Greenwood Village, DENVER—The Shul at Aish of the Rockies (www.aishrockiesshul.org) has selected a new pulpit rabbi, Rabbi Menachem Siderson, who will transition into the role beginning in August 2020. Rabbi Siderson’s appointment will enable Rabbi Yaakov Meyer to ascend to the position of senior rabbi of Aish of the Rockies, a Jewish outreach organization whose recent rebranding includes several initiatives to reach a wider variety of Jews locally and across the region.
While his primary focus will be on leading Aish of the Rockies overall, Rabbi Meyer will mentor the new rabbi, continue to serve as a community role model and educator, and maintain relationships he has built with congregants over the past 25 years.
“I’m looking forward to teaching more, meeting one-on-one with more people,” Rabbi Meyer said in a recent interview.
Rabbi Siderson – who grew up in Edmonton, Canada, and studied in Staten Island, Lakewood, and Israel – is currently in an intensive rabbinic training program in Jerusalem, where he is learning how to serve in every aspect of Jewish communal life, from bristo conversion to counseling. His wife, Nechama, is the most natural fit possible for co-leadership of the community: she not only grew up in Southeast Denver’s Aish community but is the daughter of its founders, Rabbi Yaakov and Mrs. Chaya Meyer.
“I’m very, very excited to be working with Rabbi Meyer, my father-in-law,” Rabbi Siderson said. “I have tremendous respect for him. He’s an amazing role model and an extremely inspiring leader – funny, smart, loving, caring. I look forward to building with him, learning from him, and having him as a mentor.”
Aish of the Rockies Chief Operating Officer Zev Jacobs explained the organization’s vision: “Over the course of the next year or even two years, Rabbi Siderson will learn and take on the role of rabbi of The Shul.” During that time, with the support of Rabbi Meyer, Rabbi Siderson will increasingly assume the responsibilities of providing religious guidance and pastoral care to the community. He will play a central role in the continued development of Jewish knowledge and will be responsible for many educational, spiritual, and ritual functions such as oversight of the eruv, the mikvah, and The Shul’s kosher kitchen. Rabbi and Mrs. Siderson will engage in “in-reach and outreach,” creating a warm and inviting environment for families and individuals – especially young adults and children.
“Rabbi and Mrs. Siderson were chosen because of their tremendous leadership potential, personalities, and abilities,” Mr. Jacobs explained. “We are thrilled to be adding such talent to our team and to The Shul community in particular.”
The Shul at Aish of the Rockies (www.aishrockiesshul.org) is located in the Rosenthal Center for Jewish Outreach in Greenwood Village. It is affiliated with the world’s leading Jewish outreach organization, Aish HaTorah.
“We are all excited about the Siderson family joining our community,” said Jennifer Finke, Aish of the Rockies’ board chair.
Contact Sari Steinberg
SariScribe@gmail.com
(773) 230-8515
