Rabbi Kosman to retire from Beth Sholom this week

Posted on December 30th, 2009 by JewishByte

Rabbi Morris Kosman

by Alan H. Feiler Managing Editor of the Jewish Times - Just sitting in a different chair” — that’s how Rabbi Morris Kosman describes his impending transition from longtime spiritual leader to rabbi emeritus at Frederick’s Beth Sholom Congregation

“I’ve never been an emeritus before,” he said, chuckling. “I hope I’m good at it.”

After nearly a half-century of leading the unaffiliated synagogue of more than 200 families, Rabbi Kosman, 82, will assume his new title next Friday, Jan. 1. He will be succeeded by Rabbi Murray Singerman, who is a volunteer rabbi at Pikesville’s Netivot Shalom Congregation.

Rabbi Singerman, who plans to move to Frederick in the near future, was approved as senior rabbi Dec. 8 by Beth Sholom congregants and begins in early February.

For the rest of the story at the Jewish Times please click here <<

Taken from the Shul’s website regarding Rabbi Kosman:

Rabbi Morris Kosman has been the spiritual leader of Beth Sholom Congregation since 1961.

He completed his training at the Rabbinical College of Telshe, an Orthodox institution transplanted from Lithuania to the United States. In addition, Rabbi Kosman is a graduate of the Baltimore Hebrew University and is a recipient of a Distinguished Scholar’s Certificate from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. These institutions cover a wide spectrum of Judaism. With that background, Rabbi Kosman is especially well-suited to guide the Frederick Jewish community, whose members represent the spectrum of the Jewish experience.

Since their arrival in Frederick more than 40 years ago, Rabbi Kosman and his wife, Carol, have served Beth Sholom as educators, along with their other duties. Their seven children were raised here, and the entire Kosman family has enriched Beth Sholom by its joyous presence.

The guiding principles of Rabbi Kosman’s leadership are the encouragement and nurturing of ongoing education in the Jewish experience for adults, as well as the development of a positive attitude toward Judaism and a solid educational background for children.