OUR RABBIS
RABBI MOSHE SMOLKIN
Senior Rabbi
(he/him/his)
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Email: rabbismolkin@adath-israel.org
Rabbi Smolkin is the senior rabbi at Adath Israel Congregation. He grew up in Texas and New Mexico and holds a B.A. from Brandeis and a M.A.T. in Mathematics Education from Tufts. He enjoyed teaching high school math in Boston, before attending the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University in Los Angeles.
While in rabbinical school, he interned as an interfaith chaplain, studied in Jerusalem, and served at Mishkon Tephilo in Venice, California. Rabbi Smolkin was ordained in 2009, having twice received awards for his excellence in Talmud. He then served for 10 years as the rabbi at Ohavay Zion Synagogue in Lexington, Kentucky.
In addition to his love of learning Torah, Talmud, and Jewish Mysticism, Rabbi Smolkin enjoys studying other religions and learning languages - Greek is his current interest. He also has a life-long love of music, as well as many years of study in martial arts. Rabbi Smolkin has been known to indulge in Marvel movies, sushi, and a good cupcake.
RABBI RAND BURKE
Engagement Rabbi
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Email: rabbiburke@adath-israel.org
Rabbi Burke is an Arizona native with a passion for Judaism and education. After receiving his B.A. from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University, he attended Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati where he earned rabbinical ordination in 2022.
Rabbi Burke has a passion for studying Torah, Talmud, Jewish history, and Jewish Mysticism. While in rabbinical school, Rabbi Burke served congregations in Louisiana and Indiana, interned as a chaplain in both a hospital and retirement community, and worked as a Jewish Foundation Fellow at Shelanu (formerly Kulanu), Cedar Village, and SAFE Cincinnati.
Rabbi Burke is a Chaplain Candidate Program Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve and holds the rank of lieutenant. In addition to his love of Jewish learning, Rabbi Burke enjoys cooking, college football (the Arizona State Sun Devils is his favorite team), eating ice cream, being outdoors, and exploring local craft breweries with his family.
RABBI IRVIN M. WISE
Rabbi Emeritus
Email: rabbi@adath-israel.org
Rabbi Wise was born and raised in Cincinnati and assumed the position of Senior Rabbi of Adath Israel Congregation in 1992. Rabbi Wise received his Masters of Arts Degree in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College/Jewish Institute of Religion in 1978 and his rabbinic ordination from HUC in 1979.
Prior to coming to Adath Israel, Rabbi Wise served as the Director of Student Activities and Assistant Rabbi at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem and as the Executive Director of the Hillel at both Ohio University and the University of Minnesota. A member of the Rabbinical Assembly, Rabbi Wise is a respected and beloved teacher who taught extensively in the Adult Studies program at Adath Israel as well as in the Conservative high school, Mercaz, and Adath Israel's religious school. Rabbi Wise has served as President of the Greater Cincinnati Board of Rabbis. He also served on numerous boards and committees in our Jewish community. He and his wife Kathy have three children, Ora, Shalva and T. Rabbi Wise officially became Rabbi Emeritus in September 2019.
