OUR RABBI: Charles S. Sherman


For more than twenty-eight years, Rabbi Charles S. Sherman has served as the spiritual leader of the largest Conservative synagogue in central New York, Temple Adath Yeshurun.

A graduate of Yeshiva College and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Rabbi Sherman served congregations in Baltimore, Maryland and Charleston, South Carolina before coming to Syracuse in 1976. In November 1998, he was presented with an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City.

An author, scholar and innovator, Rabbi Sherman’s articles have appeared in the New Yorker magazine; Best Jewish Sermons by Sol Teplitz; The New York Times; The American Rabbi; Conservative Judaism; and the Baltimore Jewish Times. He is presently working on a book based on his own family experiences titled The Best is Yet to Be...A Celebration of the Human Spirit.

Rabbi Sherman was the first chairperson of the Rabbinic Cabinet of the Children’s Medical Center of Israel in Petah Tikva, Israel, the only facility in the Middle East, Asia and Africa dedicated solely to pediatric diagnosis and care. Just recently, he was appointed to the Accessibility Committee of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Rabbi Sherman is cited in Danny Siegel’s book, Good People: How to Solve All the World’s Problems by Making Just One Phone Call, for his vision and accomplishments at making the synagogue’s building, sanctuary and chapel fully accessible. The design and implementation of Temple Adath’s ramped bimah has served as a model for other synagogues across the country.

Rabbi Sherman is also a member of a number of national Jewish organizations, including the National Rabbinic Cabinet of Israel Bonds, the U.J.A. National Rabbinic Cabinet and the National Rabbinic Advisory Council of the Jewish National Fund. He is actively involved in the central New York community, having served on the Boards of Directors of every Jewish organization in the area. He is a member of the Board of the Samaritan Center, an interfaith program to feed and assist the hungry. Rabbi Sherman is a past President of the Syracuse Rabbinical Council, and for many years served as the Jewish Chaplain at Crouse Hospital, the area’s largest healthcare facility.

Rabbi Sherman’s leadership vision at Temple Adath has led the synagogue to receive many prestigious Solomon Schechter Awards from the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism, among them, Bulletins and Publications, Singles Programming, Holocaust Programming Development/Fundraising for the concept and communications work on the annual “Citizen of the Year Dinner.” While at Temple Adath, Rabbi Sherman established the Temple Singles group and created Temple Seniors, one of the largest seniors groups in Syracuse. He founded the Temple Adath Rothschild Early Childhood Center (now the largest child care facility in central New York) and its summer Camp Program.

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Rabbi Sherman is married to the former Leah Hurowitz and is the father of five children: Nogah, Orah, Eyal, Erez and Nitza. Nogah Sherman is a graduate of Brandeis University, the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, and a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America as a Rabbi in May 2002. Rabbi Nogah Sherman is the Assistant Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El, Palm Beach, Florida. Orah is a graduate of Brandeis University and the Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania, the Davidson School of Education, Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and is currently the Director of Student Life, Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Eyal is a junior at Syracuse University, a physically fragile youngster and vent dependent, he has been featured both locally and nationally as a strong advocate for those with disabilities. Erez is a graduate of Columbia University and a student at the rabbinical school of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Nitza is a freshman at Rutgers College of Rutgers University.

Rabbi Sherman’s philosophy of Synagogue life is one of inclusiveness, tradition and creativity. “Traditionally, a Synagogue is a Beit Knesset, a house of gathering; a Beit Midrash, a house of study; and a Beit T’filah, a house of prayer. I see the contemporary synagogue as a synergism of all three: in order to play a meaningful role in the lives of its members, regardless of age, resources or abilities, the synagogue community must welcome, embrace and affirm each and every congregant. Realizing that the synagogue membership is comprised of diverse people with differing needs and expectations, my roles as Rabbi is to inspire my congregants to aspire—that is, to motivate each person--through prayer, ritual, and social, cultural and educational endeavors—to strive to lead their lives as Jewishly as possible. Through conscientious pastoral care during life transitions of joy and sorrow; I try to help each congregant to affirm his or her own life within our tradition.”

OUR CANTOR: Robert Lieberman

Cantor Robert Lieberman earned his Bachelor's of Music Education from the University of Michigan, a Bachelor of Sacred Music degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and a Diploma of Hazzan from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He has a rich impressive baritone voice that encourages congregational participation. He is learned in the rich history of cantorial music and the more contemporary popular styles that resonate today. Cantor Robert Lieberman is much more than just a wonderful voice. He is an experienced, impressive, passionate Jewish educator. He has taught in Synagogue religious schools, community adult education and music programs and especially enjoys the special one to one relationships of Cantor and congregant. He brings to Temple Adath a deepened sense of spirituality, after completing a two-year program through the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. Cantor Lieberman says that, “My cantorate is multifaceted, of which three are: building relationships with people of all ages, good singing, and being a mentsch. My goal is to work successfully in partnership with our Rabbi, our President, and the Board of Directors in making Templ Adath a central place for Jewish life, culture, and excitement.”

Cantor Lieberman joins us after having served five years in one of the major Conservative congregations in the United States, B’nai Amoona of Saint Louis, Missouri. During his career he has been a soloist in various concerts, served as Chairperson of a concert series featuring the world-class musician Itzhak Perlman, and has performed with members of the Syracuse Symphony, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, one of the major symphony orchestras in the world, as well as the Rhode Island Philharmonic. Last year he was the featured soloist with the Syracuse Chorale in a performance of Ernest Bloch's "Sacred Service". He loves producing concert events such as the hugely successful "Broadway Blooms". He has also performed lead roles with Rhode Island’s Ocean State Light Opera Company and The New Jewish Theater of Saint Louis. This Cantor is equally comfortable singing on stage as he is singing the National Anthem at the Carrier Dome.

Speaking on his goals and dreams, Cantor Lieberman responds, “I am thrilled to be part of a Jewish creative team that will firmly establish a powerful and proud identity for TAY and its members. I look forward to helping people create positive Jewish memories, which they will cherish for their lifetimes. I dream of being with you, so that the children, with whom I’ll be privileged to bless at a bris or babynaming, or train for bar/bat mitzvah, will invite me to stand under their chuppah. Such a wish would bring much nachas to me and to our community.”

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