Rabbi Kassel E. Abelson z”l, Emeritus
In Memory Of Rabbi Abelson | June 26, 1924 – July 18, 2023
Rabbi Abelson first came to Beth El in 1948, leaving in 1951 for the military and returning in 1957 as assistant rabbi to Rabbi David Aronson, Beth El’s first rabbi. He has been a devoted teacher and leader stepping down as Beth El Senior Rabbi in 1992 to become active in setting national Judaic policy. During his forty plus years as Beth El’s Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Abelson created United Synagogue Youth and an egalitarian relationship for both men and women in the study and reading of the Torah. He is also responsible for a strong TaRBuT (B’nai mitzvah training) Program and Rimonim-a post-B’nai Mitzvah class, in which teens teach future B’nai Mitzvah candidates.