Download a high-resolution photo of Rabbi Randall Falk.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Members of the Vanderbilt University and Nashville
communities came together March 28 to honor the life and work of Rabbi
Randall Falk at an event hosted by the University’s Divinity School.
Falk has been at the forefront of religious leadership in Nashville
for many years. Currently rabbi emeritus at The Temple, he served there
as senior rabbi of Congregation Ohabai Sholom for 26 years-from 1960 to
1986.
Highly respected and much beloved by his
congregation, Falk has made significant contributions to Jewish life in
Nashville, the Civil Rights struggle, community building among the
city’s increasingly diverse population and to Jewish-Christian
relations.
An adjunct professor at Vanderbilt’s Divinity School, Falk’s
collaborative teaching with friend and colleague Walter Harrelson,
Vanderbilt Distinguished Professor of Hebrew Bible emeritus, led to the
publication of two books, Jews and Christians: A Troubled Family and
Jews and Christians in Pursuit of Social Justice.
He is a member of the North American Board of the World Union of
Progressive Judaism and has served as president of the Nashville
Council of Community Services and the Nashville Association of Rabbis,
Priests and Ministers. He also was vice president of the Covenant
Association for Human Rights and commissioner of the Metropolitan
Action Commission.
Among Falk’s many honors recognizing his service to the local and
national communities are honorary doctorates from The University of the
South and Hebrew Union College and human relations awards from both the
Nashville chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews and
the Metropolitan Nashville Human Relations Commission. He was named
Clergyman of the Year by the Nashville chapter of Religious Heritage of
America.
Media contact: Princine Lewis, (615) 322-NEWS
Princine.l.lewis@vanderbilt.edu