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Rabbi Paul Kerbel

Meet Rabbi Kerbel

Rabbi Paul David Kerbel joined Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim in 2019. He brings a wealth of experience and practice to our shul, having served congregations large and small, both as a senior rabbi and associate rabbi during his career.

Born in Philadelphia, Rabbi Kerbel was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Rochester, New York and Hollywood, Florida. Rabbi Kerbel’s father Bob served as a Jewish communal professional in these communities, and his mother Ruth as an active lay leader in the communities and synagogues in which they lived. His parents imbued in him the importance of interweaving commitment to the synagogue, community and Israel.

Rabbi Kerbel was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1985, receiving the Isaac H. Wolfson Award for Dedicated Service to JTS during his four years of undergraduate and five years of rabbinical school experience at JTS. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree in 2011 for dedicated service to the American Jewish community.

Rabbi Kerbel and his wife Melissa are the proud parents of Sam and Aliza who live in New York City, Rabbi Judah and Eliana who also live in New York City, and Micha, a recent graduate of The Ohio State University, who works for The American Jewish Committee in Washington, DC. Melissa serves as the East Coast Director of the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Rabbi Kerbel serves as the Rabbinic Campaign Chair of the Schechter Institutes, Israel’s leading pluralistic academic institution, and as a senior member of the Global Jewish Community Committee of UJA Federation of New York. He is a member of the New York Board of Rabbis and an active supporter of the Anti-Defamation League, AIPAC, and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. He looks forward to becoming involved in the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, the New Jersey Rabbinical Assembly, and area Boards of Rabbis.

Life Long Learning, Upcoming Event

Lifelong Learning Events & Programs

Hebrew has three ways to refer to a synagogue: Beit Tefilah (House of Prayer); Beit Knesset (House of Assembly); and Beit Midrash (House of Study). The TBEMC Lifelong Learning Committee is committed to creating a Beit Midrash for our community by providing congregants opportunities to connect with each other while exploring historical, cultural, and religious aspects of Judaism.


We come together in-person and through Zoom to learn from noted experts in their fields and from each other – in the weekly Thursday morning classes, monthly Book Club, and special events.

We have several upcoming events planned! Look in the weekly email or our online calendar for the latest. 

Recent events from the Lifelong Learning Committee:

Ongoing:  Thursday morning “Torah Classes” with Rabbi Kerbel

November 6, 2022 at 9:30 AM: Robin Williams: Reality, What A Concept!
Entertainment historian John Kenrick returns with a multimedia talk about Robin’s work including highlights from his hilarious & heartfelt performances as Mork, Mrs. Doubtfire, and in Good Will Hunting. Continental breakfast will be served.

March 31, 2022 at 8:00 PM: Rabbi Neal Scheindlin spoke on “The Jewish Family Ethics Textbook”

January 2022: A Virtual Tour of Jewish Paris

From the comfort of our homes, we took a guided tour of:
• Le Marais: main Jewish neighborhood in Paris
• Place des Vosges
• Hotel de Sully
• Famous synagogue of Hector Guimard
• Oldest synagogue in Paris
• Musée Carnavalet (exterior)
• SHOAH Holocaust Memorial & Museum
• The History of the Paris Jewish Community
• Stories from Holocaust survivors and their families

August 2021: “The Art of Jonah’s Flight” by Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz, exploring the first chapter of the Book of Jonah.

September 2019: “How to Appreciate the High Holy Days: The Important Themes, Prayers and Customs of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur” two-part series presented by Rabbi Kerbel

2019-2020:  The Jewish Connection to Comedy Film Series:
“The Frisco Kid”
“Brighton Beach Memoirs”
“Biloxi Blues”
“Broadway Bound”
“Keeping the Faith”

Fall 2019:  “Why the Jews”: An Exploration of the Anti-Semitism Throughout History and What to Do About It” two-part series presented by Rabbi Paul Kerbel

Fall 2019: Thursday morning class – “Message of the Prophets” class, led by Rabbi Kerbel

November 10, 2019: Scholar-in-Residence Program: Professor Jack Wertheimer, Professor of American Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary.  Two lectures: “Jews on the Move: How Migrations Have Remade American Jewish Life” and “The Good News about American Judaism.”

December 15, 2019: Trip to See “Fiddler on the Roof” in Yiddish in NYC with dinner at Ben’s Deli

Ongoing:  Thursday morning “Torah Classes” with Rabbi Kerbel

June 10, 2020:  Zoom Webinar: “COVID-10 Pandemic: An Overview of Federal and New Jersey State Response, the Impact on the Jewish Community, and Opportunities for Advocacy,” led by Joshua Cohen, Director, Government Relations & External Affairs, Jewish Federations of New Jersey

July: Thursday morning classes “Book of Psalms” – led by Jerry Baranoff

July 16, 2020:  Zoom Discussion: “Racism, Anti-Semitism, Black Lives Matter and the Jewish Community” led by Melanie Roth Gorelick, Senior Vice-President, Jewish Council for Public Affairs and Jim Johnson, Corporation Counsel, City of New York

July 23, 2020:  Thursday morning class, “Book of Job” led by Jerry Baranoff and Neil Mayer

September 3, 2020: Zoom discussion “The View from Federation: Response to the Pandemic in New Jersey, the United States and the World” led by Dov Ben-Shimon, CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ

October 15, 2020:  Zoom Presentation:  Rabbi Dan Ornstein discussed his new book “Cain v Abel: A Jewish Courtroom Drama”

November 12, 2020:  Zoom Presentation:  Professor Amy Kalmanofsky, Dean, List College, discussed her book “Dangerous Sisters of the Hebrew Bible.” 

News

A murder mystery, a comedy show, a Zumba class – see what we’ve been up to…

With this year being different in so many ways, we’ve also found new ways to keep spirits high among our members!

In late- February, we hosted our 2nd annual Trivia Night and Tricky Tray fundraiser to a sold-out crowd.
Our Sisterhood recently put on a Murder Mystery through Zoom where our members investigated–and were suspects in–a murder. Who knew we had so many characters in our temple?

Other recent events at TBEMC:

  • A film series celebrating Jewish comedies, from Brighton Beach Memoirs to Keeping the Faith
  • A stand-up comedy show
  • A virtual Zumba class
A lifelong learning class on the history of The Beatles

Stay tuned for more fun events at TBEMC!

Upcoming Event

Farewell Tribute for Art & Patty Werschulz

Patty and Art Werschulz are making Aliyah –don’t let them leave for Israel without bidding them a fond farewell.

For the past 35 years, in more ways than we can count, Patty and Art have been integral to the beating heart of the TBEMC community. They have truly been a gift, and their sensibilities inform every aspect of the community we are today.

They have contributed according to their individual strengths and interests to Ritual Leadership (leining, davening, gabbai), Temple Governance (President, innumerable committees including Ritual and High Holiday, Trustee), financial support, and opening their home to many guests.

They embody the meaning of volunteering and genuinely love our Shul. They leave behind large shoes to try to fill.

Our intention was to hold a dinner to pay tribute to Art and Patty, but given the Corona Virus Pandemic, that is no longer a viable option. Therefore, we will be focusing on presenting them with a commemorative ad journal as our way to thank Patty and Art for their many meaningful contributions to our community. Ads will be accepted until June 1st.

The Tribute will be a live event via Zoom on Sunday, June 14th at 11:30 am and we invite everyone to attend. If you are interested in saying a few words or sharing a story about Art & Patty please let us know so that we can put you on the speaking schedule.