Joseph Edelheit ~ 6221 Belmore Lane ~ Hopkins, MN…

                   Joseph Edelheit ~ 6221 Belmore Lane ~ Hopkins, MN 55343
                 952.935.1869 ~ 612.803.2257 ~ rabbijosephedelheit@msn.com

EDUCATION
 University of Chicago--Divinity School                                                2001
Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.)
Dissertation Title: The Indelicate Silence: Interfaith Marriage and the Jewish-Christian Dialogue
 Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, New York City                      1998
Doctor of Divinity (D.D.)--Honorary *(Citation Appended)
 Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, Ohio                   1973
Master of Hebrew Letters (MAHL) and Rabbinic Ordination
 University of California, Berkeley, California                                        1968
Bachelor of Arts (BA)--Speech/Rhetoric

EMPLOYMENT
    2005: Co-Founder and Director of Living India, a non-profit/non-government organization doing
    HIV/AIDS prevention education and care and support for AIDS orphans in rural India. Partnering
    with Keep A Child Alive Foundation in 2006 to build an orphanage/clinic for AIDS orphans.
    2005 to Present: Director of Jewish Studies and Jewish Communal Activities and Resources and
    Associate Professor of Philosophy, St Cloud State University, St Cloud, MN.
 2003-2004: Interim Director of Jewish Studies and Jewish Communal Activities and Resources, St.
Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN.
 2002-2003: Consultant: St. Cloud State University: Working with Provost Michael Spitzer to create the
framework of a court mandated a program of Jewish studies and communal services.
 Spring 2003: Adjunct Asst. Professor in Religion at St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN.
 2002: Founder and Executive Director of SEEDS-Strengthening the Education and Ethics of the
Dialogue for Spirituality, an interfaith education resource.
 Fall 2002: Adjunct Assoc. Professor at University of Minnesota-Center for Spirituality and Healing.
 2002-2003: Scholar-in Residences at several churches and synagogues in the Twin Cities and
nationally.
 2001 to 2004: High Holy Day Rabbi and Monthly Scholar in Residence, Sinai Temple, Michigan City, IN.
 2001-1992: Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel, Minneapolis, MN. **
 Spring 1998 to Present: Adjunct Assoc. Professor at University of Minnesota-Center for Holocaust and
Genocide Studies.
 1997-1996: Adjunct-Visiting Lecturer in Religion-Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN.
 1992-1985: Senior Rabbi, Emanuel Congregation, Chicago, IL. **
 1988: Adjunct-Visiting Lecturer Loyola University, Chicago, IL
 1985-1976: Rabbi, Sinai Temple, Michigan City, IN.
 1985-1977: Adjunct-Visiting Lecturer and then Adjunct Assoc. Professor of Theology Valparaiso
University, Valparaiso, IN. Created the Jewish Studies Program working with the Theology Department.
 1977: Adjunct-Visiting Lecturer in Religion at Illinois Benedictine College, Chicago, IL.
 1976-1973: Assistant Rabbi, Emanuel Congregation, Chicago, IL.
** Details regarding these positions are included following the formal curriculum vitae.

PUBLICATIONS
Books [of which I am either the editor or author of essay/chapter]
 "Divre Gerut: A Guide to All Matters of Proselytes." Central Conference of American Rabbis, New
York, 1980 (interim addition); 1983 (final edition). [Pamphlet published for all Reform Jews]
 "Choosing Judaism and Choosing Mitzvot." In Sha'arei Moed, Guide to the Festivals. Peter Knobel,
ed. Central Conference of American Rabbis, New York, 1983.
 The Life of Covenant: The Challenge of Contemporary Judaism. Joseph A. Edelheit, ed. Spertus
College of Judaica Press, Chicago, 1986.
 "An Ethics of the Interpretation of the Contemporary Jewish Experience." In Clergy Ethics in a
Changing Society. James. P. Wind, ed. Westminster/John Knox Press, Louisville, 1991.


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 "A Rabbinic Reflection on the Right to Die." In Choosing Death. Ron Hamel, ed. Trinity Press.
Philadelphia, 1991.
 "AIDS: A Transformative Challenge for Clergy." In AIDS and the Challenge to the Professions. Temple
University Press, 1993.
 "Judaism" in The Religion of our Neighbors. Fortress Press, Minneapolis, 1994.
    "Standing Still So We Can Go into the New Year" in Living Torah : Selections from Seven Years of
    Torat Chayim. URJ Press. New York. 2005
    "The Passion of the Christ and Congregational Interfaith Relations" in Shofar, Spring 2005. Purdue
    University, Vol 23, No 3.

