Leon Lang
Leon S. Lang (c. 1899-1956)[1] was ordained as a rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1927.[2] Lang served as the inaugural editor of the quarterly journal Conservative Judaism published by the Rabbinical Assembly.[3] Lang also served a term as the President of the Rabbinical Assembly[4] coinciding with 1941.[5] Lang "was internationally known as chairman of the Chaplaincy Availability board of the Rabbinical Assembly of America" as he collaborated with the U.S. Defense department in recruiting military chaplains and also represented the Jewish Welfare Board to the American armed forces.[6]
The history of Congregation Sons of Israel in Nyack, NY indicates that Lang began to serve as the congregation's full-time rabbi in 1925[7], two years prior to the recorded date of his ordination, and Lang declared the congregation as committed to "Traditional Judaism," somewhere between Reform and Orthodoxy--a stance that would change later as the congregation joined the United Synagogue of America, eventually renamed the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. The official history of Oheb Shalom Congregation in Newark, NJ (now relocated to South Orange, NJ) states that Lang began to serve the community as its Assistant Rabbi in 1927 (serving alongside the Senior Rabbi, Charles I. Hoffman) and continued in his position for 12 years. During this tenure, Lang is credited with founding Kadimah (perhaps the very same organization now known today as Kadima, the subsidiary of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism) and developing youth programming and reinvigorating the community's Men's Club.[8] By 1932, Lang was recalled as having served in recent history as a President of National Young Judea.[9] By 1932, Lang was recalled as having served in recent history as a President of National Young Judea.[10]
In 1950, Lang served as the Chairman of the Rabbinical Assembly Fund for the Seminary.[11]
References
- ^ "Rabbi Leon S. Lang, 57, Former Head of Rabbis". Indianapolis, Marion County. The National Jewish Post. 4 May 1956.
- ^ "JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AMERICA New York -- Faculty and Alumni List 1894-1933". Jewish Seminary Pre 1934. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Table of Contents". Conservative Judaism. I (1): 2nd page, not numbered. January 1945.
- ^ "Rabbi Leon S. Lang, 57, Former Head of Rabbis". Indianapolis, Marion County. The National Jewish Post. 4 May 1956.
- ^ "Rabbinical Assembly Hears Call For Dynamic Judaism". No. XVI: 20, p. 1. Atlanta, GA. The Southern Israelite Weekly Newspaper For Southern Jewry. May 16, 1941.
- ^ "Rabbi Leon S. Lang, 57, Former Head of Rabbis". Indianapolis, Marion County. The National Jewish Post. 4 May 1956.
- ^ Dembrow, Myra. "Deep Roots in Nyack: A Brief History of CSI "Generation to Generation"". History - Congregation Sons of Israel Nyack. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ Schechner, David; Gordon, Mark; Sender, Barabara; Willner, Linda. "History | Oheb Shalom Congregation". ohebshalom.org. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Rabbi Leon Lang to Be Honored Tonight". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. October 30, 1932.
- ^ "Rabbi Leon Lang to Be Honored Tonight". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. October 30, 1932.
- ^ Golinkin, David, ed. (1997). Proceedings of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Conservative Movement 1927-1970, Volume One: Reports of the Committee. Jerusalem, Israel: The Rabbinical Assembly and The Institute of Applied Halakhah. p. 321.