By Mike Caputo
Teplitz was head rabbi at the Sons of Israel, a traditional conservative congregation, for 28 years until he announced his retirement in 1991 at the age of 70. Although he was officially clear of his leadership responsibilities, Teplitz still managed to maintain an active presence among the congregation over the next 16 years as rabbi emeritus.
Upon his retirement, Teplitz had ample opportunity to move away from Woodmere to be closer to family members, most of whom live near his future home in Florida, but the rabbi decided to stay involved with the people he had developed relationships with at Sons of Israel.
More than 350 people attended a luncheon held in his honor in early July.
Congregation member Jerome Fisher vouched for the rabbi's popularity in the community and said he wasn't surprised that many people ventured to Woodmere for Teplitz's farewell luncheon.
"People who never showed up at temple or moved away from the area showed up to say good-bye," Fisher said.
Teplitz, who has been described as a "master preacher," has written a plethora of published books and sermons. He graduated from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America after earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Ever since he was a young child growing up in the Pittsburgh area, Teplitz has continually studied Jewish traditions and literature, something the rabbi still takes pride in even at 86.
"I'm in love with the Jewish people and I am especially knowledgeable of Jewish tradition and the Jewish religion," Teplitz said. "I am basically a student."
After he was ordained as a rabbi, Teplitz spent 16 years in Laurelton, Queens, then followed that with three years in Harrison, Westchester County, before ending up in Woodmere.
Although Teplitz was well known within the congregation's community, he has had an even more far-reaching impact on not only Judaism, but religion in general.
As president of Synagogue Council of America in 1980, Teplitz joined a committee of rabbis and Jewish leaders to meet with the late Pope John Paul II in his private chambers in Vatican City. The topic of discussion was Israel's place in the Jewish community. Teplitz raved about the opportunity to meet with such a highly respected religious figure.
"[The Pope] was very gracious," Teplitz said. "He was very kind, considerate and thoughtful. He knew what we represented even before we came."
As president of the Synagogue Council of America for two years, Teplitz was responsible for coordinating all factions of the Jewish community. In addition to his leadership at the council, he later served for two years as president of the Rabbinical Assembly, the international organization for rabbis.
During the 1980s, Teplitz also accompanied former Vice President Walter Mondale and a group to Israel. The group, which was escorted to the conference in Air Force One, met with Israeli officials to discuss the problems facing the Jewish State.
Teplitz also had the privilege of meeting the majority of living American presidents. The rabbi was even featured once in The New York Times during his work as president of the Synagogue Council of America.
Through all of his experiences, Teplitz still places enormous value upon the relationships he developed with hundreds of families and individuals in the community.
"It was rewarding. Each occasion had its built-in rewards," Teplitz said. "I was with the people through joy and sorrow."
Teplitz, who lived in his Woodmere home for 44 years, now looks forward to spending time with his grandchildren in Florida.
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
