Congregation Beth El

Shalom and welcome to Congregation Beth El in South Orange, NJ. As of July 1, 2005, I became Rabbi Emeritus of this congregation, after 35 years as it's spiritual leader. I was ordained as a Rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City in 1961 and received the Lawrence Prager award for outstanding scholarship in medieval Hebrew literature. I also was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree from JTS in 1987.

I have long been involved in activities in support of the State of Israel, in Jewish communities around the world, and in our own community. I serve as chaplain of the New Jersey State Police, and have been president of the Maplewood-South Orange Clergy Association and of the Rabbinical Assembly of New Jersey. I am also one of the founders of the South Orange-Maplewood Interfaith Holocaust Service, now in its 28th year.

I am married to Sylvia Mowshowitz Orenstein, an attorney and former professor of Russian literature. We have three children: Aviva, a law professor; Raphael, a doctor; and Debra, a rabbi in California, as well as six grandsons.

Please don't hesitate to contact me through the Beth El office at 973-763-0111 or email at RabbiO@bethelnj.org.

Who We Are History of Beth El Membership Information Our Clergy Rabbi Francine Roston Sermons, Divrei Torah Cantor Perry Fine Rabbi Jehiel Orenstein, Emeritus Education Directors Executive Director & Staff Congregational Nurse Our Board		Jehiel Orenstein Rabbi Emeritus Shalom and welcome to Congregation Beth El in South Orange, NJ. As of July 1, 2005, I became Rabbi Emeritus of this congregation, after 35 years as it's spiritual leader. I was ordained as a Rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City in 1961 and received the Lawrence Prager award for outstanding scholarship in medieval Hebrew literature. I also was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree from JTS in 1987. I have long been involved in activities in support of the State of Israel, in Jewish communities around the world, and in our own community. I serve as chaplain of the New Jersey State Police, and have been president of the Maplewood-South Orange Clergy Association and of the Rabbinical Assembly of New Jersey. I am also one of the founders of the South Orange-Maplewood Interfaith Holocaust Service, now in its 28th year. I am married to Sylvia Mowshowitz Orenstein, an attorney and former professor of Russian literature. We have three children: Aviva, a law professor; Raphael, a doctor; and Debra, a rabbi in California, as well as six grandsons. Please don't hesitate to contact me through the Beth El office at 973-763-0111 or email at RabbiO@bethelnj.org.