Rabbi Paul Kurland
Rabbi Kurland has always been involved and deeply committed to Jewish education.
Having received his Masters degree in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary he has served as Educational Director in congregations in Pennsylvania and New York. He is also well known for his active involvement in Camp Ramah in the Berkshires for decades.
Rabbi Kurland returned to The Jewish Theological Seminary for Rabbinical training in & made the shift into pulpit work when he took the position of Rabbi at the Croton Jewish Center. He moved to Rockland County in 1997 to serve the Nanuet Hebrew Center, and now serves the new Congregation Shir Shalom, founded July 1, 2021 which is a consolidation of Nanuet Hebrew Center and Montebello Jewish Center.
Nanuet Hebrew Center experienced significant growth during his 24 years as spiritual leader; and we are proud that Rabbi Kurland will continue to serve Congregation Shir Shalom. His involvement with children through his commitment to our Makom Religious School and Youth Programs plus his involvement with all facets of the congregation have been our blessings. We have also been entertained by his creative YouTube videos that help teach prayers to young children (such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ineQdUIjG80)
Rabbi Kurland was asked to take on the presidency of the Lower Hudson Valley Region of the Rabbinical Assembly and assumed those duties in the Summer 2014; and in March 2017, he was honored by the Jewish Theological Seminary with Convocation of an Honorary Doctor of Divinities Degree.
Rabbi Kurland and his wife Gerri have 4 sons, Yoni, Noam, Eytan and Ami.
“Identity Evropa”, a neo-Nazi hate group as identified by the ADL, has been putting flyers up in Rockland County and other locations throughout the Hudson Valley, and also posting them on social media.
Rabbi Kurland, along with State Senator David Carlucci and spiritual leaders from different faiths gathered at Rock Apostolic Church in Spring Valley to send the message: There’s no room for bigotry in Rockland County.
We invite you to click here for a short video on the meeting, which was aired on the local Channel 12 cable network news, and includes an interview with Rabbi Kurland: http://westchester.news12.com/story/39149357/hate-group-posts-flyers-throughout-hudson-valley
A Selection of Programs Started by Rabbi Kurland for Nanuet Hebrew Center and Congregation Shir Shalom:
Parent’s Association
Sukkah Decorating Gatherings
Havdallah in the Rabbi’s Sukkah
Havdeli & Havdairy Programs
Summer Torah Reading Project
Vacation Havdallah & Pizza
Friday Night Tot Shabbat
Family Services
Tu B’shevat Seders
Passover Zing, Zest & Pizzazz
Pre-Passover Fast/Feast of the 1st Born
Yom Ha’atzma’ut Parties
Musical Coffee Houses (Pre-Selichot, “Warm up the Winter” & Family Fun)
Adult Education
Weekly Torah Portion Study
“Learn to Lead” Skills Workshops
Study Groups
Bnei Torah Project for Adult beginners
Shabbat Learning (and Lunch & Learns)
Scholar-in Residence Weekends
Involvement in the Greater Community
Rockland Jewish Academy – Rabbinic volunteer
JCC Seniors Group – Speaker
Keep Rockland Beautiful Board Member
Local Singles Groups – Speaker
Hadassah (Bergen County & West Hartford, Ct) – Speaker
Reuben Gittelman Hebrew Day School – Rabbinics Teacher & former Middle School Prayer Coordinator & Supervisor (Thank you RGHDS for everything you meant to the Jewish Community)
RGHDS Committee on Education – former Committee member
Rockland Board of Rabbis – member – former Treasurer, Vice President & President
Rockland Federation – former Board Member
Rockland JCC – former Board Member
Helping Hands – Board Member
Rabbinical Assembly & R.A. Hudson Valley Region – President
Clarkstown Interfaith Clergy Group
Camp Ramah in the Berkshires – staff member since 1970
Conversion Advisor
