Rabbi Jesse M. Olitzky
Rabbi Olitzky has served as rabbi of Congregation Beth El since 2014. Named among The Forward’s list of “America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis”, Rabbi Olitzky received rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) and also holds an MA in Jewish Education from JTS’ William Davidson School of Education, a BA in American Religion from Columbia University and a BA cum laude from the Albert A. List College at JTS in Talmud.
Originally from North Brunswick, NJ, Rabbi Olitzky, most recently, spent three years serving as part of the rabbinic team at the Jacksonville Jewish Center in Jacksonville, FL. Prior to Jacksonville, he served as rabbi of Congregation Ahavath Israel in Kingston, NY and at Temple Emanuel at Parkchester, NY. Additionally, Rabbi Olitzky spent two years as rabbinic intern at the Orangetown Jewish Center in Rockland County, NY.
He has been an active leader and educator for Jewish youth, working extensively with United Synagogue Youth (USY) and Camp Ramah, and he is a past USY International President. In town, he is a part of the SOMa Interfaith clergy association and the Maplewood Police Department’s clergy chaplaincy program.
Rabbi Olitzky has authored various curricula and articles, most recently as a contributing author to Peace in Our Cities: Rabbis Against Gun Violence and Jewish Men Pray.
You can read more about Rabbi Olitzky and many of his published articles on his blog here.
Please do not hesitate to contact Rabbi Olitzky by email at RabbiO@bethelnj.org or by phone at 973-763-0111.