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Aaron Kriegel
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Some times when a son observes the strains, the frustrations and the hardships of his father's profession, he decides not to follow in his footsteps. In the case of Rabbi Aaron Kriegel son of the late Rabbi Alter Kriegel, the founder of Congregation Beth Ahm of West Essex in Verona, just the opposite occurred.
After graduating from Verona's public schools Rabbi Aaron Kriegel received his Bachelor's degree from Rutgers and his Rabbinical degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He received his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an honorary doctorate from the Seminary.
The Rabbi met his wife, Sarah, after the Six Day War,(she was a sergeant in the artillery for the Israeli army). They married and he accepted his first pulpit in Columbia, South Carolina. He is still close to many of the congregants and has returned there many times to officiate at weddings and Bar Mitzvahs of the members' children. Sarah was given a standing ovation by the South Carolina Senate at a dinner there and Senator Scoop Jackson held up the dinner program for 15 minutes so he could talk with her. These are memories in history he will never forget.
Just like his father, Aaron Kriegel is concerned for the disenfranchised. He helped Susan McDougall (of the Whitewater case) when she felt everyone had abandoned her. He was a defense witness for her. He walked with her as she left the court house and gave her encouragement to assure her that she was not alone. As a chaplain in the Lompoc Federal Penitentiary he was counsel to many prisoners. One inmate, a notorious bank robber appreciated his help so much that he promised the rabbi that "When I get out and rob another bank I will share the proceeds with you." The Rabbi served on many debriefing teams for the LA police department; including the famous OJ Simpson case.
The Rabbi met with three presidents; Carter, Clinton and G.W.Bush. He was one of the few conservative rabbis invited to their prayer meetings. When the German Government wanted rabbis to represent the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform organizations to study how to reclaim the Jewish Heritage for Germany, Rabbi Kriegel was chosen to represent the Conservative movement. He was not restricted to any particular area in Germany, and therefore could travel unhindered in his quest for information. Jews as well as non Jews helped him. One important suggestion was for the Jewish community to be vigilant against any violence or terrorism in their area.
While in LA he was a member of the oldest Catholic-Jewish Dialogue Group in America and their accomplishments were published by the Diocese of LA.
Fire department officials from Southern California enlisted 20 Chaplains from the area and trained them in how to respond in case of a terrorist attack on the city. The officials felt they wanted the clergy to be prepared in case of such an attack, Rabbi Kriegel was part of this group.
Rabbi Kriegel remarked that living in LA as a rabbi was not all work. He lived next door to Lisa Kudrow of the Friends TV show, down the street lived Natalie Cole, Chuck Morrison and Ice Cube. To Easterners knowing celebrities seems very exciting but to LA citizens it is an everyday experience.
The Rabbi believes the synagogue is a vital part of the community. Therefore, there is a Parkinson's Disease support group, the JAC, a group that deals with dependency problems; and is a meeting place for Jewish Singles. Rabbi Kriegel established Beth Ahm as a center for the Dorot University. One of the first classes taught for Dorot at Beth Ahm was given by Cantor Marsha Schrier on "Jewish American Music through the Ages." Ms Schrier's classes were sent through the telephone lines to NY, Connecticut and New Jersey.
Rabbi Kriegel has become an Emergency Medical Technician for the Township of Verona and has taken courses in Clinical Pastoral Education and Psychology Theory at Clara Maas Hospital.
Rabbi Aaron Kriegel's greatest desire is to fulfill his father's two primary objectives: to serve the Jewish community and also to serve the community of Verona as a whole.
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