At twenty-seven Nathan N. Rosen is not only the youngest active rabbi in New York City, as far as the records go, but has also crammed into his life a variety of activities and achievements that would do credit and honor to a man twice his age.
An hour or two in his company made possible the discovery of a personality that is a combination of Talmudic wisdom and engaging boyishness, profound scholarship and normal interests common to his generation.
When pressed for an answer defining his favorite hobby, Rabbi Rosen said: “My hobby is making friends, my habit is keeping them.” Then suddenly stricken with the thought of “my presumptiousness,” he pleaded that the remark be stricken off the record. But he is not the least presumptious in this matter of making and keeping friends, as was evidenced when several hundred persons from all walks of life gathered last Sunday night when he was installed as spiritual guide of Temple Petach Tikvaeh, Rochester avenue and Lincoln place, Brooklyn.
PAY HIM TRIBUTE
There Municipal Court Justice Nathan Sweedler, Congressman Andrew L. Somers, Assemblyman Irwin Steingut, Rear Admiral Samuel McGowan and a host of others met to pay tribute to their friend.
Rabbi Nathan took charge of the Brooklyn congregation some six months ago, coming all the way from Savannah, where he was minister in a temple for three years. For two years before that he acted as a rabbi. In fact, while still a senior in college, he led a congregation in Valley Stream.
GEORGIA ACTIVITIES
Not only is this young man a thirty-second degree Mason but also an honorary life member of the Clinton Lodge No. 54, Savannah, which he joined in 1931. He is also active in local Masonic circles. In Georgia he was on the State Board for the Advancement of Education Among Negroes. A former chairman of education for Young Judea, he is now on its national governing board. He is a past national vice-president of Masada and a member of the executive of the Southeastern Rabbis.
At the age of twelve the future rabbi made numerous appearances in Brooklyn synagogues. When he was five years old he entered Yeshiva Rabbi Haym Bezlin in Brooklyn. His parents brought him to the United States from Western Russia, where he was born.
Today he is busy in youth movements of various kinds, and it seems natural that his congregation boasts the largest young folks’ league in the borough, with between 300 and 400 members.
STILL SINGLE–BUT WILLING
Strangely, the handsome young rabbi is still single but willing. He lives with his parents. His married sister lives in Palestine (he, incidentally, is an ardent Zionist). An older brother, Herman L., is rabbi in Brighton Beach Center. Henry, the youngest of the family, is studying law.
There is more to the youthful, versatile and accomplished Nathan N. Rosen. A few years ago the Chief Rabbi of Cleveland put him “in a nutshell” thus:
“A shining example of the great traditions of Judaism and of our college of higher Jewish learning in particular.”
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