Comments on: My Favorite Rabbis: Everett Gendler

By: The Persistent Distortion Of Memory « After The Massacre

The Persistent Distortion Of Memory « After The Massacre — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:04:17 +0000

[...] to be plagiarized, so we have to assume them to be true. In fact, a speech at the Concord Dr. King gave in 1968 to a Rabbinical assembly which Appelbaum references in his editorial did, in fact, occur. [...]

By: Ron Medvin

Ron Medvin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:37:15 +0000

I wish I could get in touch with Rabbi Gendler, the Rabbi in Princeton when I was the youth group president…he was the rabbi when I was Bar Mitzvahed as well. (Not a verb, right?!?) A GREAT man!–Ron Medvin, Tampa (rmedvin@hotmail.com if anyone knows how to get in touch with him.)

By: Ross

Ross — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:47:39 +0000

Rabbi Gendler’s “The Pursuit of Peace: A Singular Commandment” can be read on-line here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=iADEzwy42bgC&pg=PA31
His translations of some of the writings of Rabbi Aaron Samuel Tamarat are available here
http://www.shalomctr.org/node/136
and here
http://www.acjna.org/acjna/articles_detail.aspx?id=301

By: Alison Climo

Alison Climo — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:01:38 +0000

I had the great pleasure of learning from Rabbi Gendler as a student at Phillips Academy in the 1980s, where he served as the Jewish Chaplain. Rabbi Gendler enouraged my Jewish exploration and supported my involvement and leadership in PA’s Jewish Student Union. Later, under the trees in my parents’ backyard, Rabbi Gendler married me and my husband in a beautiful Jewish ceremony. Although my husband was not raised a jew, Rabbi Gendler helped us understand how we could join our lives together under the faith of Judaism and we have done that successfully ever since! Thank you for this profile!

By: Michael Epstein

Michael Epstein — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:54:15 +0000

My bar mitzvah ceremony was held one April Saturday in 1978 at Temple Emmanuel in Lowell, MA. I was far from the best student; I didn’t have a particular fondness for learning Hebrew, and I slacked off on tying the talit.

I’ll never forget the disappointment on his face when he learned I hadn’t tyed those strings. I felt horrible for letting him down.

I remember Rabbi Gendler as a believer, a very spiritual man. I was puzzled as a youth by his embracing of vegetarianism. What man wouldn’t like to sink his teeth into a McDonald’s Big Mac, I wondered?

I’ve met few rabbis over the years who have left the sort of impact that Rabbi Gendler did. I heard sporadically of some of the work he’s done over the years since then. I’m very glad to see this piece, nicely done.

By: Cathy Starr

Cathy Starr — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:44:18 +0000

I met Rabbi Gendler when we joined Temple Emanuel, Lowell MA. He constantly reminds me that the most mundane things in our lives can become spiritual acts. He has been my mentor for 30 years and has helped me grow as a person. I am truly truly honored to know him and his wife Mary.

By: Michael Finegold

Michael Finegold — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:11:09 +0000

Our family was part of the Temple Emanuel, Lowell, MA congragation while Rabbi Gendler served. Every service was intimate, spiritual, and could be said poetry. I want to add that Gendler was also devoted to the Arts. He had a subscription to the Boston Symphony and encouaged classical music performances at some of the services. I was one of the musicians encouraged. His gratitude and appreciation was great.

By: Joni Finegold

Joni Finegold — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:47:38 +0000

Rabbi Gendler was my childhood rabbi and I will always be grateful for the blessing of growing up in that congregation. To me, Everett is THE rabbi and none will ever match him. Even as a child, his wisdom and kindness were palpable (even when he told me off.) He has been a great inspiration for my work in international conflict resolution. I remember hearing that he marched with King, I never quite understand the details. I am even more inspired by his work now that I do. Thank your for this posting.

By: Elizabeth Steiner Hayward

Elizabeth Steiner Hayward — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:39:31 +0000

I had the privilege of learning from Rabbi Gendler when he served as Rabbi for Phillips Academy (Andover) where I was a student in the late 70′s. Through Rabbi Gendler, I celebrated the first ever bat mitzvah at Andover when I was 17, became a vegetarian (which has largely continued for 30 years now), and incorporated many practices and beliefs into my Jewish life that have truly changed my perception of the world and our place in it. He is truly a lamed vavnik, one of the 36 righteous people who walk the earth at any given time. bis eyn hunderd und svansig!

By: Nancy Goldberg

Nancy Goldberg — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:30:24 +0000

Growing up in New Jersey during the civil rights movement, Rabbi Joachim Prinz was my rabbinic hero.

http://www.joachimprinz.com/civilrights.htm