Temple Beth Sholom of Pascack Valley

Rabbi David Bockman

Temple Beth Sholom of Pascack Valley is proud to announce that Rabbi David Bockman has joined the TBS community as Rabbi as of August 23, 2019. Rabbi Bockman comes to Temple Beth Sholom with a wealth of experience, warmth and enthusiasm.

David Bockman grew up in California and was ordained a rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in 1986. Since that time, he has served pulpits in Kansas City, Maryland, New Orleans and North Carolina. A fifteen- summer veteran of Camp Ramah, Rabbi Bockman enjoys an innovative and creative approach to Jewish Life. He has also previously served congregations in Bergenfield and Pompton Lakes and is currently involved with planning the North Jersey Board of Rabbi's annual night of adult Jewish education, 'Sweet Tastes of Torah.'

As a Seminary student, he won the Henry Fisher prize in homiletics, the Solomon and Rose S. Lasdon prize for creativity in translating Guys and Dolls into Hebrew, and first prize in the UJA/Morris Kaplun University essay contest. Rabbi Bockman has studied physics, linguistics, music and literature as an undergraduate at the University of California at San Diego. In addition to his Master of Arts in Jewish Studies and rabbinic ordination, he has completed course work towards his PhD in Jewish Philosophy, focusing on the post-modern French Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas. He has taught Jewish History at the University of New Orleans and developed adult courses on Jewish philosophy and the musicals of Stephen Sondheim, oppression, and the nexus between 20th century math and Judaism.

Rabbi David Bockman - Shofar Blowing

Rabbi Bockman is married to Vicki Hyman, who grew up in Monsey, NY, and together with their son Theo, enjoys living in Bergen County. Rabbi Bockman is known for playing jazz trumpet and shofar in klezmer, gospel and jazz groups including performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and House of Blues. His Jewish musical projects have included the vocal quartet 'Beignet Yisrael and the smooth jazz trio 'Rabbi, Russian and Blonde.'

According to Len Levy, Temple Beth Sholom's president, "Our TBS community is looking forward to the enthusiasm, leadership and spiritual guidance that Rabbi Bockman brings, and we are equally excited to welcome his family into our temple home."

Please join Temple Beth Sholom for Shabbat services Fridays at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Family services are held the first Friday of every month beginning at 6:30 p.m. Our Shabbat Siddur used at the Friday and Saturday services allows greater participation by those not familiar with Hebrew. All are welcome to join Temple Beth Sholom in worship and learning. TBS is a Conservative Egalitarian Synagogue serving the Pascack Valley Communities of Northern New Jersey (Bergen County) and Communities of Lower Rockland County, NY.

Rabbi Bockman is looking forward to bringing new growth and joy to the TBS family. "I feel very blessed to come to the Temple Beth Sholom community, which has a strong foundation of warmth, caring and commitment to Judaism. There are so many exciting things in store for TBS and I am so happy that my family and I are going to be a part of this wonderful Jewish community."