Based on the overwhelming response to the "influentials" list last year, Lynton, Ginsberg and Sanderson put together a list of the best pulpit rabbis in the country. The most powerful people, it turns out, are not always the most inspirational. Here are the criteria for pulpit rabbis:
· Ability to inspire congregation through scholarship and oratory
· Success in growing and expanding congregation
· Community leadership and innovation
· Ability to meet spiritual and personal needs and goals of his/her congregation
· Leadership within denominational movement
| The Rabbis | ||||
| 1. | David Wolpe (Conservative) Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, CA |
14. | Mark Schiftan (Reform) Ohabai Sholom, Nashville, TN |
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| 2. | Haskel Lookstein (Orthodox) Congregation Kehilith Jeshurun, New York, NY |
15. | Peter Rubinstein (Reform) Central Synagogue, New York, NY |
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| 3. | Jack Moline (Conservative) Agudas Achim, Alexandria, VA |
16. | Rachel Nussbaum (Conservative) Kavana, Seattle, WA |
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| 4. | David A. Lyon (Reform) Congregation Beth Israel, Houston, TX |
17. | Rick Block (Reform) Tifereth Israel, Cleveland, OH |
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| 5. | J. Rolando (Roly) Matalon (Conservative) B’nai Jeshurun, New York, NY |
18. | Janet Marder (Reform) Congregation Beth Am, Palo Alto, CA |
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| 6. | Avi Weiss (Orthodox) Hebrew Institute, Bronx, NY |
19. | Kenneth Hain (Orthodox) Congregation Beth Sholom, Lawrence, NY |
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| 7. | David Stern (Reform) Temple Emanu-El, Dallas, TX |
20. | Ed Feinstein (Conservative) Valley Beth Shalom, Encino, CA |
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| 8. | Brant Rosen (Reconstructionist) Jewish Reconstructionist, Evanston, Ill |
21. | Amy Schwartzman (Reform) Temple Rodef Shalom, Falls Church, VA |
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| 9. | Sharon Brous (Conservative) IKAR, Los Angeles, CA |
22. | Asher Lopatin (Orthodox) Anshe Shalom, Chicago, IL |
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| 10. | Andy Bachman (Reform) Congregation Beth Elohim, Brooklyn, NY |
23. | Terry A. Bookman (Reform) Temple Beth Am, Miami, FL |
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| 11. | Yosef Kanefsky (Orthodox) B’nai David-Judea, Los Angeles, CA |
24. | Mordechai Finley (Reform) Ohr HaTorah, Los Angeles, CA |
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| 12. | Harold Loss (Reform) Temple Israel, Detroit, MI |
25. | Moshe Waldoks (Renewal) Temple Beth Zion, Brookline, MA |
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| 13. | Jeffrey Wohlberg (Conservative) Adas Israel, Washington, DC |
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