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March 22, 2002/Nisan 9, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 27
Former Beth El rabbi returns after 30 years
LEISAH NAMM
Assistant Editor
Rabbi Moshe Tutnauer, Beth El Congregation's rabbi from 1962-1972, will return to the Valley in August to serve as the synagogue's interim rabbi.
Beth El's current rabbi, Rabbi Michael Wasserman, resigned in December and will serve the congregation until August. A search for a permanent rabbi continues, said David Brook, Beth El executive director. Tutnauer is expected to serve through June 2003.
Tutnauer was Beth El's rabbi when the congregation moved to its current location, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix.
"(My wife Margie and I) feel connected to the building and look forward to restoring our relationship to a special place which has so many memories for us," Tutnauer said in an e-mail from his home in Jerusalem.
When he came to Phoenix in 1962, Tutnauer was the first graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary to serve as a rabbi in the state of Arizona. "I believe strongly in the intellectual and spiritual values of Conservative Judaism and seek to strengthen Beth El as a major center for the teaching and practice of Conservative Judaism," he said of his return. He also hopes to restore his personal relationships with Valley rabbis and Christian clergy in order "to enrich Phoenix's spiritual life."
He noted that "it is no secret that Beth El has seen a lot of turmoil during the past years. ... I hope to try to focus on the discussion of religious issues while attempting to heal some of the pain which has resulted from painful personal issues," he said.
Steve Goldstein, vice president of the synagogue's board, said the congregation is bringing him in as interim rabbi in order to give Beth El an opportunity to take its time in searching for a permanent rabbi.
"We believe that Rabbi Tutnauer can be extremely helpful in reaching out to all of our congregants and helping us to address the issues we need to resolve as part of that search," he said.
Since making aliyah in 1972, Tutnauer and his wife have remained in contact with their Phoenix friends via e-mail and hosted many of them during visits to Israel, Tutnauer said. "We have also been honored to attend simchas and to officiate at the weddings of many of the 'kids' and even the kids of the kids who grew up during our days in Phoenix."
Beth El past president Sherman Minkoff, who was instrumental in arranging Tutnauer's return, said he joins "many, many other people in the community who will be very happy to see him back" and hopes "his experience at Beth El will be a very successful one."
Tutnauer co-officiated at Minkoff's wedding with Rabbi Albert Plotkin of Temple Beth Israel of Scottsdale, and also at Minkoff's daughter's wedding.
Minkoff noted that one determining factor in selecting Tutnauer was not only his Beth El background, but also his experience serving as an interim rabbi at several congregations throughout the country, including Sinai Temple in Los Angeles and Temple Beth El in Rochester, N.Y.
Tutnauer's background also includes teaching in Kenya, Buenos Aires, Portugal and the Former Soviet Union.
Margie Tutnauer, a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary's Teachers' Institute, currently teaches children with learning disabilities.
The Tutnauers have two sons and five grandchildren, all of whom live in Israel.
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