Senate Resolution No. 2398

BY: Senator MARTINS

HONORING Rabbi Martin Samuel Cohen and his wife,
Joan Cohen, for many years of distinguished service
to the Jewish community

WHEREAS, The character and richness of religious and community life
in this noble Empire State is nourished and fulfilled through the
faithful concern and selfless devotion of those who would commit their
energies and purpose to the ministry of others; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to bring full
recognition and just tribute to those individuals who distinguish
themselves and the ministry through their unremitting commitment and
preeminence of service; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Rabbi Martin
Samuel Cohen and his wife, Joan Cohen, for many years of distinguished
service to the Jewish community; and

WHEREAS, Rabbi Martin Samuel Cohen, a native of New York City,
received his Bachelor of Arts degree, graduating with the highest honor,
summa cum laude, from the City University of New York; in 1978, he was
ordained as a rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America where
he also earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in ancient Judaism in 1982;
and

WHEREAS, The recipient of post-doctoral fellowships at the Hebrew
University in 1983 and Harvard University in 1993, Rabbi Martin Samuel
Cohen has also lectured on the history of religion at Hunter College of
the City University of New York and taught Bible and Talmud at the
Jewish Theological Seminary of America and the Institute for Jewish
Studies, attached to the University of Heidelberg in Germany; and

WHEREAS, In 1986, Rabbi Martin Samuel Cohen left Europe for Canada
where he accepted the pulpit of the Beth Tikvah Congregation in
Richmond, British Columbia; in 1999, he left Canada to assume the pulpit
of Congregation Eilat in Mission Viejo, California, leaving in 2002 to
become the rabbi of the Shelter Rock Jewish Center in Roslyn, New York,
where he has served for 13 years; and

WHEREAS, After 22 years of compassionate faith and exemplary service
to God, man, and community, Rabbi Martin Samuel Cohen, amateur pianist
and dog lover, will retire; upon retirement, he will have the
opportunity to spend more time with his wife, two sons, daughter, and
five grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, With Rabbi Martin Samuel Cohen throughout, and deserving of
her own commendation, has been Joan Cohen who has served as an educator
and Head of the Drama Department at the Schechter School of Long Island
for many years; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his work as teacher and rabbi, Rabbi Martin
Samuel Cohen is an author and has published two scientific studies in
the history of pre-Kabbalistic Jewish mysticism, four novels, and four

books of essays, as well as his own 2004 edition of the Book of Psalms,
titled Our Haven and Our Strength: The
Book of Psalms in New Translation; and

WHEREAS, More recently, Rabbi Martin Samuel Cohen has published the
two-volume prayer book for the house of mourning, a children's book, and
a book on the exploration of the relationship between study of the Torah
and service in the congregational rabbinate; and

WHEREAS, From 1997 to 2000, Rabbi Martin Samuel Cohen served as
Chairman of the Publications Committee of the Rabbinical Assembly and
chaired the Editorial Board of the quarterly journal, Conservative
Judaism, for the last 12 years; and

WHEREAS, Rabbi Martin Samuel Cohen served as Senior Editor of the
2012 landmark volume, defining Conservative Jewish life, The Observant
Life: The Wisdom of Conservative Judaism for Contemporary Jews, and is
currently working on his own translation and commentary of the Torah;
and

WHEREAS, Rabbi Martin Samuel Cohen has brought an overwhelming
spirit of charity and compassion to his ministry and community, acting
from vision and enlightenment in conducting his administrative and
spiritual duties, while always displaying the highest standards of
personal and professional integrity and dedication; and

WHEREAS, This distinguished man of God has always given
enlightenment, guidance, and wisdom to the many entrusted to his care
and has administered abundantly and unstintingly to the spiritual and
corporal needs of all; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, it is appropriate to publicly and jubilantly proclaim and
commend those individuals for the edification of others; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Rabbi Martin Samuel Cohen and his wife, Joan Cohen, for many years
of distinguished service to the Jewish community, and extend to them the
heartfelt best wishes of this Legislative Body for a future of
purposeful success and well-being; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Rabbi Martin Samuel Cohen and Joan Cohen.