Congregation Dor Tamid Installs New Senior Rabbi

JOHNS CREEK, GA -- On Friday, July 7, Rabbi Jordan M. Ottenstein, stepped onto the pulpit in front of more than 300 members of his synagogue to lead Congregation Dor Tamid for Shabbat evening worship service, becoming the fourth senior rabbi in the congregation’s history.

Recently relocating to Johns Creek from Fort Worth, Texas, Rabbi Ottenstein began his tenure on July 1, 2017. Over the past year an exhaustive, nationwide search was conducted by the Rabbi Search Committee, culminating with Rabbi Ottenstein’s selection. The committee determined and refined the needs of CDT through a multitude of conversations with congregants, an extensive online survey and reflections with the Board of Directors.

“The Dor Tamid community is thrilled to begin the next chapter of Congregation Dor Tamid with our new Rabbi," said CDT President Rob Lederman. "We welcome Rabbi Jordan, Marni, Noah and Kaden into our family.”

Mitch Skyer, long-time congregant, past-president and, most recently, co-chair of the Senior Rabbi Search Committee, said he could not be more pleased to welcome Ottenstein to the community or "more optimistic about the future" of the synagogue.

A native of Minnesota, Rabbi Ottenstein is a passionate educator who is committed to social action, study and interfaith dialogue. He most recently served as the first assistant rabbi of Beth-El Congregation in Fort Worth. He served Beth-El on the Executive Board and as Education Committee chairman of the Jewish Education Association/Lil Goldman Early Learning Center.

The Beth-El community was also blessed with his service as a staff chaplain for the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Department. Rabbi Ottenstein previously served as director of lifelong learning at Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis and has been awarded the title of Reform Jewish Educator by the Association of Reform Jewish Educators and the Union of Reform Judaism.

He brings to Dor Tamid and Johns Creek many years of social justice experience and a passion for community education. Rabbi Ottenstein and wife, Marni Phon, have two sons, Noah, 5, and Kaden, 2. Rabbi Ottenstein enjoys camping.

Founded in 2004, Congregation Dor Tamid is a 275-member Reform congregation located at 11165 Parsons Road in Johns Creek.

Image via Congregation Dor Tamid