Rabbi Haber

It is my honour and pleasure to serve Beth Radom as Rabbi of the congregation. I would like to share a little bit about myself with you…

My congregants fondly refer to me as "Rabbi Geoff".  I describe myself as a passionate teacher of Judaism, a compassionate and responsive chaplain/pastor and an articulate and captivating speaker who conveys the beauty and nobility of Judaism, its values and traditions, to those seeking deeper engagement with Jewish learning. I also believe it is vital to serve as an ambassador of Judaism to the broader community.  As a rabbi, I teach, preach and counsel those in my congregation, guiding them to create a sacred and spiritual community of authentically "willing, learning and striving" Jews.
 
I was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and attended the Joint Program of Columbia University and The Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, NY. At Columbia University, I was one of several to pioneer the major of Ancient Near Eastern Studies and was graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude.  I simultaneously received a Bachelor of Arts degree "with distinction" from the Seminary where my major was Talmud and Rabbinics. 
 
I continued my studies at The Jewish Theological Seminary’s Rabbinical School where I received a Master of Arts Degree in Jewish Studies and was Ordained.  A strong believer in lifelong learning, I earned my Doctor of Ministry degree in Pastoral Care and Counselling at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health and HUC-JIR in New York. 

I served as spiritual leader of Congregation Mishkan Tefila in Chestnut Hill, MA  after ministering to the needs of my congregants at Temple Emanu-El of Englewood, NJ and presiding over our move to a new and accessible facility in Closter, NJ. Before coming to Temple Emanu-El, I served as rabbi of Beth Tzedec Congregation, Calgary, Alberta, Canada and of Congregation Shaare Tikvah, Chicago, IL, as I climbed the "corporate ladder" of synagogue leadership. I began my career as Assistant Rabbi of Highland Park Conservative Temple & Center in Highland Park, NJ. In each of these congregations, I distinguished myself in the fields of pastoral care, youth and adult education, and religious and spiritual leadership.

I am a Board Certified Chaplain and serve as the Director of Spiritual Care at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. I also have the honour and privilege of serving on the boards of many Jewish and communal organizations and am affiliated with the Rabbinical Assembly (RA), Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC), National Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) and the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) among other professional organizations and affiliations.