Rabbi Robert L. Wolkoff came to us in July of 2007 from Congregation Agudath Achim in Savannah, Georgia where he was their spiritual leader since 1995.
Robert L. Wolkoff is a graduate of Wesleyan University and was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary. In Sweden, the rabbi served as co-chair of the Council of Christians and Jews and as a member of the Swedish Free Church Trialogue of Moslems, Christians, and Jews. While in Sweden the rabbi met his wife, Ruth-Ann, who was on a business trip at the time. The two married and returned to America in 1993, where they lived in Appleton, Wisconsin for several years. He is a past President of the Southeast Region Rabbinical Assembly and member of the Executive Council of the Rabbinical Assembly. As past president of the Greater Carolinas Association of Rabbis, he fostered cooperation and harmony in one of largest interdenominational rabbinical organizations in America. Rabbi Wolkoff founded and served as director of Blackfire, which raised the Jewish public profile in Scandinavia, defended the Jewish community against governmental, academic, and theological anti-Semitism, and presented a Jewish perspective on social issues and Israel. Rabbi Wolkoff relocated to the parsonage in North Brunswick in August of 2007 with his wife, Ruth-Ann, and their three children, twins Ethan & Joseph, and daughter Dhalia Orli who was 9 months old at the time.
From the Rabbi’s Desk – Articles & Sermon
A New Al Chet
Over the years, many have written new versions of the Al Chet prayer specific to the times. Below you will find links to some appropriate for us.
High Holy Day Prayer Lesson 6: The Confessional (Ashamnu)
“He said the quiet part out loud.” That’s the in-vogue phrase to describe politicians who say something outrageous that everyone assumed they felt but was too extreme to admit.
Rabbi Wolkoff Rosh Hashanah 5781 Sermon Day 2
During his high holy day sermons, Rabbi Wolkoff will focus on four ways in which we are not "woke" and today's sermon focuses on we are not woke to the need for real knowledge and its demands on us.
Rabbi Wolkoff Rosh Hashanah 5781 Sermon Day 1
During his high holy day sermons, Rabbi Wolkoff will focus on four ways in which we are not "woke" and today's sermon focuses on we are not woke to our Jewish History and its relationship to our current day and to our future.
High Holy Day Prayer Lesson 5: Hayom
The prayer Hayom is a congregational favorite for a variety of reasons. First, it signals that we are coming to the close of long Rosh Hashanah services. Second, it almost always has a joyful, upbeat melody. Third, everyone wonders how in the world Cantor Rockman will fit the melody to the outrageous sixth line, which is twice as long as all the others.
High Holy Day Prayer Lesson 4: Avinu Malkeynu
With the exception of Kol Nidrei, there is probably no prayer recited on the High Holy Days more familiar than Avinu Malkeynu, “Our Father, our King.” Although the text varies in different machzorim, the prayer is a manifold series of requests, including requests for material benefits, as well as life, health and safety, in addition to forgiveness and compassion in the coming year.