by PAUL J. CONDRA
Diamond, 47, was given the award in appreciation for his work as Rabbi and Spiritual Leader at Beth David, where he has worked since he joined the congregation in 1998. Officials at Beth David said one of the most noticeable things Diamond has done for the congregation has been to increase its membership.
I call him the Pied Piper, said congregation co-president Helen Murray. She said she noticed an increase in members to the current 230 families immediately after Diamond started his work at Beth David.
One of the reasons membership increased, was by making the congregation more attractive to young people, said Mel Olarsch, the other co-president.
Diamond breathed new life into the Hebrew school at Beth David, something that has been a draw to new members looking for that sort of education for their children. His wife, Francine, whom he married in 1978, is the principal of the school. Together, they have seven children, some of whom also help teach in the school.
He also started the publication of a journal in the congregation.
Murray said Diamond is full of new ideas that have increased the stature of the congregation, drawing new members from outside the community as well.
His boundless energy, enthusiasm and creative ideas have brought our synagogue to a new and exciting level, reads material distributed by the synagogue.
The Man of the Year award is chosen by the Men's Club and the Sisterhood of Beth David, two arms of the congregation that work as fundraising entities. Officials explained the recipient of the award doesn't always have to be a man either, pointing out that one year there were joint awards to a man and a woman.
Born in Philadelphia in 1955, Diamond entered the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore when he was 16, which began his spiritual quest to become a Rabbi.
He then attended Israel Yeshiva in Baltimore and the Johns Hopkins University, eventually receiving a Masters in Philosophy and a Rabbinic Ordination.
He served as Assistant Rabbi at Bustleton-Somerton Synagogue in Philadelphia, Assistant Rabbi at Temple Shalom of Sayville, N.Y., and Rabbi of Tifereth Israel of Greenport, N.Y. He also served as Educational Director at Temple Beth El of Bellmore.
In addition, he serves as the Jewish Chaplain of Lynbrook, and the head of Jewish Programming at the Atria Retirement Residence.
A breakfast in honor of the Rabbi will be held at Congregation Beth David on June 2 at 10 a.m.
