MARLBORO — Temple Rodeph Torah has reached a 10-year agreement with Rabbi Don Weber, the temple’s longtime spiritual leader. The temple’s board unanimously voted in favor of the contract in March.
“Rabbi Weber epitomizes all that is good and is right about Temple Rodeph Torah. He has been with our congregation for over three decades, since its beginnings, and he truly understands the needs of our congregation and of our entire community,” temple President Larry Rosen said.
“He challenges all of us to embrace change and be open to new experiences so we can acquire a deeper understanding and appreciation of our Jewishness. Our congregants at Temple Rodeph Torah and the entire community greatly value Rabbi Weber’s enthusiasm, commitment, warmth, extraordinary pulpit skills and breadth of knowledge,” Rosen said.
Weber said: “I love being part of the most innovative, forward-thinking congregation I know of, but innovation alone is not enough. What makes Temple Rodeph Torah special is its dedication to finding holiness, connections to God and connections to other people, in every aspect of our lives.
“It is our job, my job, to find that spark of holiness that resides in each of us and fan it into a flame. There is so much in our world that pushes us to be ordinary, but Judaism encourages us to see the extraordinary in everything, most especially in ourselves. This is my sacred job, and I am thrilled to continue this work at Temple Rodeph Torah.”
Weber has been the temple’s rabbi since 1984, according to a press release.
In 2013 he was named one of “50 Faces of Justice” by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) in Washington, D.C. Marlboro and Monmouth County have honored him for his work in social justice, specifically as creator of TRTCares, the temple’s community outreach program during the recent economic crisis.
He is a life member of the Morganville First Aid and Rescue Squad.
His wife, Rabbi Shira Stern, is the director of the Center for Pastoral Care and Counseling in Marlboro and the primary school educator at Temple Rodeph Torah. They have three sons and a daughter-in-law.