Rabbi Joshua Salter spoke at Tikvah Israel Congregation

We were honored, on March 24, to welcome to Tikvat Israel Rabbi Joshua Salter, Associate Rabbi at Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in Chicago. Rabbi Salter is a June 2005 graduate of the Israelite Rabbinical Academy, based in New York City. In addition to his service at Beth Shalom, Rabbi Salter is employed with Chicago’s Southwest Organizing Project, helping to galvanize the Southwest Chicago community neighborhood residents, clergy, and businesses against violence and crime and their far-reaching consequences. He is also involved in youth ministry, prison ministry, and community liaison work.

Rabbi Salter spoke during our Seudah Shlishit about his spiritual journey, his experiences in the Chicago Israelite Community, and his personal history, which includes 15 years as a banker at Chase Manhattan. The talk was well-attended, and we hope that this will inspire a continued dialogue between thoes of us in the “traditional” jewish community, and that of the black jewish communities of the United States. Rabbi Salter invited anyone interested in learning more, to visit their community and join in their worship, either in Chicago, or in Philadelphia.