Meet Rabbi Eligberg

Rabbi Eligberg, who was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, was ordained in 1985 by the Jewish Theological Seminary. Rabbi Eligberg holds a BA in Political Science from Columbia University, a BA in Talmud from The Seminary College of Jewish Studies, an MA in Jewish Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Hebrew Letters Honoris Causa from the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Throughout his rabbinate, Rabbi Eligberg has been a teacher, guide, and role model for all who wish to explore meaningful lives according to Jewish tradition. Along with his family, Rabbi Eligberg has routinely opened his home to congregants, creating opportunities to experience the warmth of Shabbat and the joy of festivals. Rabbi Eligberg has enriched his congregation’s celebration of holidays through creative programs, multimedia presentations, storytelling, theatre arts, and puppetry.

Most recently, Rabbi Eligberg served Temple Israel in Albany, NY where he was a regular visitor to the Herman and Libbie Michaelson Early Childhood Center, as well as an active presence in B’Yachad, the religious school, and in the youth program. Rabbi Eligberg has focused on engaging upcoming B’nai Mitzvah and their families in serious study in preparation for this important life cycle event.

Rabbi Eligberg was a visible presence in the community, serving as the President of the Capital District Board of Rabbis, on the local Federation’s Israel Action Committee, and on the Religion-Labor Coalition of New York State representing the New York Board of Rabbis.

Prior to Temple Israel Rabbi Eligberg served as the rabbi and principal of Beit Rayim Synagogue and Religious School, in Thornhill, Ontario, rabbi of Congregation B’nai Tikvah, in North Brunswick, NJ and Congregation Beth El, in Levittown, PA.

Rabbi Eligberg is the author of several Halachic (Jewish law) articles, a short story, several plays, and has developed three board games as instructional tools. While at B’nai Tikvah, he worked in partnership with the Hazzan to craft a restructured version of the Musaf service for Rosh Hashanah. Currently, Rabbi Eligberg is working on a children’s book about Jewish mitzvah heroes, a collection of material for adults as a guidebook through the Yamim Noraim, and the revision of a musical retelling of the Purim narrative.

Rabbi and his wife Jodi have three children Sarah, Yonatan, and Miriam.