Rabbi's Bio
On July 1, 2004 Rabbi Eric J. Lazar became the Rabbi at Temple Brith Achim, a Reform Congregation founded in 1971 in King of Prussia, PA. Before coming to TBA, Rabbi Lazar was Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa, FL. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication, Rabbi Lazar earned a Masters Degree in Hebrew Literature at Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion. He was ordained in May, 2001. In addition, Rabbi Lazar studied Rabbinics at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and management of non-profit organizations at Seton Hall University. He was twice awarded The Aaron H. and Rose G. Covel Memorial Prize for the most academic progress, the Gerald M. Meyers Memorial Prize in Chaplaincy Service and the Rabbi Jill Kreitman Prize in Homiletics.
Rabbi Lazar gained extensive pulpit experience at congregations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Florida, where he taught adult education, led prayer and Torah study, developed youth programming and participated in chaplaincy programs.
Rabbi Lazar is an enthusiastic educator and strong advocate for youth programming. He has taught students of all ages from pre-school through adulthood, advised and directed youth groups and has had extensive Jewish summer camping experience. He successfully increased youth group membership at both Temple Sholom in River Edge, NJ and at Temple Sinai of Bergen County in Tenafly, NJ. Two different youth groups, with Rabbi Lazar as their Youth Advisor, were each awarded the NFTY National and NFTY-GER Regional Tikkun Olam Awards for educationally and socially balanced programming. Rabbi Lazar built strong and lasting relationships with the students he has worked with and is proud of having been honored by the students with a Lifetime Membership of the Garden-Empire Region of the North American Federation of Temple Youth.
His congregational innovations include implementing an online Torah study discussion group, teaching holiday workshops as part of congregational Introduction to Judaism classes, conducting regular visits to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and congregants homes as well as regularly offering lessons, stories and bi-weekly Shabbat programs for preschool age children. Throughout his career, he has also been deeply involved in interfaith community initiatives.
Rabbi Lazar is deeply committed to tikkun olam – repair of the world. He believes that it is our responsibility as Jews to “be active partners with G-d” making the world a more livable place for all. He has worked directly with the homeless, delivered meals on wheels and regularly visits nursing homes. His Pennsylvania license plate- TKUNOLM reflects this ideal.
Prior to entering the rabbinate, Rabbi Lazar's secular work experience included advertising, performing live Mr. Wizard science assembly programs at schools across the country, shipping and receiving for a major foodservice brand, as well as time spent working for the Department of Public Works in his hometown of Teaneck, NJ.
Temple Brith Achim is delighted to have Rabbi Lazar as our spiritual leader. We continue to thrive under his spiritual guidance and warm, open leadership.