Meet Hakafa's Rabbis
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Rabbi Bruce Elder
Rabbi Bruce Elder was born in Youngstown, Ohio. He graduated from Indiana University, Phi Beta Kappa, with a bachelor's degree in History and Psychology with certification in Jewish Studies.
Upon graduation, Rabbi Elder moved to Chicago where he worked for the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, a Jewish social justice organization dedicated to empowering Chicago's diverse communities.
His work at the JCUA led him to become a rabbi. He entered Hebrew Union College, the Reform movement's theological seminary, and was ordained in 1996. He served as an assistant rabbi for a 950 family congregation in Cherry Hill, New Jersey before moving back to Chicago in 1999.
Rabbi Elder served as associate rabbi of Congregation Hakafa in Glencoe and again on the staff of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs until assuming the position of Rabbi at Hakafa in 2002. He currently serves on the boards of the Chicago Interfaith Committee on Workers' Issues, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, and the Chicago Association of Reform Rabbis.
Rabbi Elder lives in Highland Park with his wife, Rona, and his three sons, Joshua, Noah, and Eli.
Rabbi Robert Marx (Emeritus)
Rabbi Marx is the founding rabbi (1983) of Congregation Hakafa. Rabbi Marx served as rabbi of Congregation Solel in Highland Park, Illinois from 1973 to 1983 and prior to that was on the staff of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, serving in progression as director of the Ohio Valley Council, the Chicago Federation, and the New York Federation of Reform Synagogues.
In addition to his rabbinical duties, Rabbi Marx was Associate Professor of Philosophy at DePaul University from 1965 to 1971 and Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Spertus College.
Rabbi Marx founded, directed, and served as the first president of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, a prominent Chicago organization dedicated to bringing the commitment of Judaism to the problems of the inner city. He has been the president of the Inter-Religious Council on Urban Affairs, the chairman of the Chicago Academy of Religion and Mental Health, the honorary chairman of the Illinois Committee to abolish Capital Punishment, and officer and founder of the Chicago Conference on Religion and Race. Since its creation, he has been a board member of the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities. He served as the Jewish chairman of Chicago's Black-Jewish Dialogue. Rabbi Marx was a member of the board of the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice and was chairman of its education committee. He is cofounder of the Chicago Interfaith Committee on Worker Issues and serves on its executive committee.
Many years ago Rabbi Marx convened a self-help group, Parents Who Have Lost a Child, and he continues to help parents who have faced this tragic loss.
Rabbi Bruce Elder was born in Youngstown, Ohio. He graduated from Indiana University, Phi Beta Kappa, with a bachelor's degree in History and Psychology with certification in Jewish Studies.
Upon graduation, Rabbi Elder moved to Chicago where he worked for the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, a Jewish social justice organization dedicated to empowering Chicago's diverse communities.
His work at the JCUA led him to become a rabbi. He entered Hebrew Union College, the Reform movement's theological seminary, and was ordained in 1996. He served as an assistant rabbi for a 950 family congregation in Cherry Hill, New Jersey before moving back to Chicago in 1999.
Rabbi Elder served as associate rabbi of Congregation Hakafa in Glencoe and again on the staff of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs until assuming the position of Rabbi at Hakafa in 2002. He currently serves on the boards of the Chicago Interfaith Committee on Workers' Issues, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, and the Chicago Association of Reform Rabbis.
Rabbi Elder lives in Highland Park with his wife, Rona, and his three sons, Joshua, Noah, and Eli.
Rabbi Robert Marx (Emeritus)
Rabbi Marx is the founding rabbi (1983) of Congregation Hakafa. Rabbi Marx served as rabbi of Congregation Solel in Highland Park, Illinois from 1973 to 1983 and prior to that was on the staff of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, serving in progression as director of the Ohio Valley Council, the Chicago Federation, and the New York Federation of Reform Synagogues.
In addition to his rabbinical duties, Rabbi Marx was Associate Professor of Philosophy at DePaul University from 1965 to 1971 and Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Spertus College.
Rabbi Marx founded, directed, and served as the first president of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, a prominent Chicago organization dedicated to bringing the commitment of Judaism to the problems of the inner city. He has been the president of the Inter-Religious Council on Urban Affairs, the chairman of the Chicago Academy of Religion and Mental Health, the honorary chairman of the Illinois Committee to abolish Capital Punishment, and officer and founder of the Chicago Conference on Religion and Race. Since its creation, he has been a board member of the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities. He served as the Jewish chairman of Chicago's Black-Jewish Dialogue. Rabbi Marx was a member of the board of the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice and was chairman of its education committee. He is cofounder of the Chicago Interfaith Committee on Worker Issues and serves on its executive committee.
Many years ago Rabbi Marx convened a self-help group, Parents Who Have Lost a Child, and he continues to help parents who have faced this tragic loss.
