Rabbi Felipe Goodman

Rabbi Goodman’s charisma has made a profound impact on the Jewish community of Las Vegas. Attendance at Shabbat services has climbed from handfuls to hundreds, with eager, joyful numbers rising by the week; with out of the box programing and by creating a true sense of being a Kehila Kedoshah, vibrant Temple Beth Sholom is anything but a synagogue of once-a-year congregants.

Keeping with his tradition of extracurricular leadership, Rabbi Goodman remains active outside his synagogue. He was handpicked to be a member of The Chancellor’s Rabbinic Advisory Committee at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America under Chancellor Arnold Eisen, one of only 13 American Rabbis so honored.  When Dr. Ismar Schorsch was Chancellor of The Jewish Theological Seminary, He was also part of The Chancellor’s Rabbinic Cabinet. Rabbi Goodman was appointed by the Rabbinical Assembly to serve in the Joint Placement Commission of the Conservative Movement and was also recently appointed by the Jewish Theological Seminary as one of its representatives on The Joint Retirement Board of the Conservative Movement. He currently serves on The Executive Committee of The Rabbinical Assembly and  he also served as President of the Board of Rabbis of Southern Nevada. Rabbi Goodman is also one of a group of 27 Conservative Rabbis in the world, certified by The Joint Beth Din of The Conservative Movements as experts in the laws and writing of “Gittin” (Jewish Writs of Divorce).

In May 2010 Rabbi Goodman was selected along with fourteen other Rabbis from all corners of our country to attend a series of meetings in The White House to discuss the dynamics and relationship between the Obama administration and The Jewish Community.  In May 2013, Rabbi Goodman returned to the White House as part of a delegation of 19 leaders of the Conservative Movement who met with President Obama to address the issue of Israel’s Security. Rabbi Goodman is also part of The AIPAC National Leadership Council. The most widely distributed Pesach Haggadah of the Conservative Movement in Latin America was co-authored by Rabbi Goodman. Rabbi Goodman is currently working on his new book: “Torah from Sin City.”