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 Prayers, Blessings and 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.