Rabbi Gideon Shloush
Rabbi Shloush is a young charismatic leader who has been an important part of the remarkable resurgence at Congregation Adereth El. Located in the heart of New York City - serving the Murray Hill, Gramercy Park, and Kips Bay neighborhoods of Manhattan -this Synagogue is New York’s oldest Congregation on the same site. He has become the inspiration and coordinator of a wide variety of Jewish learning programs, lecture series, beginner’s services and social events at the historic Synagogue, bringing in large groups of young singles and families. Under his leadership the Shul membership has nearly tripled, a magnificent Beit Midrash has been built and the Synagogue recently underwent a major restoration for just the third time in its 149 year history. He is also overseeing the planning for next year’s 150th Anniversary celebration.
Rabbi Shloush studied at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh in Israel during the Gulf War in 1990-1991. He went on to study at Yeshiva College where he graduated with a degree in Economics in 1993. Three years later, he received Smicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and an MBA from Baruch College. Upon graduation, he joined the leadership team at Congregation Adereth El and was appointed Assistant Rabbi to Rabbi Sidney Kleiman. In 1999, Rabbi Kleiman and the Congregation invited him to take over as their next Rabbi.
In 2002 Rabbi Shloush was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Council of America. The following year he was appointed as the Director of Rabbinic Learning and Enrichment. In this capacity he is credited with the creation and overseeing of the Rabbi Steven M. Dworken Continuing Rabbinic Education program which offers a wide variety of Torah learning and professional development opportunites for nearly one thousand member rabbis around the world. Rabbi Shloush is an adjunct professor at Stern College where he teaches Jewish Studies. Also, for the past four years he has served as the Vice President of Rabbinic Alumni for Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.
Rabbi Shloush comes from a long line of distinguished Rabbanim and follows in the path blazed by his father Rabbi Eliahu Shloush (KBY ‘65-‘69), a respected Rav and scholar, grandfather, Rabbi David Shloush, Chief Rabbi of Netanya, great-grandfather Rabbi Yosef Shloush, Rosh Av Beit Din and Rosh Chevra Kadisha of Jerusalem. He is also the great-grandson of Rav Meir Vaknin, the long-time Chief Rabbi of Teverya. Rabbi Shloush’s mother is the founder and Head of School of Yeshivat Rambam in Baltimore, MD. Several years ago, she was the recipient of the Jerusalem Prize from the President of the State of Israel.
Rabbi Gideon and Bonnie Shloush are the proud parents of Yair, Micha’el, Ariella, & Avigayil.