Rabbi Daniel Grossman ז”ל, of blessed memory, led Adath Israel Congregation for 25 years until his retirement in 2014 when he became Rabbi Emeritus. In 1999, Rabbi Grossman received Adath’s “Man of the Year” award – a rare honor for a rabbi. He was a graduate of Temple University, Hebrew University, Mercaz Harav Kook in Jerusalem, and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. In 2003 Rabbi Grossman received his D.D. (Doctor of Divinity) for 25 years of rabbinic service.
Rabbi Grossman worked in the field of Jewish special education and co-wrote and participated in the video “Someone is Listening”, the story of a young deaf Jew and his search for fulfillment as a Jewish adult. With his wife, Dr. Elayne Robinson Grossman, he performed “Simon Tov”, an educational and entertainment program which uses sign language, mime, music, and storytelling to bring the audience closer to the world of the Jewish deaf. Rabbi Grossman and Elayne also produced the musical cassette “Help Us Bake a Challah”, songs for Jewish children.
Rabbi Grossman was a member of the Special Education Committee of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and a life member of CAJE, having presented more than 20 times at CAJE conferences. He was also active in addiction counseling and exit counseling for former cult members.
The link for Rabbi Grossman to all of these areas was a commitment to make Jewish life accessible for those groups sometimes seen as existing on the fringe of Jewish life. Rabbi Grossman also taught about the Jewish deaf community as an adjunct professor at Gratz Hebrew College. In the Princeton Mercer Bucks community, Rabbi Grossman served two terms as president of the Board of Rabbis, and he was selected as “Man of the Year” at Greenwood House Senior Healthcare for his volunteer teaching.
Rabbi Grossman and Elayne are the parents of Rabbi Miriam Levia, married to Jeremy Siegman, and Samuel Aaron. They have one granddaughter, Shayna Esther. On August 2, 2022, Rabbi Grossman passed away after a long illness. His obituary can be found here. May his memory forever be a blessing.