Marshall Meyer - Later Period

Later Period

After a short stay at the University of Judaism (now the American Jewish University) in Los Angeles, Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer accepted the position of rabbi at Congregation Bnai Jeshurun in New York City, the oldest Ashkenazic synagogue in the city, with the mission of reviving the congregation. Between 1984 and 1993, B'nai Jeshurun became a thriving liberal community that attracted thousands of Jewish people. The challenging theology espoused by Rabbi Meyer, the spiritually uplifting religious services, an agenda that emphasized social action as a central part of the synagogue's principles, ecumenical work with Christian and Muslim clergy and a leading role in the peace movement in regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict, led to the rapid growth of the congregation, which became a model for many other synagogues in the United States.

Rabbi Meyer was married to Naomi Meyer, and had three children: Anita, Dodi and Gabriel. He died in 1993 of cancer, and was buried in the cemetery of the synagogue of his home town in Norwich, Connecticut.