JTS convocation honors local rabbis

Rabbi Arthur Weiner of the JCC of Paramus/Congregation Beth Tefillah, left, and Rabbi Paul Kurland of the Nanuet Hebrew Center and his wife, Gerri.

The Jewish Theological Seminary awarded 55 honorary doctorates to Conservative rabbis who have served the Jewish community with distinction for 25 years or more.

The ceremony was at Sutton Place Synagogue in Manhattan, with Alan Levine, chair of the JTS board of trustees, presiding. The chancellor of JTS, Dr. Arnold M. Eisen, conferred the degrees and delivered the convocation address.

Rabbi Shelley Kniaz, left, Rabbi Lori Forman-Jacobi, and Rabbi Joseph Prouser.

The rabbis receiving the Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, included congregational rabbis, Jewish communal professionals, educators, and chaplains from across the United States and Canada, as well as from Israel and Switzerland.

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Local honorees included Rabbi Lori Forman-Jacobi of Teaneck, the director of the Jewish Journey Project; Rabbi Shelley Kniaz, director of congregational learning at Temple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley in Woodcliff Lake; Rabbi Paul M. Kurland of the Nanuet Hebrew Center in New City, N.Y.; Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey in Franklin Lakes; Rabbi Arthur D. Weiner of the Jewish Community Center of Paramus/Congregation Beth Tikvah, and Rabbi Alberto Zeilicovich of Temple Beth Sholom in Fair Lawn. Rabbi Joshua S. Finkelstein, formerly of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey, and Rabbi Michael Steven Goldstein, formerly of the Glen Rock Jewish Center, also were among the honorees.