Rabbi Laurence
Schlesinger's Biographical Sketch
A native of Washington,
D.C., Rabbi Larry Schlesinger received his B.A. in Religion from The George
Washington University in 1973. He went on to rabbinic studies at the Hebrew
Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City where he received
his M.A. in Hebrew Literature in 1976, Rabbinic Ordination in 1978, as well as
its Anna Lurie Prize in Human Relations and the Saul Aronwitz Prize in Jewish
History. In 2003, the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
Prior to his current call to serve as spiritual leader of Temple Beth Israel in
Macon, GA, Rabbi Schlesinger served Reform congregations in Montgomery, Alabama;
Richmond and Portsmouth, Virginia; Columbus, Georgia; and Syracuse, New York.
First and foremost, Rabbi Schlesinger believes that a congregation is a ‘family,’
and he regards each member as such. "We are currently living in yet another
‘Golden Age’ of Jewish life and creativity," he maintains, "and
together, today’s Reform congregation and its rabbi have the power to capture
the hearts, stimulate the minds, and dynamically transform the lives of all who
enter its doors."
Rabbi Schlesinger is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and
the Association for Progressive Judaism. He has also served on the National
Board of the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA), and on the
National Council and Executive Committee of the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee (AIPAC).
In 1994, Rabbi Schlesinger was appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of
Virginia to serve on his Commission on Welfare Reform, Council on Human Rights,
and Commission on Virginia-Israel Partnership where he chaired its Government
Affairs Committee. In Montgomery, he served the United Way as chairman of its
Community Council and its Community Grants Fund Committee.
Rabbi Schlesinger is very active in Macon community affairs and civic
activities. He helped found and organize the Downtown Macon Clergy Association,
a coalition of African-American and white clergymen and women. He also serves as
a Steering Committee member of the Center for Racial Understanding, the Girl
Scouts of Middle Georgia, and the Booker T. Washington Community Center. Rabbi
Schlesinger is also a graduate of the Leadership Macon Class of 2006, a member
of the Rotary Club of Macon, and he serves the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office as
a deputized chaplain.
In 2006, Rabbi Schlesinger appeared onstage as Otto Frank (Anne’s father) in
the historic Macon Little Theatre’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank,
a role he describes as "an incredibly profound and humbling
experience." He is a religious columnist for the Macon Telegraph
and has authored and published articles regarding Bob Dylan’s Jewish ties and
spiritual journey. He enjoys his guitars, dogs, and motorcycling through the
mountains of North Georgia and Western North Carolina.
For over thirty years, Rabbi Schlesinger has been married to the former Darrie
Simmons of New York City who is currently an AXA Financial Professional in
Atlanta, a board member of the Jewish National Fund there as well, and a very
accomplished Jewish artist. They are the very proud parents of two grown
daughters, Danielle and Arielle.