Rabbi Kenneth Berger has served as spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Sholom since 1979. In the fall of 2009, Rabbi Berger announced his retirement and will serve with distinction as Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Beth Sholom as of Jan. 1, 2010.

A native of Chicago, Rabbi Berger received his Rabbinic ordination and the degree of Doctor of Hebrew Literature in the from the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he is a part-time member of the faculty. He has also served as a mentor to Rabbinical students in the Seminary’s internship program.

Rabbi Berger is active in community affairs. He is a Past President of the Teaneck Clergy Council, the North Jersey Board of Rabbis, and has been a member or chair of several Rabbinical Assembly Committees. He is currently serving on the Board of UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey, and is chair of its Rabbinic Liaison Committee.

Rabbi Berger was a founder of the Interreligious Fellowship for the Homeless of Bergen County and is currently serving as Treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee. He served for many years as a member of the Board of Trustees and the Education Committee of the Solomon Schechter Day School, where he is now an honorary trustee. Rabbi Berger’s wife, Cheryl, is on the faculty of the Solomon Schechter Day School.

They have three grown children – Jonathan, Ari, and Rachel – and four granddaughters.