Articles
 "Anti-Semitism and Christian Theology." The Cresset, Journal of Valparaiso University.1979.
 "Accepting Non-Jews as Members of a Synagogue." Journal of Reform Judaism. Summer 1980.
 "Are We Ready for the New Jewish Community?" Journal of Reform Judaism. Winter 1981.
 "Children of a Mixed Marriage: A Non-Lineal Approach." Journal of Reform Judaism. Winter 1983.
 "Judaism: The Eternal Echo within Christianity." The Lutheran Educator. Fall 1984.
 Review of Against Silence: Voice and Vision of Elie Wiesel. Irving Abrahamson, ed. The University of
Chicago Journal of Religion. 1986.
 Review of AIDS: The Ultimate Challenge by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. The Christian Century. May 11, 1988.
 Review of Approaches to Auschwitz: The Holocaust and its Legacy. Richard Rubenstein and John K.
Roth, eds. The University of Chicago Journal of Religion. 1989.
 "The Rabbi and the Abyss of AIDS." Tikkun. July/August, 1989.
 "The Rabbi and the Mandatory Premarital HIV Antibodies Test." Journal of Reform Judaism. Summer
1989.

Reports/Addresses/Curricula
 "Prophetic Responses to the Global Pandemic of HIV/AIDS." Opening Address of the White House
Summit on AIDS for Religious Leaders--World AIDS Day 2000.
 AIDS: No Time To Spare: The Final Report to the President of the United States. September 2000.
Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. Author of introduction and member of the editorial
committee.
 Several "reports" relating to leadership positions in the Central Conference of American Rabbis,
published in yearbooks regarding committees on Gerut/Conversion, Outreach, HIV/AIDS, and Human
Sexuality.
 "Introduction to Judaism"--A Joint Program of the Chicago Regions of the Rabbinical Assembly and
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Developed and written by Joseph A. Edelheit. 1975.
Copyright 1979. Revised edition 1987. This was the core curriculum used by the metro area for
conversion until the mid 1990s.

COLLEGE COURSES TAUGHT
 Post Holocaust Theology-An Interfaith Approach
 Introduction to Jewish Intellectual History
 The Ten Most Significant Spiritual Texts of the 20th Century
 Introduction to Modern Jewish Thought (Philosophy and Theology)
 Holocaust Theology (a precursor to the most recent course)
 Suffering and Evil
 Contemporary Jewish Thought (Reading specific authors)
 Basic Judaism
 Hebrew Bible
 Reading the Hebrew Scriptures--A Dialogue
 The Jewish Roots of Christianity
 Rabbinic Hebrew and Pirke Avot--The Sayings of the Songs
 The American Jewish Experience
 Contemporary Issues of Jewish-Christian Relations


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SHORT COURSES AND SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCIES
 Torah-The Weekly Portion-Saturday mornings 1992-2001--a core of 40-50 adults for 90 minutes.
 Lenten Bible Series-A Rabbi and Priest Read the Passion Narrative
 How to Read Scripture Today
 Lenten Bible Series-A Rabbi Reads the Psalms for Today
 Leadership Development for Synagogues in the 20th Century
 Interfaith Forums on variety of topics-developed and coordinated for 2 then 6 and then 11
downtown Minneapolis churches and one synagogue-scripture, life cycle observances, theology,
Israel. Five weeks annually in the Fall. 350-450 persons @ 2 hour session.

NOTABLE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
 Coordinating Committee of The Zygon Center for Religion and Science at Lutheran School of
Theology-Present/2000.
 Advisory Board for the Center for Spirituality and Healing-University of Minnesota-Present/1999.
 National Advisory Council for the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences-1998-2003.
 Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS-1996-2000-Appointed by President William Clinton; one of
two clergy persons on the Council; served on the Executive Committee and editorial committee for
the Final Report to the President; worked closely with Ms. Sandra Thurman, Director of the Office of
National AIDS Policy in planning the White House World AIDS Summit for Religious Leaders.
 Camp Heartland Board of Trustees-1997-2001. The only camp for children living with HIV/AIDS.
 Advisory Board for the Jay Phillips Jewish/Christian Learning Center at St. Thomas and St. John's
Universities 1992-2001.
 AIDS Pastoral Care Network-Advisory Council 1987-1992-I was a founder of this first interfaith AIDS
service organization, which provided education, pastoral counseling, and community service.
 Cook County States Attorney Special Task Force on the Removal of Life Support Systems 1989-1990.
 Prison Chaplin-Indiana State Prison 1976-1985. Established the first ever synagogue within a
maximum-security state prison.

