Joseph P. Sternstein
Joseph Philip Sternstein (1925-2007) was an American Conservative rabbi and Zionist leader. He served as president of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) from 1974 to 1978 and later as a national president of the Jewish National Fund in the United States. He was rabbi of Temple Beth Sholom (Roslyn, New York) in Roslyn Heights, New York, from 1969 to 1994.[1][2]
Early life and education
[edit]Sternstein graduated from Brooklyn College in 1944. He received a law degree from St. John's University School of Law and was ordained as a rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1948. He later received a Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree from the seminary.
Career
[edit]Sternstein served as rabbi in Glen Cove, New York from 1948 to 1950 and in Dayton, Ohio, from 1950 to 1961. In 1961, he was elected executive director of the Jewish National Fund of America. At the time, he was also vice president of the Zionist Organization of America and had served as national chairman of its Commission on Education.[3]
After serving as rabbi of Ansche Chesed in New York City from 1964 to 1969, Sternstein became rabbi of Temple Beth Sholom in Roslyn Heights. He served there until 1994, when he was succeeded by Rabbi Alan B. Lucas.[4]
In 1974, Sternstein was elected president of the Zionist Organization of America. JTA reported that he planned to emphasize Zionist education among American Jewish youth during his presidency.[5] He remained president through 1978.
As ZOA president, Sternstein advocated for Israel in discussions of United States Middle East policy and the Arab-Israeli peace process. In 1978, Time included him among American Jewish leaders it interviewed about negotiations between Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.[6]
Sternstein also served as president of the American Zionist Federation, as a member of the executive of the World Union of General Zionists, and on the presidium of the World Zionist Council. He later served as national president of the Jewish National Fund.
Writing
[edit]Sternstein wrote about Jewish and Zionist affairs. His works included "Diagnosis and Prognosis" (1956), a study of American Zionism, and a study of the theology of Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter, the Sfas Emes.
Sternstein died in December 2007.[7]
References
[edit]- ↑ Chertoff, Mordecai S.; Berenbaum, Michael. "Sternstein, Joseph Philip". Encyclopaedia Judaica. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Our History in Roslyn". Temple Beth Sholom. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Dr. Joseph P. Sternstein Named Executive Director of J.N.F. of America". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. November 6, 1961. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Our History in Roslyn". Temple Beth Sholom. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Rabbi Sternstein, New ZOA President Stresses Zionist Education for U.S. Jewish Youth". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. July 2, 1974. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Nation: American Jews: No Consensus". Time. February 20, 1978. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Rabbi Joseph P. Sternstein". The New York Times. December 30, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
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