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Rabbi Fenster to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
The New York Board of Rabbis has named our own Rabbi Myron Fenster as the first Conservative rabbi to receive the board's Lifetime Achievement Award. The presentation will take place at a reception on Sunday, April 25, at 5:30 p.m., at the Shelter Rock Jewish Center in Roslyn, NY, a congregation that Rabbi Fenster served for 36 years. Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive director of the New York Board of Rabbis, will present the award to Rabbi Fenster. Rabbi Potasnik praised Rabbi Fenster for his longevity of service, ongoing participation, and many accomplishments that have had "an extraordinary impact on the American Jewish community," he said. He paid tribute to Rabbi Fenster as one who has counseled younger and older colleagues. "He is 'a rabbi's rabbi,'" Rabbi Potasnik said.
In addition to his long service at the Shelter Rock Jewish Center, Rabbi Fenster was at the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights for 11 years, and has been interim rabbi for congregations in Great Neck, Old Westbury, Easthampton, and now our Greenport shul, where he has been the spiritual leader since August 2008. "He belongs to many communities," Rabbi Potasnik said, noting that Rabbi Fenster has served Orthodox, Conservative and Reform congregations in the spirit of Klal Yisrael (All of Israel.) This sense of shared community among all movements and ethnic backgrounds is a mission of the New York Board of Rabbis, the largest interdenominational organization in the world,
Rabbi Potasnik said. Rabbi Fenster was president of the organization from 1990-1992. "This award is most unexpected, and I am richly humbled," Rabbi Fenster said, expressing "questionable wonderment" on whether he is deserving of this honor. He cited his service at Congregation Tifereth Israel, a post-retirement position that is keeping him active, as contributory to his nomination. "I am looking forward to a happy family reunion and friendly faces," Rabbi Fenster said. For more information about the presentation event, call the New York Board of Rabbis at 1-212-983-3521, or the Shelter Rock Jewish center at 1-516-741-4305.
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