Rabbi Alan R. Sherman, D.D. 

Chosen by the Jewish Journal Newspaper as one of the most influential Jewish leaders in South Florida.  April 2010

CURRENT POSITIONS

Director of Chaplain Services

1983 – Present

Executive Director, Chaplaincy; 1979-2012;

Director of Community Relations (1979-1995)

Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, Inc.

Chaplain (Lieutenant Colonel) Retired,  June 1999.

United States Army, 3220th US Army Reserve Garrison, West Palm Beach, FL

Veteran of Operation Shield/Storm. Mobilized for active duty, August 1990 – May 1991

Palm Beach County Board of Rabbis: Executive Vice President, 1997 –2012; President, 1994 – 1996; Secretary, 1991; Vice President, 1992 – 1994; appointed Vice President, 1997.

RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR EDUCATION

 1954 – 1961          Yeshiva of Central Queens. Jamaica, New York. Diploma.

1963 – 1965          Long Beach High School. Long Beach, New York. NY State Regents Diploma.

1965 – 1969          Long Island University. CW Post Campus. B.A., Sociology, Minor: Education

      1969                Elected to Pi Gamma Mu – National Social Science Honor Society.

1969 – 1974          Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. B.A., B.H.L., M.A.H.L.,   Ordained Rabbi

1972 – 1973          Tel Aviv University. Ramat Aviv, Israel.

1973 – 1974          Elected President of the HUC - JIR Rabbinic Student Association

      1984                Command and General Staff College, U.S. Army. Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas: Graduate.

      1999                Doctor of Divinity, Honorary – HUC - JIR

POST-GRADUATE CERTIFICATION AND EDUCATION

Certified Jewish Chaplain – National Association of Jewish Chaplains, 1995.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. Residency in Hospital Ministry and Clinical Pastoral Education. Certificate, 1978.

Jefferson County Comprehensive Mental Health Center. Steubenville, Ohio. Initiated and completed course in Pastoral Counseling. Certificate.

RECENT PAST AND PRESENT COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

1. Guardianship Committee – Jewish Family and Children’s Service - Member, 2005 – 2012.
2. Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center – Board Member, 2005 - 2012. Vice President-2011-2012.
3. Leadership Palm Beach County - Alumni
4. Toward a More Perfect Union – Board Member, 2007
5. Vitas Advisory Committee (Hospice), 2008- present.
6. United Jewish Communities Rabbinic Cabinet.
7. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line – On Board Clergy
8. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Jail Ministry Advisory Committee – Chairman, 2006 –
9. Rabbinic Advisor to Jewish War Veterans, Post 501.
10. S.A. Friends of Beit Halochem: Helping disabled Israeli Veterans, Honorary Board.
11. Emergency Shelter Grants Program, Advisory Board: appointed by the Palm Beach County Commission, 1994 – 1997, President 1990; Board Member
12. Member, Amerian Legion, Present

AWARDS

1995 Red Ribbon Award presented by the Partnership for a Drug-Free Community for outstanding efforts and achievement in the Palm Beach County “ War Against Drugs”.

1993 Defender Cup presented by Palm Beach County Public Defender Richard Jorandby for Outstanding Service to the indigent of Palm Beach County.

1986 Man of the Year Brotherhood Award presented by the Brotherhood Committee of the Palm Beaches & Environs for Leadership in promoting dialogue and interaction among people of different races and religions.

Dr. Theodore Norley Community Service Award for Outstanding Community Services to Disadvantaged Citizens of Palm Beach County, presented by the Urban League of Palm Beach County, March 1983.

William J. Shroder Award, from the Council of Jewish Federations, for building a Coalition of Human Services, in response to projected government budget cuts affecting human services, November 1982.

The Hadassah Myrtle Wreath Achievement Award for 1984, in recognition of Outstanding Community Service to the people of Palm Beach County.

Recognition of 10 years of service to the viewers of CBS affiliate WPEC – TV 12, as co-host of “Perspectives in Faith”, a public affairs program.

Public Relations Award for “Prayer Book for the Elderly”, presented by the Council of Jewish Federations, November 1982.

Meritorious Service Medal, Washington, D.C., June 1999 for career service in the Army Chaplaincy.

Army Commendation Metal, Oak Leaf Cluster, Washington, D.C., August 1991, for outstanding service in Operation Desert Shield Storm.

Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Atlanta, Georgia, December 1995.

Commander’s Award for Excellence- 1999; 3220 US Army Garrison, West Palm Beach, FL

Recipient of the B’Nai Avraham Award, American Jewish Committee, for theservice in the area of intergroup relations, May 1992.

Liberty Bell Award, Palm Beach County Bar Association for Community Service that has strengthened the American System of Freedom under law, May 1992.

Bethel House, Inc. (African – American) Community Service Award for making a difference to people of all communities, September 1992.

Service Award, Jefferson County Mental Health Center, Steubenville, Ohio, January 1979.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office- Exemplary Volunteer Award- 2012.

DISTANT PAST COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Temple Beth El, Steubenville, Ohio, Rabbi - 1974 – 1979.

