Rabbi Michael Cohen's tenure to end in June

Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth will not be renewing its contract with Rabbi Michael Cohen after nearly five years of service in the community.

The decision was made by the CSBE Board of Trustees during a congregational meeting on Nov. 21, where members voted to bring in new spiritual leadership starting July 1.

“The congregation chose to go in a different direction,” Rabbi Cohen told the Herald. “I wish them the best of luck.”
Barton Slavin, the synagogue’s board president, reassured members about the congregation’s stability during the transition.

“There has been no change in leadership,” Slavin said. “We have a cantor who everyone loves. Our immediate past rabbi, Elliot Skiddell, was more than willing to fill in.”

Slavin said the synagogue is “still in the beginning stages of the process” and will be forming a committee to search for a new rabbi.

Arielle Kane, a trustee with the board, emphasized the congregation’s focus on its long-standing legacy and growth.

“We’re looking to the future,” Kane said. “CSBE has been around for nearly 90 years and plans on remaining a home for progressive Judaism. The synagogue has been fortunate to have such a strong clergy, as we consider adding to our spiritual leadership.”

Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth in Rockville Centre formed following a New York State Supreme Court decision in 2016, that allowed for the consolidation of Central Synagogue of Nassau County and the Reconstructionist Congregation Beth Emeth in Hewlett. The two congregations, which had shared space since 2012, merged to provide religious, spiritual, and cultural programs that serve participants from across Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Brooklyn.

For more than 90 years, the temple provided several educational programs including Jacob’s Ladder, a New York state-licensed nursery school, and a Hebrew school that Slavin said has “already injected new enthusiasm” under its new director.

It also features a vibrant Sisterhood, hosts monthly dinners before Shabbat services and its ballroom is frequently utilized to host community events and gatherings.

However, not all congregants welcomed the board’s decision.
Rachel Aiello, a congregant and third-grade Hebrew school teacher, expressed both disappointment and concern for the synagogue’s new direction.

“I am very sad this happened,” Aiello said. “It really hurt my children to hear that this was happening. I have an 11 and a 7-year-old. They used to be excited to go to Friday night services.”
Rabbi Michael Cohen knew that a rabbinical career was his calling since he was a teen.

Growing up in Nashville, he was 15 years old when his father, Neil Cohen, was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. For the next year and a half, he bonded with his dad as they studied Judaism together. His father died in 2001 at the age of 54.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University in 2007 and from there, went on to serve five years in the United States Army Special Operations Command as a Sergeant of psychological operations.

In 2012, he joined the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division as a Jewish chaplain, where he spent the next nine years leading religious services for roughly 800 soldiers and their families. As a chaplain, his mission was to bring spiritual counseling to those who faced combat and were experiencing trauma. During his time in the service, he was deployed to Afghanistan, Haiti, Korea, Kuwait, and Qatar.

He was ordained in 2017 at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion — one of the oldest Jewish seminaries in the United States.

Before joining Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth in July of 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, Rabbi Cohen served other reform congregations in Arizona, California, Tennessee, and British Columbia.

Cohen was living in Savannah, Georgia, awaiting discharge from the military, before he moved to Rockville Centre.

In addition to his duties with the temple, Rabbi Cohen serves as a fire chaplain for the Freeport and Rockville Centre Fire Departments and a police chaplain for the Rockville Centre Police Department. He is also a member of the Rockville Centre Human Rights Commission.

Rabbi David Lerner of Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David in Rockville Centre, said he was surprised to hear the news about his colleague.

“It was somewhat surprising,” Lerner said. “I consider him a friend and wish him nothing but the best.”

Together, both rabbis were instrumental in collaborating with the Village of Rockville Centre to adopt a resolution pledging to combat antisemitism and educate residents on ways to identify and report such acts when they occur.

“He was always very passionate about his community,” Lerner said.

“We worked very well together to provide the best Jewish experience for our congregations.”

The synagogue’s leadership expects the search for a new rabbi to progress in the coming months and plans to have a candidate selected by July.