04/29/08 - Come To Rabbi Mitch's Bar Mitzvah

Rabbi Mitch Hurvitz marks “bar-mitzvah year” at Temple Sholom
Connecticut Jewish Ledger

By Cindy Mindell

GREENWICH - Temple Shalom in Greenwich will turn May 9 and 10 into a cantorial Shabbat weekend celebration honoring Rabbi Mitch Hurvitz on his thirteenth year of service.

The congregation’s Cantor Asa Fradkin will be joined by three visiting cantors n Arthur Giglio, Daniel Gross, and Benjamin Matis for a special Friday Night Live. On Saturday, the congregation will join together for a Shabbat family service and festive meal.

A Boston native raised in Palo Alto, Hurvitz earned a BA in history in 1986 from UCLA, where he was president of the Jewish Student Union and assistant director of programming for Hillel. In 1991, he earned a Master of Hebrew Letters degree from the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, and was ordained in 1996 at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

Rabbi Hurvitz joined Temple Sholom as assistant rabbi in June 1995, and became associate rabbi three years later. When longtime Rabbi Hillel Silverman retired in 2001, “Rabbi Mitch” took the pulpit as senior rabbi.

Hurvitz also serves as Rabbinic Consultant at the Stamford Jewish Community Center, and as a board member of UJA/Federation of Greenwich, Fellowship Clergy of Greenwich, Greenwich Chaplaincy Services, and Council of Churches and Synagogues. He is recognized as a prominent religious leader throughout Fairfield and Westchester counties. He is a community activist, scholar, teacher, and preacher. He is a frequent guest speaker at churches, Bible-study groups, community institutions, and universities. He is recognized as a charismatic personality, who engages individuals and prompts their hearts and minds. An author of numerous popular and scholarly articles, he has also written “Introduction to the Jewish Faith” and the “Encyclopedia of Judaism” for publisher Facts on File.

“Rabbi Mitch” is president of the Greenwich Fellowship of Clergy, and is a member of the New York and Greenwich/Stamford Boards of Rabbis and the Rabbinical Assembly. He his wife, Roseanne, are the proud parents of Simon, Naomi, Ezra and Faith.

President Steve Katz promises a “bar mitzvah-ish presidential greeting” for Rabbi Hurvitz, “something like ‘How are you feeling now?’ which is what the rabbi asks our b’nei-mitzvah during services” on their special day. ...

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