Rabbi Roger Lerner
Rabbi Roger Lerner became the rabbi for Monroe Temple of Liberal Judaism / Monroe Temple Beth-El on July 1st, 2019.
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Firmly rooted in the Reform movement, Rabbi Lerner grew up in a reform congregation, even joining the volunteer choir after his bar mitzvah. In the summer of his fifteenth year, rabbi’s father took him on a MetroWest sponsored mission to then Russia where they delivered American products (like Levi’s jeans) to Refuseniks.
Rabbi witnessed first hand a people in such a bleak condition with no job, little money,
unable to leave the country of their birth and were watched by the KGB. But in spite of this
were grateful, generous and joyful. “I learned so much there that has influenced my life even unto today. First, I admired the refuseniks for their resilience and tenacity and hoped to have even a tenth of the courage they exhibited.”
Rabbi shared and continued, “Second, the Talmudic aphorism, 'the entire Jewish people are responsible for one another' I learned from this direct personal experience. So many people put their hands forward, put their very lives on the line, to help people they never met. So many people
had participated and helped alleviate the harshness of their condition, nurtured them
through the pain of the assignation 'pariah' and would help free them from the shackles
of the Russian state. These ethics and more guide me in my thirst for Social Justice.”
For ten years Rabbi Lerner served Temple B’nai B’rith of Kingston, PA. He oversaw the combining of their religious school with that of the local conservative congregation’s. Afterwards, he served as the principal for six years.
He currently volunteers on the staff of Crane Lake Camp where he gets to teach children
his love of Judaism and combined with his love for the out-of-doors.
He was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, OH
in 2007, receiving his Masters of Hebrew Letters in 2005.
Rabbi Lerner’s children are his world and have taught him as much if not more about
how to be a good person in this world.
Rabbi Lerner can be reached at (845) 783-2626 ext.405.
Email: rabbilerner@monroetemple.org
Rabbi Emeritus, Garry Loeb
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A native of Toronto, Canada, Rabbi Loeb was ordained in 1981 at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. After 25 years of service as a rabbi, the college awarded him an honorary doctor of divinity degree in 2006. As Reform Judaism changed and grew, he kept our congregation at the forefront of the Reform movement’s re-embrace of tradition; he encouraged us to develop a thoughtful balance between Reform philosophy and traditional custom and ritual.
Rabbi Loeb was our teacher and spiritual leader from July, 1985 to June, 2016. He was appreciated by our congregation for his counseling and guidance on religious matters and other issues. He was a valued partner of our Temple leadership and Auxiliary
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groups, our Office Staff, Torah School, our Mentsch Makers pre-school, and our Temple committees. Rabbi Loeb guided us in the conduct of worship services and life cycle events and was our primary teaching resource.
Rabbi Loeb came to Monroe Temple Beth-El in the summer of 1985 with his wife, Jewish educator Sorel Goldberg Loeb, and their son and daughter. Prior to our hiring a Cantor in 2000, Rabbi Loeb served in the dual capacity of Rabbi and Cantor. He was always most encouraging of congregational participation in all services, including Tot Shabbat and Young People’s Congregation. In 2003 he was honored by the congregation with a gala weekend celebration in honor of his Chai Anniversary with our Temple. In 2005 he was elected President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis Regional Rabbinic Association and to a seat on the CCAR’s Board of Trustees. In 2010, Rabbi Loeb was once again honored with another gala weekend celebrating his 25th or Silver Anniversary with our Temple and finally, a bittersweet farewell celebration on his retirement in June, 2016.