Robert Gordis

A rabbi and a Bible scholar, Robert Gordis was a vital force in Conservative Judaism, helping to define its principles and philosophical outlook. He taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary from 1937 until the late 1980s, simultaneously serving as rabbi of Temple Beth El in Rockaway Park, Queens. In his scholarship, Gordis was especially devoted to the books of Job and Ecclesiastes. As a rabbi, he championed interfaith relations, was dedicated to inter-Jewish dialogue, and in both capacities helped to found the journal Judaism.