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Rabbi Jacob Luski, Emeritus | Congregation B'nai Israel
Rabbi Jacob Luski, Emeritus
Rabbi Emeritus Jacob Luski graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management. From there, he enrolled in the Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, New York, where he received his Master of Arts in 1974, and then continued at JTS to graduate from Rabbinical School. He served as the Rabbi for Congregation B'nai Israel from 1977 to 2018.
Rabbi Luski’s years in St. Petersburg have been devoted to growing a vibrant Jewish community, both in the synagogue and surrounding areas. At CBI, he established meaningful educational experiences and activities such as the JTS Tampa Bay Outreach Lecture Series, the first Mitzvah Day in Pinellas County, and Congregational trips to Israel. He also established the Hevra Kadisha Burial Society to ensure respectful and spiritual care for Jewish people after death.
Rabbi Luski also has been an integral part of the growth of the Jewish presence throughout the county. For 26 years, he has been the Jewish Chaplain at the VA Medical Center, Bay Pines, Florida bringing spirituality and friendship to veterans on his weekly visits. Rabbi Jacob Luski, and his wife Joanne, were instrumental in founding the Pinellas County Jewish Day School, welcoming the school on the CBI campus as it grew over it’s first 11 years. Rabbi Luski founded the Vaad Kashrut of Pinellas County, to ensure Kosher supervision for local hotels, restaurants, and caterers.
Building understanding between Jewish and other religious groups has been a continuing focus. Most recently, Rabbi Luski and the Most Reverend Bishop Robert N. Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida presented two Community Interreligious Dialogues marking the 50th Anniversary of the changing relationship that significantly changed relations between Catholics and Jews.
Receiving numerous honors and awards over the years, Rabbi Luski has enjoyed sharing his time and insights with Jewish, non-Jewish, and humanitarian initiatives, including establishing the Pinellas County Board of Rabbis, for which he served as President three times; the Clergy Association of Greater St. Petersburg, through which he founded the Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service; National Conference of Christians and Jews, and the Race Relations Advisory Committee to the St. Petersburg Police Department. He serves on the Board of Directors of MERCAZ, The World Council of Conservative/MASORTI Synagogues, The Jewish Federation of Pinellas County, and the Rabbinic Cabinet of the Jewish Federation of North America. In 2003, Rabbi Luski received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity Honoris Causa from the Jewish Theological Seminary in recognition of his dedicated service.
After retiring from Congregation B’nai Israel in June of 2018, Rabbi Luski has continued his support of Israel as the 17th Chairperson of the International Rabbinic Advisory Council of the State of Israel Bonds.
Tue, March 19 2024
9 Adar II 5784
Online Minyan and service
Today's Calendar
: 8:00am |
: 12:00pm |
: 1:30pm |
Purim Spiel Rehearsals : 5:00pm |
: 6:30pm |
: 6:45pm |
View Calendar
Upcoming Events
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Tuesday ,
MarMarch 19 , 2024
Tuesday, Mar 19th 5:00p to 6:30p
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Wednesday ,
MarMarch 20 , 2024
Wednesday, Mar 20th 12:00p to 1:00p
https://zoom.us/j/5403365269 Password: CBI2020 Audio Only Call-In: +19292056099 Meeting ID: 540 336 5269 Phone Password: 149321 -
Wednesday ,
MarMarch 20 , 2024
Wednesday, Mar 20th 5:00p to 6:30p
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Wednesday ,
MarMarch 20 , 2024
Wednesday, Mar 20th 6:45p to 8:15p
Not everyone had an opportunity for Jewish education when they were 13 years old. Not everyone took college courses about Judaism. Now is the chance to begin again! All are welcome. This course is also suitable for those wishing to learn more about Judaism. Topics will include prayer, kashrut, blessings, parenting, Shabbat, festivals, God, Torah, Israel, women’s changing roles in synagogue life and so much more! Partnering with Women's League for Conservative Judaism (WLCJ) and the Melton Research Center at JTS, the Etz Chayim He curriculum will be the starting point, but the full direction of the class will depend on you! Please contact Rabbi Weintraub for more details -
Friday ,
MarMarch 22 , 2024
Friday, Mar 22nd 10:00a to 11:00a
https://zoom.us/j/4475099917 Study the weekly parsha in a congregant led Zoom chat. Study materials will be provided during the session. -
Saturday ,
MarMarch 23 , 2024
Shabbat, Mar 23rd (All day)
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Sunday ,
MarMarch 24 , 2024
Sunday, Mar 24th (All day)
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Sunday ,
MarMarch 24 , 2024
Sunday, Mar 24th 10:00a to 2:00p
Purim fun for all ages after the Megillah reading, Purim Spiel and costume parade: Games and activities for young children, carnival games, bounce house, inflatable fun for kids and adults: sports complex activity bounce house, jousting arena, basketball, dump bucket--prepare to get wet! There will be Gaga and prizes, hot dogs and hamantaschen. Please bring $$$ for some super fun tzedakah opportunities! -
Sunday ,
MarMarch 24 , 2024
Sunday, Mar 24th 12:00p to 1:00p
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Wednesday ,
MarMarch 27 , 2024
Wednesday, Mar 27th 6:45p to 8:15p
Not everyone had an opportunity for Jewish education when they were 13 years old. Not everyone took college courses about Judaism. Now is the chance to begin again! All are welcome. This course is also suitable for those wishing to learn more about Judaism. Topics will include prayer, kashrut, blessings, parenting, Shabbat, festivals, God, Torah, Israel, women’s changing roles in synagogue life and so much more! Partnering with Women's League for Conservative Judaism (WLCJ) and the Melton Research Center at JTS, the Etz Chayim He curriculum will be the starting point, but the full direction of the class will depend on you! Please contact Rabbi Weintraub for more details -
Thursday ,
MarMarch 28 , 2024
Thursday, Mar 28th 6:45p to 8:00p
Brush up on your Hebrew reading while learning or reviewing the parts of the Seder! Our focus will be reading fluency, but we will have plenty of opportunity to discuss the parts of the Seder in detail, investing them with meaning and music to add to our Passover experiences. This class meets in person after minyan at CBI. -
Friday ,
MarMarch 29 , 2024
Friday, Mar 29th (All day)
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Friday ,
MarMarch 29 , 2024
Friday, Mar 29th 10:00a to 11:00a
https://zoom.us/j/4475099917 Study the weekly parsha in a congregant led Zoom chat. Study materials will be provided during the session. -
Friday ,
MarMarch 29 , 2024
Friday, Mar 29th 7:00p to 9:00p
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Sunday ,
MarMarch 31 , 2024
Sunday, Mar 31st 5:30p to 6:30p