United Brothers Synagogue announces new spiritual leader

United Brothers Synagogue has named Daniel Kertzner its new spiritual leader.

In addition to leading High Holy Day services, Kertzner will lead regular services once a month at the Bristol synagogue. He will also continue to work full-time at the Rhode Island Foundation.

The position became available when Rabbi Carol Gladstein left the synagogue in June. Kertzner started in his new job in August.

As an active member of Providence’s Temple Beth-El, Kertzner has assisted with leading services in the past, including giving the d’var Torah and singing in the choir during High Holy Days. He has also officiated at two independent B’nai Mitzvot.

Kertzner says he is excited to join the United Brothers community and about the opportunities the position will bring.

“They’ve got a great community there already,” says Kertzner. “[And I’m thinking] ‘how can I enhance this?’ ”

A  native of Bay Shore, New York, on Long Island, Kertzner moved to Providence in 1980 to attend Brown University, where he earned a bachelor of arts in organizational behavior and management.

During his early days in Rhode Island, he worked in several of the early education programs at the Jewish Community Center, in Providence.

Now the senior philanthropic advisor at the Rhode Island Foundation, he has worked in different capacities within the field of philanthropy for the past 15 years. He has served on Temple Beth-El’s board of trustees and has chaired the Social Action Committee since 2002.

In addition to his philanthropic side, Kertzner has a musical side. Besides singing in Beth-El’s choir, he has sung with an interfaith choir called RPM – Reaching People through Music – Voices. The choir’s mission statement, according to its website, is to “create a musical space for all voices to participate in the African-American choral tradition.”

While Kertzner says music is definitely a fun part of being a spiritual leader, it’s not all of it.

Kertzner says he will also use his storytelling skills on the job and hopes to give congregants “a meaningful worship experience that’s relevant and draws people in.”

He continues, “I hope to bring them a service that’s engaging and inclusive, and that helps bedrock themes of Judaism come more alive.”

ARIEL BROTHMAN  is a freelance writer who lives in Wrentham, Massachusetts.