In honor of his 50 years in the rabbinate, Rabbi Israel Zoberman has received numerous local, state, and federal recognitions for this milestone achievement.
A member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Rabbi Zoberman received an Honorary Life Membership for his 50th year at the organization’s conference held in Philadelphia in March.
Additional acknowledgments of his milestone year include:
- The Virginia legislature passed Senate Joint Resolution 235 on March 4 in honor of Rabbi Zoberman’s 50th anniversary as a rabbi.
- Senator Mark Warner requested that an American flag be flown over the United States Capitol in honor of Rabbi Zoberman’s 50th anniversary. The rabbi then received a letter and certificate from Senator Warner accompanied by the flag.
- Representative Jen Kiggans congratulated Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman from the House Floor on May 6 on his 50th year of service as a rabbi.
- Senator Tim Kaine sent Rabbi Zoberman a letter of congratulations on April 8.
- Mayor Bobby Dyer of Virginia Beach issued a proclamation, naming June 1, 2024 as Rabbi Israel Zoberman Day. Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberdorf issued a similar proclamation on April 23, 1999, in honor of Rabbi Zoberman’s 25th ordination anniversary.
Born in Kazakhstan to Polish Holocaust survivors, Zoberman spent his early years in displaced persons camps in Austria and Germany before his family settled in Haifa, Israel. He was the first rabbi to earn a doctorate of ministry degree from the McCormick Theological Seminary, a seminary affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA. This experience led to his continued efforts in fostering interfaith ties in the community. In Virginia Beach, Rabbi Zoberman has led Congregation Beth Chaverim and Temple Lev Tikvah.