What happened to Rabbi Robert Lefkowitz?

[Graymare2]

We are having trouble locating a rabbi for our daughter's upcoming Disney Wedding. We read some recommendations for Rabbi Lefkowitz, but his website doesn't exist and phone is disconnected. Does anyone know if he is at another number or what happened to him? If he is not available, are there any other recommendations for a Rabbi.

We met with Rabbi Cowan and he was too rigid for our taste. We want a rabbi who is truly reformed.

Also if you don't mind sharing, what sort of honorarium did anyone pay their Rabbi for officiating a Disney Wedding Pavillon ceremony?

Thanks!

 

[minniebride]

We are having trouble locating a rabbi for our daughter's upcoming Disney Wedding. We read some recommendations for Rabbi Lefkowitz, but his website doesn't exist and phone is disconnected. Does anyone know if he is at another number or what happened to him? If he is not available, are there any other recommendations for a Rabbi.

We met with Rabbi Cowan and he was too rigid for our taste. We want a rabbi who is truly reformed.

Also if you don't mind sharing, what sort of honorarium did anyone pay their Rabbi for officiating a Disney Wedding Pavillon ceremony?

Thanks!

I had Rabbi Lefkowitz for our wedding last month-he was WONDERFUL!! I cannot say enough nice things about him Check your PM (private messages-I just sent you his contact info!!!

 

[mufasa1023]

Just out of curiosity, why a private message and not just post his contact info here?

I likewise am looking for a Jewish Officiant and unfortunately I had written him off because his website wasn't working anymore.....

 

[minniebride]

Just out of curiosity, why a private message and not just post his contact info here?

I likewise am looking for a Jewish Officiant and unfortunately I had written him off because his website wasn't working anymore.....

I'm just not comfortable posting his personal email address on a public forum. If you are interested in pursuing him as your officiant, I am happy to PM you his email address.

 

[Graymare2]

I understand you being respectful and not putting his contact info out publicly, but I e-mailed him over a week ago, and he has STILL not responded. Maybe he has something going on in his personal life that is keeping him from responding to people. I'm not sure, but I would be a bit leery of relying on him as well because someone else posted that he backed out on them after agreeing to do their ceremony a year ahead.

 

[minniebride]

That's weird....he was really responsive to us anytime I had questions or whatnot.

Just out of curiosity: Why isn't your planner assisting you in contacting him or assisting you in finding an alternate reputable rabbi? My planner handled all of that for me

 

[Graymare2]

My daughter's planner never offered to help with this, and we didn't realize this was something they would assist with. Things are even more complicated because our planner is going to Hawaii to work on the Disney wedding planning there for the next few months. Unfortunately, we just learned she will not be at our big planning meeting this Friday.

I finally heard from Rabbi Lefkowitz. Apparently he is in Israel and "should" be back for September. We're not very comfortable waiting for a Rabbi who is uncertain if he will even be back in the U.S. by then. At least the mystery is finally solved. Disney really needs to work on getting some more rabbis, particularly reformed ones lined up.

Cindy

 

[minniebride]

My daughter's planner never offered to help with this, and we didn't realize this was something they would assist with. Things are even more complicated because our planner is going to Hawaii to work on the Disney wedding planning there for the next few months. Unfortunately, we just learned she will not be at our big planning meeting this Friday.

I finally heard from Rabbi Lefkowitz. Apparently he is in Israel and "should" be back for September. We're not very comfortable waiting for a Rabbi who is uncertain if he will even be back in the U.S. by then. At least the mystery is finally solved. Disney really needs to work on getting some more rabbis, particularly reformed ones lined up.

Cindy

I would hope your planner would assist you with this! It amazes me that you've had to do this hunting on your own. Our Swan planner set up our initial contact with him and included him in all relevant emails. I"m glad the mystery was solved! He was so quick with all of his communication with us, it seemed so strange that he wasn't getting back to people. You are doing the right thing not waiting for his return. Although we didn't meet him until 4 months out, we booked him about 8 months out.

Have you seen this list?
http://weddingmasters.net/?p=944

 

[mickeymom923]

We are also looking for more of a reform Rabbi. My daughter is Jewish and her fiance isn't. She was thinking of a JP but still wants to have him break the glass etc. She just doesn't want to have alot of Hebrew. Any suggestions? We're flying to DFTW for the wedding planning at the end of this month and would like to meet with the Rabbi before the wedding.

 

[minniebride]

We are also looking for more of a reform Rabbi. My daughter is Jewish and her fiance isn't. She was thinking of a JP but still wants to have him break the glass etc. She just doesn't want to have alot of Hebrew. Any suggestions? We're flying to DFTW for the wedding planning at the end of this month and would like to meet with the Rabbi before the wedding.

I am conservative and my DH is an athiest non-Jew. Rabbi Lefkowitz was so accommodating! He went over traditions of a Jewish wedding and we basically chose what we wanted. We did keep many Jewish traditions, including having a chuppah, the wine blessings, and breaking the glass. We chose to have our vows and blessings in Hebrew (and he translated the English for our guests), but we could have done the entire thing in English if we preferred. We found Rabbi Lefkowitz to be very flexible and easy to work with. & our ceremony was beautiful!

Good luck with whoever you chose!!!