Our Rabbis
Rabbi Avraham Shmidman
Rabbi
Rabbi Avraham Shmidman has served as Rabbi of Lower Merion Synagogue since 2008. Previously, he served for nine years as Rabbi of Knesseth Israel Congregation in Birmingham, Alabama. Rabbi Shmidman has a number of rabbinic ordinations, including from The Chief Rabbinate of Montreal and from The Rabbi Isaac Elchonon Theological Seminary, an affiliate of Yeshiva University. He has edited a number of works, including a special memorial volume in memory of Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik ZT”L. Rabbi Shmidman’s printed articles have appeared in Hebrew and in English publications. He and his wife, Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman, are proud parents of four sons.
Rabbi Ezra Cohen
Assistant Rabbi
Rabbi Ezra Pesach Cohen is the Assistant Rabbi of Lower Merion Synagogue. Prior to joining the LMS clergy in 2022, Rabbi Cohen served on the rabbinic staff of Congregation Beth Jacob in Oakland, California, as well as at The Jewish Center in New York City.
Born and raised in New Rochelle, NY, Rabbi Cohen studied at Yeshivat Orayta in the Old City of Jerusalem as well as at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) of Yeshiva University, where he received semikha (rabbinic ordination). While at the latter, Rabbi Cohen was certified in Pastoral Counseling from Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, and completed an MBA-level certificate in Spiritual Entrepreneurship from the Business School of Columbia University. Prior to studying at RIETS, Rabbi Cohen graduated summa cum laude (Phi Beta Kappa) from Brandeis University with Bachelors’ Degrees in Psychology and Near Eastern/Judaic Studies.
Rabbi Cohen has taken a leadership role on the issue of halacha and mental health, having authored and edited numerous publications in the field. He is an alumnus of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship and the inaugural cohort of the RIETS Alumni Halakha Kollel.
Rabbi Cohen’s wife, Tova (neé Sklar), is a practicing Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Together, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Cohen look forward to bringing love and Torah to the Lower Merion Jewish community on a professional level.
Many of Rabbi Cohen’s recordings and shiurim can be found on YUTorah (click here). He can be reached at rabbicohen@lowermerionsynagogue.org.
Rabbi Abraham A. Levene, ZT"L
Rabbi Emeritus
