Contact Rabbi Adler rabbiadler@adathisraelnj.org
Rabbi Benjamin Adler has been the spiritual leader of Adath Israel Congregation since 2014. He is passionate about being present and guiding individuals and families through the sweetness, sorrows, challenges, and opportunities of Jewish life. Drawing on the ancient wisdom of the tradition and the progressive values of modern Judaism, he has spent years building and sustaining warm, committed, and caring communities that support each member as they find their own unique spiritual path.
A graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City where he earned a master’s degree in Jewish Philosophy, Rabbi Adler also studied at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, he graduated cum laude from Columbia University with a BA in History.
Before entering rabbinical school, he worked for Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York City and spent time working in the digital media world. Rabbi Adler has served congregations in Rockaway, New Jersey, Pittsfield, Massachusetts and Greenport, New York.
He has served as president of the Board of Rabbis of Princeton Mercer Bucks, vice president of the New Jersey Rabbinical Assembly, on the board of trustees of the Gottesman RTW Academy, and on the Religious Pluralism committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest New Jersey. Rabbi Adler co-founded the Rockaway Interfaith Community, worked with the New Jersey Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee and Clergy of Lawrence Township, and helped plan a conference that trained Conservative rabbis in the skills of community organizing.
When he is not teaching, preaching, and leading his congregation, Rabbi Adler can probably be found following the San Antonio Spurs, reading, watching a good movie or TV show, fixing things around the house, or on the slopes in the winter. He is married to Lisa Adler and they have three children: Ronen, Jonah, and Miya.
Photo credit: Mike Schwartz
Click on the title of the articles below to read on Rabbi Adler’s website
- Reprieve July 11, 2024Two elections in the last few days in two of America’s most important allies have had a big impact on the large Jewish populations of those nations. Both the United Kingdom and France went to the polls within days of each other. The impact of the results depends upon one’s expectations. One the one hand, […]
- Spoils of War July 5, 2024War creates moral dilemmas. In fighting to achieve a just outcome, militaries are faced with difficult choices. While it is impossible to prevent civilian casualties, armies cannot indiscriminately kill the innocent. In protecting civilians, soldiers may sometimes be forced to sacrifice military goals. During the Israel-Hamas war, civilian deaths and injuries have been the focus […]
- The Beginning of the Story June 28, 2024Our society’s children should be a source of unity in our country. Everyone wants kids to grow and thrive and succeed in life. Everyone wants our students to achieve in math and science and reading. Yet, for some reason we have decided to fight our culture wars through our children. What books they can read, […]
- Safe Haven June 14, 2024If one were to take bets 10 years ago which North American nation would elect its first Jewish head of government, the safe wager would be on the United States or maybe Canada. Life has a funny way of upending expectations as Mexico will soon have the distinction of being the first country in this […]
- They Saved the World June 6, 2024Today marks the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of northern Europe during World War II, otherwise known as D-Day. The youngest veterans of that battle are 98 years old, some of whom made their way to France for the celebration. This moment is an opportunity to contemplate what the war means today, 8 decades […]
- To Return Or Not To Return May 24, 2024During my time in rabbinical school, we had short seminars called “minimesters” that gave us an opportunity to grapple with issue in depth that could not be covered during our regular curriculum. For a week or two during semester breaks we would learn about clergy boundaries or couples’ therapy. One minimester dealt with ethical issues […]
- Exclusion May 16, 2024I once served on a jury decades ago when I lived in New York City. I was working at the time and hadn’t yet entered rabbinical school. During jury selection I was given a questionnaire which asked whether I was willing to vote for conviction on the basis of only one witness. The reason for […]
- Sing Loud and Proud May 10, 2024There is much that Americans don’t understand about Israelis. These two peoples live in different parts of the world with different cultural perspectives and understandings of the world. Sometimes we are baffled by each other and the things we hold dear. I’m talking of course about … Israel’s odd obsession with the Eurovision Song Contest. […]
- Leave the Camp May 2, 2024The situation on college campuses has deteriorated significantly since my message last week. Columbia once again called in police after pro-Palestinian protestors occupied a building. At the University of California Los Angeles, counter protesters violently attacked the pro-Palestinian encampment on that campus followed by the clearing of the site by authorities the next day. Where […]
- Pulled by the Extremes April 26, 2024Every college has its campus lore, the stories it tells about itself. At Columbia University, one of the important narratives is the tale of the 1968 student strike that shut down the university and did immense harm to the school’s reputation. Students were protesting the Vietnam War and a planned gym that would have separate […]