Rabbi David Bockman
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
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."
Rabbi Bockman is eager to bring 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."
