In 1995, he became a medical doctor. In 1997, he became a mohel (the professional who performs circumcisions) in Jerusalem at the Bichur Cholim Hospital. From 1992 to 1999 he led congregations from 1992 until 1999: Chana Senesh, Beth Israel and Hebrew Congregation of Lomas de Zamora. In 1998, he received the degree of Hebrew teacher. He studied at Hebrew Union College beginning in 1999, and served as a student rabbi in four congregations: Temple Sholom (Ishpeming, MI), Temple Beth Sholom (Miami Beach, FL), Mount Zion Temple (Sioux Falls, SD), and Temple Sholom (Cincinnati, OH). In 2002, he finished the first unit of CPE (Pastoral Care Education) at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati. Between 1999 and 2003 he led monthly Shabbat services at Four Courts Senior Center in Louisville (KT). He received a Master of Hebrew Letters at the Hebrew Union College in May 2002. He also studied at Xavier University, where he received a Master’s in Educational Organization.

Rabbi Kogan was ordained as a Reform rabbi in May, 2003. His rabbinical thesis was about human cloning from a Jewish and medical standpoint. Today, he is Associate Rabbi and Director of Education at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick. He is a student at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in the Bioethics Masters Program. He lives in Highland Park with his wife Ana Sverdlick and daughter Milena Yael.

Rabbi Kogan‘s philosophy is to try to find answers within Judaism for the post-modern life. He believes that Judaism without any connection to Israel could not exist today. Also he believes in God, as a Supreme Being Creator of the Universe and Creator of all. He preaches that life has to be lived with happiness every single moment because it is a precious gift, but unfortunately not forever. He sees the goals of his rabbinate as being a mench, a teacher, a spiritual leader, and an Israel lover, with the capacity to reinterpret Judaism. He believes that being a rabbi and a medical doctor is the best role for his life, providing fulfillment as a human being and as a Jew.

The awards and honors that he has received are:

2003 HUC-JIR. The Rabbi Emil William Leipziger Prize for the best essay in community service, Don’t cry for Me Argentina, Your Jewish Brothers will Help You.

2001 HUC-JIR The Selma Straus Prize for the best essay on Judaism as a Source of Universal Faith.

2000 HUC-JIR. The Israel I. Mattuck Memorial Prize for the essay Jewish View of Euthanasia.

1993 Second Congress of Internal Medicine in Buenos Aires, Argentina: The Best Poster: Neurological Diseases in HIV+ Patients.

Email address: educator@aemt.info