Renewal rabbis Arthur Green and David Ingber were named this week to the annual list of America’s Top 50 Rabbis.

Rabbis were selected for the list “because they are influencers on a grand scale, and because they are effective at bringing ideas, innovations, and inspiration to large numbers of American Jews.”

Newsweek and the Daily Beast, creators of the list, took into consideration a rabbi’s public profile and constituency size and the magnitude with which their ideas are shaping the Jewish landscape. Special attention is paid to their work over the past 12 months, which was a special tribute because both Ingber and Green appeared on last year’s list, as well.

Rabbi David Ingber

From the Daily Beast:

“David Ingber, 43, started the Upper West Side congregation Romemu four years ago; today the number of member households tops 400, and Romemu draws a few thousand worshipers on the High Holy Days. The congregation recently received a UJA-Federation grant, which will fund further outreach to 20- and 30-somethings, many of whom already attend the congregation’s standing-room-only Kabbalat Shabbat services.”

From the Romemu website:

“This honor follows a year of unprecedented growth in membership, programming and attendance that has propelled Romemu, under the dynamic leadership of Rabbi Ingber, to become one of the fastest growing synagogues in the country. Romemu’s services draw clergy from around the country looking to experience what has attracted so many people to an ongoing religious practice. Romemu has become a testing ground for reinventing Jewish practice within a traditional framework. Its meditative and musical services are a hallmark of what is drawing so many people to its community.”

Rabbi Ingber will offer a class exploring the hidden meanings of Talumdic stories at The Aleph Kallah – July 1-7, 2013, in Rindge, NH.

Rabbi Arthur Green

Original posting from Newsweek and the Daily Beast:

“Hebrew College Professor Arthur Green, 72, remains one of the foremost experts on Jewish mysticism. Together with several of his students, Green recently completed a forthcoming two-volume anthology of early Hasidic teachings. He said that the project, called “Speaking Torah,” is intended to be “a bridge between the classical Hasidic sources and a contemporary spiritual quest.”

Green, who was also named to last year’s list, shared the number 14 slot this year with his Hebrew College colleagues Sharon Cohen Anisfeld and Daniel Lehmann.

Yashar Koach to Art Green and David Ingber – May you go from strength to strength!