New rabbi in Wausau
Rabbi Benjamin Altshuler is the new spiritual leader for Mt. Sinai Congregation of Wausau.
Although new to the Wausau area, Altshuler is a product of the Midwest and many vibrant Jewish communities, according to a news release. He received rabbinic ordination from the Reform Jewish Seminary, Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2020. There, he also earned his master of arts in Hebrew letters degree and received the Israel Bettan Memorial Prize for creative and imaginative pulpit presentation.
Altshuler is an alumnus of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he studied cognitive science. Benjamin is originally from the Chicago area and an alumnus of Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps.
Mt. Sinai Congregation, founded in 1914, serves 85 families from Wausau, Stevens Point, Marshfield, Minocqua, and Rhinelander.
Scott Steele case settled
Former TV weatherman Scott Steele’s federal lawsuit charging WTMJ-TV with maintaining an antisemitic workplace has been settled out of court and dismissed, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The terms of the May settlement have not been disclosed.
Steele’s suit against Scripps Media in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee alleged discrimination and a hostile work environment at its station, channel 4 in Milwaukee. Steele was at the station from 2007-2017 and worked as a weatherman.
Council of rabbis elects officers
The Wisconsin Council of Rabbis voted on a slate of officers for the next two years, beginning July 1, 2020.
The unanimous results were: president, Steve Adams; vice president: Wes Kalmar; treasurer: Joel Alter; secretary: Moishe Steigmann and vice president of greater Wisconsin: Dena Feingold.
Rabbi Rachel Marks chaired the nominating committee and members made use of an anonymous online voting system, Adams said.