H EADLINES
synagogue is still off ering those
options for congregants.

Book man
described Cooper’s
legacy thusly:
“Building community, warmth
and camaraderie. It’s more
than a house of prayer. Our
synagogue is the cornerstone
of many people’s lives.”
But progressiveness cannot
overcome age.

Pushing 70, Cooper said
he wants to spend more time
with his three children and
seven grandchildren. He also
hopes to engage the hobbies
he’s neglected for years: music,
woodworking and gardening.

Th ese are the desires of
a man who wants to retire,
not one who stands ready to
address the myriad challenges
of modern Jewry.

Th is has been coming for
some time: Five years ago, he
decided with fellow synagogue
leaders that he would retire at
the end of this contract.

“It was never my intention
to do this until I die,” Cooper
said. In retirement, the rabbi and
his wife, Lori, will split their
time between Wynnewood
and Israel. Th ey have one
daughter and one grand-
child here, and two children
and six grandchildren in the
Holy Land.

As he looks ahead, the rabbi
is content with the status of his
synagogue. But he’s clear on
the diffi cult path ahead for his
successor. Th ose challenges for modern
Jewry? Th ey are manifold,
according to Cooper.

A younger rabbi, he said,
must engage a younger gener-
ation that is uncertain about
religion. He or she needs to
bridge the expanding gap
between American Jews and
Israel. Th e next rabbi also
has to welcome the growing
LGBTQ+ community.

Rabbi Neil Cooper, center, wearing baseball hat, with congregants at a recent event
Courtesy of Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El
More than anything,
though, Cooper believes the
new leader must show inter-
married Jews that staying
Jewish is still important.

“Th ere needs to be a sense
of importance and urgency,”
he said.

Bookman is confi dent that
the temple will continue to
thrive even aft er their longtime
rabbi steps down.

“We’re a well-respected
synagogue,” she said. “We
have a wonderful school
and community.”
Th e pandemic didn’t change
that, she added.

“Even though people
couldn’t be together, we felt
that sense of closeness.” ●
jsaff ren@jewishexponent.com;
215-832-0740 There are many pages
in a long, rich life.

What will you be inspired
to do next?
Maybe you’ll find time for
a new approach to fitness,
refine your gardening skills,
take a class. Or just
appreciate the convenience
of a walk to the store.

just getting
started i am
To learn more, call (215)999-3619 or visit RydalPark.org
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM JEWISH EXPONENT
Whatever your next chapter
brings, you can open up
the time and space for it
here, in a community that
supports your goals every
step of the way.

...to be continued
AUGUST 19, 2021
5