ABOUT US

Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon

Born in Buenos Aires in 1956, Rolando Matalon was educated at the Universidad de Buenos Aires and the Université de Montreal where he received a B.S. in chemistry. He studied at the Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires founded by his teacher, the late Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer. During the course of his studies, he spent a year as a graduate student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He came to New York in 1982 to continue his studies for the rabbinate at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He received his rabbinical ordination and Master of Hebrew Letters from JTS in 1986.

After his ordination, Rabbi Matalon came to Congregation B'nai Jeshurun on Manhattan's Upper West Side to share the pulpit with his beloved mentor and friend, Rabbi Marshall Meyer, who had recently returned to the United States from Argentina. Together they transformed this small, declining synagogue into a revitalized congregation which today has a membership of more than 1800 households committed to an inclusive approach to liturgy and community and dedicated to the work of education, social justice, and interfaith cooperation.

After the untimely death of Rabbi Meyer at the end of 1993, Rabbi Matalon was joined by Rabbi Marcelo Bronstein, another disciple of Rabbi Meyer, who shares the spiritual leadership of Congregation B'nai Jeshurun.

Rabbi Matalon serves on the boards of a number of agencies and organizations dedicated to the pursuit of peace and social justice including the American Jewish World Service, Human Rights Watch/Middle East, Americans for Peace Now, U.S. Interreligious Committee for Peace in the Middle East, Givat Haviva, and Plaza Jewish Community Chapel. He is the recipient of awards from the New York Board of Rabbis and the Jewish Peace Fellowship.

Rabbi Matalon is married and has two daughters.