Community Relations Board of Palm Beach County; appointed by the Palm Beach County Commission, 1980; elected Chairman, 1980 – 1982; resigned chairmanship and elected Vice-Chairman, September 1982; re-elected Chairman, 1984 – 1985 and 1988 – 1990.

Holocaust Survivors of the Palm Beaches: Co-Founder.

Urban League of Palm Beach County: board member.

Director of Chaplain Services

1983 – Present

MorseLife, Inc.

Commission on Equal Opportunity and International Concerns: appointed by the JCPA, May 1983; the Church – State Commission, May 1984; appointed to the Commission on Israel and Task Force on Women, May 1988.

The Palm Beach Post Newspaper: columnist on religion.

Palm Beach County Public Defender’s Office: Board of the Alternative Sentencing Project.

United Cerebral Palsy of the Treasure Coast: Telethon VIP, 1983 – 1986.

Children’s Place in West Palm Beach: Board of Directors, 1979 – 1980.

Central Conference of American Rabbis: Committee on Judaism and Health, executive board; Committee on Pastoral Care and Training, member; Committee on Synagogue-Federation Relations, member.

WXEL-TV, Public Broadcasting: Community Advisory Board.

Jupiter Courier Journal: religion contributor.

“Directions 88” in Planning for the Future of Palm Beach County, May 5-7, 1988.

“Directions 94” in Planning for the future of Palm Beach County, June 2-4, 1994.

Dialogues with the Methodist, Catholic and African American Communities.

Instrumental in establishing a Coalition of Human Service Agencies to respond to the impact of Federal, State and local budget cuts in Palm Beach County; elected Treasurer, March 1992.

Junior League of Palm Beach County: advisory board, 1993 – 1995.

“Perspectives in Faith”, a monthly public affairs program produced by CBS affiliate WPEC-TV 12, West Palm Beach, 1984 - 1995.

Temple Beit Hayam, Stuart, Florida: founding and interim Rabbi, 1993 – 1995.

Airport 88 Celebration Committee: member and participant in Dedication Ceremony for Palm Beach International Airport.

Ministerial Fellowship of the Palm Beaches: President, 1986 – 1989; Vice-President, 1982; Secretary, 1981.

Chaplain Unit of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office; President, 1997

National Association of Jewish Chaplains: elected to the executive board, February 1993 – 1998. Accredited as a Certified Jewish Chaplain, May 1994; Convention Chairman, 1997.

Clergy Advisory Committee: Clinical Pastoral Education Program, Intercoastal Health Systems, West Palm Beach, Florida; 1993 – 2007.

Partnership for a Drug Free Community; United Way of Palm Beach Co.; 1994 – 2007.

Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County: Board of Directors; 1994 – 2007.

Hanley Hazeldon Center: spiritual counselor.

Leadership Palm Beach County: graduate, 1991 – 1992.

Jack Cole Show on WJNO radio: regular guest.

Palm Beach County School System: Human Sexuality Curriculum Review Committee, 1992.

Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County: Board Member.

Hospice of Palm Beach County: Board of Directors; Personnel Chair, 1979 – 1984; Ethics Committee, member, 1994 – 1995.

HIV Pastoral Care Network of Palm Beach County: Secretary – Treasurer.

Palm Beach County Human Relations Camp for Inter-racial and Inter-cultural Understanding – Office of Equal Opportunity, Palm Beach County Commission: Founder

Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County: Compeer Program Advisory Board.

Planned Parenthood of Palm Beach County: Clergy Advisory Board.

Committee to Stamp Out Hate, American Jewish Committee, Founding Board of Directors, 1993.

Citizens for Quality Education, a political action committee: Co-Founder.

Concerned Citizens for the Palm Beach County Home and General Care Facility: Board Member, 1995.

Committee on Hospital Chaplaincy of the Central Conference of American Rabbis: appointed 1995.

Veteran’s Hospital Research Foundation: Chairman of Audit Committee; 1997.

Palm Beach Jewish Times Newspaper: columnist; 1996 – 1999.

Forum Club – Board of Directors.

Palm Beach County Alliance, Treasurer and Board Member, 2002 – 2007.

Rotary Club – Steubenville, Ohio.

Family Planning Association of Jefferson County - Board Member.

Interfaith Clergy Association of Steubenville, Ohio, President, 1978.

Mayor’s Human Relations Commission of Steubenville Ohio, Board Member.

Jefferson County Comprehensive Mental Health Services Personnel, Chairman, 1975 – 1977.

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, September 1973 – Conducted High HolyDay Service and Ministered to patients and staff.

Gracie Square Psychiatric Hospital – N.Y., N.Y. September 1970 – Conducted High HolyDay Services and ministered to patients and staff

Lecturer for Jewish Chatauqua Society, Bethany College, Bethany West Virginia.

Montefiore Temple, Cairo, IL - Student Pulpit.

NorthHills Jewish Community Center, Pittsburgh, PA - Student Pulpit, 1972 – 1973.

Temple Ahavath Shalom, Bluefield, W. VA – Student Pulpit, 1973 – 1974.