Join us as we celebrate 50 years in the rabbinate of our members from the RRC class of 1975.Â
On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, we will honor Rabbi Arnold Rachlis, where he will reflect on his 50 years in the rabbinate with a public virtual presentation. At the conclusion of the presentation, we will present Rabbi Rachlis with a signed and numbered art print commissioned for this occasion.
The entire RRA membership, Reconstructing Judaism’s Board of Governors, RRC Faculty, RRC student body & larger Reconstructionist community are invited to join us for these free public programs and celebrations.
Rabbi Arnold Rachlis is the Rabbi Emeritus of University Synagogue in Irvine, California. Born in Philadelphia, Rabbi Rachlis received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.A. from Temple University and Ordination and a Doctor of Divinity degree from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Rabbi Rachlis has taught at Temple University and Spertus College and has published scholarly articles, opinion pieces and poetry in a variety of publications, including Judaism, Reconstructionist, National Jewish Monthly, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, The Forward,Jewish Journal, Maj’shavot Pensamientos and A Psychology – Judaism Reader.
Rabbi Rachlis has served in Washington, D.C. as a White House Fellow, an honor annually accorded to only a dozen national leaders, and as a Senior Foreign Affairs Advisor in the State Department. He has been appointed a regional panelist for the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships in both Democratic and Republican administrations, and was also selected as a Fellow in Leadership Greater Chicago. Rabbi Rachlis was chosen by the White House to give the invocation for President Obama’s Town Hall meeting and he was also selected as one of the 25 most influential leaders in Orange County. Rabbi Rachlis has served as Chair of Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger, a coalition of over a thousand synagogues and Jewish organizations across the country, and as the President of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association.
For nine years, Rabbi Rachlis hosted Of Cabbages and Kings on ABC-TV, as well as a syndicated cable television show on contemporary Jewish issues, Hayom. He has appeared as a guest on National Public Radio, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN and PBS, and has been interviewed frequently by such publications as the New York Times. He was profiled in the award-winning documentary film, The Legacy, and has served as a Judaica consultant for Compton’s Encyclopedia.
