Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg arrived at Temple Emanu-El of Englewood in the mid-1950s during a moment of institutional expansion and social change. Coming from a previous pulpit in Nashville, Tennessee, he assumed leadership just as the congregation was preparing for the High Holy Days amid plans for a major building campaign and the construction of a new sanctuary. His tenure coincided with a period when suburban synagogues were redefining their role in American Jewish life.

Hertzberg’s arrival marked a generational shift in leadership. Alongside him came Cantor Nathaniel A. Entin, a respected and accomplished cantor whose presence strengthened the Temple’s liturgical and musical life. Together, the new rabbinic–cantorial team prepared what was expected to be the final High Holy Day season in the existing Tenafly Road facility, underscoring a sense of transition and anticipation within the congregation.

A trained historian and theologian, Hertzberg viewed the rabbinate as inseparable from ethical responsibility in public life. He frequently spoke about the changing nature of American Judaism, arguing that communities like Englewood would shape the future of Jewish religious expression in an increasingly suburban nation. Under his leadership, Temple Emanu-El formally aligned with the Conservative movement through membership in the United Synagogue, reinforcing its institutional identity while expanding its national connections.

Hertzberg’s most lasting impact in Englewood, however, came through his willingness to engage controversial civic issues from the pulpit. During municipal election campaigns, he publicly criticized political rhetoric that he believed exploited racial fear, particularly in debates over housing, integration, and relocation policies. These sermons drew sharp responses from local political figures and sparked public debate, placing Temple Emanu-El at the center of broader conversations about race, democracy, and moral responsibility in postwar suburban New Jersey

At the same time, Hertzberg’s influence extended well beyond Englewood. While serving as rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, he rose to national prominence, later becoming President of the American Jewish Congress and Vice President of the World Jewish Congress. In these roles, he emerged as one of the most outspoken Jewish intellectuals of his generation, addressing civil rights, Jewish identity, and the relationship between American Jews and Israel

Hertzberg’s years in Englewood exemplified a model of religious leadership that fused scholarship, moral critique, and community engagement. Supported by strong cantorial leadership and an expanding congregation, he transformed the suburban synagogue into a forum for ethical reflection and public discourse. His legacy at Temple Emanu-El endures as an example of how a local pulpit could resonate far beyond its immediate community.

“Arthur Hertzberg.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 June 2024.

Berger, Joseph. “Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, Scholar and Blunt Advocate for Civil Rights, Dies at 84.” The New York Times, 18 Apr. 2006.

“Arthur Hertzberg.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 June 2024.