Adath's Rabbi Kravitz Honored As One Of America's Most Inspiring Rabbis

This is a guest post by Barbara Rubin-Greenberg.
We recently learned that Rabbi Harold J. Kravitz, Max Newman Family Chair in Rabbinics at Adath Jeshurun Congregation, was named one of America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis by the Jewish Daily Forward.
“The rabbis profiled on these pages, and the hundreds more suggested by Forward readers, teach us a profound lesson about the yearnings of American Jews at this fraught moment in time,” wrote Jane Eisner, Editor-in-chief of The Jewish Daily Forward, in her introductory note for the list, titled “36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism.”
This honor is indicative of how Rabbi Kravitz’ impact is felt beyond our Congregation in very positive ways. He has exhibited such incredible leadership on ethics and religious and social justice issues locally, nationally and internationally. To name a few: He serves on the Executive Council of the Rabbinical Assembly (the international organization of Conservative rabbis) and six years as Chair of its Vaad Hakavod professional ethics committee.  He is currently Chair of the Board of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger.
Rabbi Kravitz also maintains a direct caring and compassionate connection to his congregants as well as through developing future leaders and mentoring rabbis.
Earlier this year, when the Forward published its intention to compile the list of America’s top rabbis and requested recommendations for nominations from their readers, Adath congregant Jerry Siegel, was one of the ones who nominated Rabbi Kravitz for the list.
“He has been a source of great comfort to us in our time of loss,” said Siegel, who was quoted in the article. “When our daughter, Karen, died 12 years ago, Rabbi Kravitz helped us find a meaningful way to honor her memory — by establishing the Keren Or Creative Arts Forum to encourage artistic activities of Jewish youth in Minnesota.”
“I am grateful to Jerry Siegel for nominating me, but there are many rabbis doing important work who could be featured,” Rabbi Kravitz said humbly after learning of the honor. “The article was an attempt to remind people of how important the role of the rabbi is in a community. I am honored to have been featured with 35 of my colleagues.”
We are so fortunate to have Rabbi Kravitz as our senior congregational rabbi. His values and his leadership go beyond what can be mentioned in any one article. Working with him is a delight because he is thoughtful and always comes from a place of high integrity and compassion.
Barbara Rubin-Greenberg is president of Adath Jeshurun Congregation.