Jeremy Ruberg is New City Jewish Center's new assistant rabbi.

As New City Jewish Center interviewed 16 newly minted rabbis, Rabbi Jeremy Brunn Ruberg was meeting with 16 different synagogues. And when the two finally met, a match was made.

Starting in July, Ruberg, 28, will become assistant rabbi at NCJC, a position that was open because Rabbi Susan Mitrani-Knapp, who had served three years in it, decided to leave to pursue other interests.  

Ruberg came for a Shabbat, met the congregation, lead prayer services, and was introduced to the community prior to being offered the position.

"The community was so friendly and welcoming, I really felt at home," said Ruberg, who graduated from Jewish Theological Seminary in Manhattan. He has also completed two internships at United Jewish Communities and Rutgers University Hillel in New Jersey.

"The job is a tough one but very wonderful at the same time," said Ruberg. "Since you are seen as a leader, role model, and exemplar, you must always be on top of your game."
Born in Philadelphia Ruberg moved 1988 at age six to Norfolk, Va. with his parents and sister, where his father, Rabbi Arthur Ruberg, was hired as a congregational rabbi. His father still serves rabbi at Congregation Beth El and his mother, Miriam, works as a Jewish educator.

"My family joked that I was following the family business when I went to school to become a Jewish day school teacher like my mother," said Ruberg. But after he received his undergraduate degree from JTS, he then decided to become a rabbi like his father.
NCJC's Rabbi David Berkman said he was looking for someone who "not only knew this would be a 24/7 job, but who was able to embrace it."

Ruberg said that observing his father with his congregation made him realize both the challenges and the incredible joys of having a congregation and being a part of a community. There is an undeniable time commitment, said Ruberg, but "that is what makes it so rewarding - always being there for others, especially in their time of need."
The unanimous decision to offer Ruberg the position was a collaborative effort between members of the congregation, the synagogue's board, and Berkman.

Berkman said he found all the qualities he was looking for in an assistant in Ruberg: passionate about teaching Judaism, creative approach to outreach, top of his class, and humble. "He is just an all around mentsch," said Berkman who has been with NCJC for 20 years.

For Ruberg, the challenge of addressing the ongoing struggle in Judaism of how to hold on to the young members and help them see their Judaism as a meaningful part of their daily life, not just a once a year activity, is a significant one.

"Since they are really our future," he said.

Ruberg's youth makes it easier for him to relate to the children, young adults, and young couples. "They all loved him when he came to visit," said Berkman.
This September, Ruberg will lead the second minyan for the High Holiday services. In addition to assistant rabbi responsibilities, Ruberg will be the advisor to the youth group, wich is part of United Synagogue Youth, and help with the nursery school, the Hebrew school, and other youth programs, said Harry Baker, the congregation's immediate past president, whose two daughters attended those programs.

"What's great about him is he's a regular guy, down to earth and easy to talk to," said Baker. Ruberg will be moving to New City within the month, live in the community, and be available for the congregants.

Baker believes the congregation needs to focus on increasing membership growth. Between the high housing market prices in Rockland County and the deteriorating importance that a synagogue holds in many Jewish families, Baker believes there is a serious reason for concern.

The former assistant, Rabbi Mitrani-Knapp, left big shoes for Ruberg to fill. She created many innovative programs including a mussar group, said Baker. "She was always nurturing and brought many great changes to the synagogue."

The decision process for hiring a new rabbi was complex and thorough, said Baker. A committee of five interviewed 16 candidates graduating from JTS, four of those were chosen to each spend a Shabbat with the congregation, lead the services, and meet the community. Several members, each from a different age bracket in the congregation: seniors, youth members, young couples, and parents, in the community were asked to observe the candidates and then fill out a survey based on their observations. These were then evaluated and the decision was unanimous. A week later, Baker called their first choice, Ruberg and he accepted.

"All the things you would want in a rabbi in your synagogue, he possesses," said Baker. "We're very excited he's coming."