LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Rabbi Marc Gellman, PhD upon the occa-
sion of his retirement after many years of distinguished service as
Spiritual Leader of Temple Beth Torah

WHEREAS, It is with great admiration, and deepest respect that this
Legislative Body is moved to pay tribute to an eminent gentleman of
indomitable spirit and dedication, whose purposeful life and accomplish-
ments will forever stand as an inspiration to others; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Rabbi Marc
Gellman, PhD upon the occasion of his retirement after many years of
distinguished service as Spiritual Leader of Temple Beth Torah to be
celebrated on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at Temple Beth Torah in Melville,
New York; and
WHEREAS, In his leadership of Temple Beth Torah, Rabbi Marc Gellman,
PhD brought an overwhelming spirit of charity and compassion, acting
from vision and enlightenment in conducting his administrative and spir-
itual duties, while always displaying the highest standards of personal
and professional integrity and dedication; and
WHEREAS, Since 1981, Rabbi Marc Gellman, PhD has served as the Senior
Rabbi of Temple Beth Torah in Melville, New York; he was the youngest
rabbi ever ordained by Hebrew Union College, and the only person to
complete the six-year rabbinical program in two years of residence; and
WHEREAS, Rabbi Marc Gellman, PhD earned his Doctor of Philosophy
degree in Philosophy from Northwestern University in 1981, where he also
served as the director of the B'nal B'rith Hillel Foundation; while at
Northwestern University, he completed doctoral course work in the Histo-
ry and Literature of Religions, specializing in Buddhism and Judaism,
and is the recipient of many honorary degrees; and
WHEREAS, Rabbi Marc Gellman, PhD has served on the faculties of
Antioch College, Northwestern University, and Hebrew Union College, and
has lectured at Princeton and Amherst College, as well as invited to
lecture on the ethics of assisted reproductive technologies during Grand
Rounds of the Harvard Medical School; in addition, he has delivered many
invited lectures, and was an invited participant at the World Economic
Forum in Davos, Switzerland; and
WHEREAS, Rabbi Marc Gellman, PhD has contributed academic papers to
the Annual of the American Psychiatric Association, The Journal of the
US Commission on Civil Rights, and other academic and opinion journals;
he was invited to contribute to the collection of essays on the State of
Jewish Belief by COMMENTARY magazine; and
WHEREAS, A man of many accomplishments, Rabbi Gellman was the Chairman
of The Medical Ethics Committee of UJA-Federation, and has served on
their board of trustees, was president of The New York Board of Rabbis
during the attack on New York in 2001, and delivered one of the keynote
speeches at the Memorial Service In Yankee Stadium on September 23,
2001; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Rabbi Marc Gellman, PhD invented and developed
the literary field of modern midrash for children when he served as
Contributing Editor of MOMENT magazine, and has published two
collections of modern bible stories for children, DOES GOD HAVE A BIG
TOE?, and GOD'S MAILBOX, as well as many other publications; and
WHEREAS, Rabbi Marc Gellman, PhD is the recipient of numerous awards
and accolades for his publications, including The Christopher Award, and
an HBO animated special for children based on one of his books was
awarded The George Foster Peabody Award; and
WHEREAS, This spiritual man writes a weekly column, "THE SPIRITUAL
STATE", for NEWSWEEK magazine, and a nationally syndicated religious

advice column that appears locally in NEWSDAY; the readers of NEWSDAY
voted Rabbi Marc Gellman, PhD the most outstanding leader and activist
of the last century on Long Island; and
WHEREAS, A member of the Golf Writers of America, Rabbi Marc Gellman,
PhD is on the ranking panel of GOLF DIGEST magazine, and is the recipi-
ent of the Winnie Palmer Award from the Metropolitan Golf Writers of New
York; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Betty, and their two
children, Mara and Max, as well as two grandchildren, Zeke and Daisy,
all of whom feel privileged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his
achievements; and
WHEREAS, Rabbi Marc Gellman, PhD lives his life with great dignity and
genuine grace, always demonstrating a deep and continuing concern for
others; rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual
for the benefit of others which he displayed throughout his life and
throughout his leadership of the Temple Beth Torah for many years; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor an eminent gentleman and unparalleled spiritual leader, Rabbi Marc
Gellman, PhD noting the significance of his unremitting dedication and
sagacious leadership on behalf of the Temple Beth Torah, the Melville
community, and the countless numbers who were sustained through his
caring benevolence throughout his life; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Rabbi Marc Gellman, PhD.