weekly message explaining this very topic. See “We’re Not Reformed”, July 26, 2013: http://www.bethemek.org/rabbi-milders-weekly-messages/