Gary Pokras
Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth Ami
- Role
- Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth Ami
- Location
- Rockville, MD, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Gary Pokras
KAVANAH) PURPOSE In a world with more and more choices for spiritual and religious expression, why choose a synagogue? For me, the answer is simple: we have Torah. We have Torah, and unlike so many other paths, Torah teaches us to focus not just on the individual, but on all of Creation; to seek not only inner peace, but also harmony with each other, with our world and with our Creator. Guided by Torah, Jewish community aspires to be the place where we find meaning, joy and purpose; where we share not only the bond of our common values, but also find our place as part of a proud family that grew to become a great nation; where we share a common history, and a hope for the future that binds us together. When we succeed, our community becomes holy in that it is set apart in purpose and in character. My mission as a rabbi is to cultivate and nurture just this kind of sacred Jewish community. Specialties: Jewish Spiritual Leadership, Change Management, Mentoring, Liturgy, Education, Homiletics
Experience
Senior Rabbi
Jul 2016 — Present · Rockville, MD, US
Spiritual leader of an innovative and inclusive synagogue in the greater DC area.
Education
The Meadows School for the Arts Southern Methodist University
Masters of Music (2x)
1989 — 1991
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts
1983 — 1988
Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion
Rabbinic Ordination (1999) -- Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters (1998)
1994 — 1999
Skills
- Community Outreach
- Pastoral Counseling
- Religious Education
- Social Justice
- Interfaith Relations
- Teaching
- Nonprofits
- Interfaith
- Jewish Studies
- Hebrew
- Jewish Education
- Guitarist
- Program Development
- Philosophy of Religion
- Preaching
- Bible
- Volunteer Management
- Chaplaincy
- Board Development
- Congregational Development
- Leadership Development
- Liturgy
- Non-Profit Administration
- Fundraising
- Community Building
- Informal Education
- Jewish History
- Choral
- Curriculum Development
- Religion
- Spiritual Direction
- Ethics
- Homiletics
- Musicology
- Community Organizing
- Curriculum Design
- Non-Profits
- Adult Education
- Religious History
- Leadership
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