essex county commissioner board honors rabbi max edwards of temple b’nai abraham at annual jewish heritage month event

Rabbi Max Edwards of Temple B’nai Abraham and Essex County Commissioner At-Large Patricia Sebold.” (Photo by Lloyd Holmes)

(Newark, NJ) – On Thursday, May 19, 2022, the Essex County Board of County Commissioners held its 2022 Jewish Heritage Month Event. This event is held yearly to celebrate the accomplishments of Jewish men and women everywhere, and honor outstanding Essex County citizens for their unique contributions both to our county and society as a whole.

This year, the Board recognized: Rabbi Max Edwards of Temple B’nai Abraham in Livingston; Caren L. Freyer, Regional Public Affairs Manager at PSEG; and Jill Hirsch, District Director for Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill.

Longtime Livingston resident and Essex County Commissioner Patricia Sebold honored Rabbi Edwards at the ceremony for his faith based service as a spiritual leader at Temple B’nai Abraham, as well as his contributions to social justice causes in Essex County and the surrounding communities. “I was happy to present Rabbi Edwards as an honoree for his work within the Jewish community, and his service to the people of Essex County.” Commissioner Sebold stated. “There is so much heartache going on across the world, and his determination to help those in need locally in Livingston, and those fleeing dire circumstances around the world, is something we can all aspire to.”

Rabbi Edwards is the Assistant Rabbi at Temple B’nai Abraham in Livingston. Prior to his rabbinic ordination from Hebrew College Rabbinical School in Newton, Massachusetts, he received a Masters of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. His approach to congregational life is greatly informed by his experience as a hospital chaplain at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. In his role at B’nai Abraham, he regularly leads prayer services, teaching sessions, and provides pastoral care. Additionally, he has works with his clergy colleagues to increase the community’s role in social justice causes. He recently co-led a group of congregants through a community-wide listening campaign as part of New Jersey Together, and is currently working with Refugee Assistance Partners New Jersey (RAP-NJ) to explore options for refugee resettlement in the Livingston area.

“There is a storied Jewish history in Essex County. Within this region of New Jersey, there is a story of struggle, a story of success, but even more important that what was, our history presents us with an opportunity to dream of what will be.” Rabbi Edwards stated upon receiving the Board’s commendation. “I am excited at the prospect of working with this distinguished Board to bring our shared values of justice and kindness to the world.”

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For Additional Information – Contact:
Kyalo Mulumba, Public Information Officer
Essex County Board of County Commissioners
973-621-4452 (phone) 973-621-5695 (fax)

kmulumba@commissioners.essexcountynj.org
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Address

Board of County Commissioners,
County of Essex
465 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.,
Room 558 Hall of Records,
Newark, New Jersey 07102