A native of this region, Elmo, I mean Rabbi Beal, grew up in Monmouth County, NJ and served as the JFTY (now NFTY-GER) Chaplain. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Emory University and went on to serve as a professional fundraiser for his alma mater for seven years. Rabbi Beal received a Masters of Arts in Hebrew Letters in 1997 and ordination in 1998 from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1998, where he wrote a thesis on Judaism and the Twelve Steps. In 2023, the Hebrew Union College confered the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity upon Rabbi Beal. So, yes BKB has a PhD from HUC.
Rabbi Beal served Temple Shaari Emeth in Manalapan, NJ, where he was particularly focused on engaging youth and young families. He was the rabbi of Temple Beth Torah in Nyack, NY – now called the Reform Temple of Rockland – for 13 years, where he worked with staff and volunteers to develop award-winning social justice experiences, initiated an interfaith symposium in partnership with local synagogues, churches, and a mosque, and fostered a welcoming environment for people with disabilities. Most recently, he served as the interim rabbi at Beth David Reform Congregation in Gladwyne, PA, Temple Beth-El in Jersey City, and Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction. Reach out via email.
