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Rabbi Mark Kaiserman Named “Youth Worker of the Month”
North American Recognition for his Dedication to Reform Jewish Youth

NEW YORK – May 2, 2007 – Rabbi Mark Kaiserman formerly of Temple Emanu-El Dallas has been named May’s “Youth Worker of the Month” by the Union for Reform Judaism.

Rabbi Kaiserman was known as the “Youth Rabbi” at Temple Emanu-El. Mary Spector, who nominated Rabbi Kaiserman, wrote, “Rabbi Kaiserman was tremendously influential in the life of our sons. Not only was he someone they respected, he was also someone they genuinely liked and, as a result, someone they trusted with both the happy and the sad.”

“I was surprised and delighted when I heard about being nominated by the Spector-Blatt family,” said Rabbi Kaiserman, who is now the rabbi at Temple Emanuel in Livingston, NJ.

“I really do this to win at board games,” he said jokingly when asked about the reasons he started working with young people. Rabbi Kaiserman continued on a much more serious note adding, “All youth workers always say to their kids that we are there for you no matter what - day or night. Sometimes you actually do get called in an emergency by a kid. Whether in Dallas or Livingston, it is an honor to be there for all my kids."

The “Youth Worker of the Month” recognizes the talent, dedication, and commitment of outstanding youth workers. Each “Youth Worker of the Month” recipient is nominated by a supervisor or peer and is featured for a month on www.RJyouthworker.org.

Recognizing the differences in the role of a youth worker from congregation to congregation, the Union for Reform Judaism has created RJyouthworker as an interactive website to provide resources and support for Reform Jewish youth workers around the world. With message boards, programs and professional development opportunities, RJyouthworker is designed to address the needs of the diverse field of Jewish youth workers in the Reform Movement.

For more information, please go to www.RJyouthworker.org.