AWARDS
 People of Faith Allies-Religious Leadership Award 2001
 David W. Preuss Leadership Award 1999-Luther Seminary-Shared with Father Michael O'Connell for
communal leadership in interfaith relations.
 Tree of Life Award 1996-Jewish National Fund-Shared with Father Michael O'Connell
 Fruenstenberg Fellowship-University of Chicago 1985.

DETAILS FROM THE CURRICULUM VITAE
*Individualized citation on Doctor of Divinity--Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion,
March 17, 1998.
Joseph A. Edelheit, compassionate rabbi whose manifold gifts have found expression in his untiring
diligence for the advancement of legal and communal support for those stricken with AIDS, whose
sensitive guidance has enriched the civic, educational and interfaith organizations on which he has
served and whose deep and discerning knowledge has been manifested in his teaching on the
university campus and his writings for readers of all faiths.

**Details of rabbinic positions, specifically relating to management, fundraising, and program
development:
Temple Israel, Minneapolis is a 123-year-old urban Reform Jewish synagogue, the largest Jewish
institution in Minnesota representing 2100 households. In addition to an urban-based facility, there is a
large summer camp at Lake Minnetonka. Reflecting its size and facilities, Temple Israel has a staff of
about 150 employees throughout the year. I directly lead the senior professional staff consisting of 2+
rabbis, a cantor, Jewish educators, and executive administrator, a youth/camp director and a
director of development. I was directly accountable to the Board of Trustees that is composed of
approximately 50 lay leaders of the congregation. Beyond the administrative duties noted above, I
officiated at lifecycle ceremonies, lead weekly worship services; provided pastoral counseling for
those in need during times of illness and crises. My role included fundraising for both the Temple Israel

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Foundation and Torhtaynu, a five-year capital campaign with a goal of $6 million. I was instrumental in
hiring the first full time director of development and worked closely with him to formally re-establish the
Temple Israel Foundation and its first Board of Directors. I led the congregation, its lay leadership and
professional staff, in the vision and implementation of a 5-year Capital/Foundation Drive to culminate
in the 125th anniversary of the congregation. During year one, we raised over 50 percent of our $6
million goal. Under my leadership the congregation established a series of new and significant learning
venues: weekly Torah (scripture) study and monthly off-site study groups for discussion of ethics and
current events. I initiated scholar-in-residence programs for which I secured endowed funds for
weekend programs. I worked with the rabbinic staff to reformulate an Introduction to Judaism course
offered twice a year to anyone within the congregation or community interested in becoming Jewish
or better understanding Jews and Judaism. This course is based on a program that I developed and
directed in Chicago for many years. I worked with two past presidents in establishing the first
Leadership Development Program that seeks members of the congregation and provides learning
and networking opportunities in order to develop a "pool" of future Board members and
congregational officers. I developed significant communal, professional and personal relationships
with many Christian clergy and downtown Churches. In particular, I developed a close relationship
with the Basilica of St. Mary. We studied together with our congregations for several years and then
that was expanded to include other faith communities as participants. There are now 11 downtown
congregations who participate, making our community a leader in such interfaith gatherings. Temple
and the Basilica have jointly led two interfaith pilgrimages, one to Israel and Jordan and to Eastern
Europe and Rome. We are the only synagogue and church to jointly memorialize a city/town without
Jews on the Memorial Wall in the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. Our
congregations have jointly donated $75,000.00 to publicly define our commitment to the past
injustices and the future good will. I was instrumental in having Temple Israel make a permanent
financial and staffing commitment to an annual interfaith demonstration Seder, to which 350 Christians
are invited annually. I raised significant endowed funds to support the congregation's many and
varied interfaith programs.
Emanuel Congregation, Chicago, in 1985 had 800 families with a skew to an older demographic, in
part reflecting the building's location in an urban neighborhood of high-rise buildings. I returned to this
synagogue that I had served as an assistant rabbi from 1973-1976 to succeed a beloved emeritus who
remained active in the life of the congregation. During my first few years as rabbi, I completed a
significant capital campaign and building renovation. A critical challenge was stabilizing our declining
membership base and attracting younger families to assure the long-term viability of the congregation.
Revitalizing the religious school and establishing innovative religious and adult educational programs
accomplished this.




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