Bulletin THE BETH TFILOH
Celebrating the Joy of Judaism, Embracing all Jews. TISHREI-CHESHVAN 5780 OCTOBER 2019
Rabbi Chai Posner to succeed Rabbi Wohlberg in 2022 In an historic, unanimous vote, the members of Beth Tfiloh Congregation, appointed Rabbi Chai Posner to succeed Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg as BT’s senior rabbi, effective January 1, 2022. Rabbi Wohlberg will retire from full-time rabbinic duties and will transition to the role of rabbi-in-residence through December 2025. Rabbi Wohlberg has been Beth Tfiloh’s rabbi for more than 40 years and is also the dean of the Beth Tfiloh Dahan
Community School. Not only has he had a significant impact on congregants for more than four decades, he has also made an everlasting impact on the city of Baltimore and the international Jewish community as a whole. “In my four decades of leadership at Beth Tfiloh, I have had the opportunity, on a daily basis, to remind people of the joy of Judaism and nothing has brought me more joy, but times are changing,” said Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg. “It is time to transition to a new rabbi with new ideas, with new blood, someone who is able to reach the broadest element of our congregation on the one hand, and a younger and perhaps more religiously observant Jewish generation on the other. You’ve got that with Rabbi Posner.” Rabbi Chai Posner joined the Beth Tfiloh Congregation clergy in 2010 and has
been involved in all aspects of the congregation — leading services in The BT Minyan and the sanctuary, giving Divrei Torah, providing a rabbinic presence for lifecycle events and teaching classes for adults in the Mercaz Dahan Center. The announcement of Rabbi Posner to BT’s rabbi came after a multi-year search process that included a strategic plan for senior rabbinic leadership succession and ultimately the recommendation of Rabbi Posner to be the next senior rabbi of the Continued on page 5
Senator Cardin, Congressman Cummings Address Baltimore City’s Challenges at Beth Tfiloh/Liberty Grace Town Hall More than 600 members of Baltimore’s Jewish and African American communities turned out to hear Senator Benjamin Cardin and Congressman Elijah Cummings address Baltimore City's challenges at a Town Hall Meeting co-sponsored by Beth Tfiloh Congregation and Liberty Grace Church. Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg of Beth Tfiloh and Reverend Dr. Terris King of Liberty Grace Church held a Q&A session with Senator Cardin and Congressman Cummings, addressing a range of issues affecting Baltimore City, such as improving educational outcomes and preventing crime. The evening opened with a performance by Liberty Grace
Church’s children's choir, joined by children from Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community Lower School. After opening remarks from Senator Cardin and Congressman Cummings, Rabbi Wohlberg and Reverend King asked the lawmakers how other faith
communities like BT and Liberty Grace Church can partner with both the federal and local government to provide solutions. Baltimore City Police Department Commissioner Michael Harrison acknowledged the need to address not just crime, but the “root causes of crime which drive people to make the decisions to commit crimes, specifically violent crime.” The event was also attended by many Maryland state, Baltimore County and Baltimore City elected officials, as well Baltimore area clergy and business community leaders.