Although Rabbi Herbert J. Mandl retired from Kehilath Israel Synagogue (K.I.) on Aug. 1, 2012, he had no immediate plans to move.
Now, after being retired for 13 years, Rabbi Mandl and his wife, Barbara, are moving to New York City to be close to their children and grandchildren. They have lived in the Kansas City area for more than 48 years.
Rabbi Mandl has been a resource for K.I.’s current Rabbi Moshe Grussgott and was instrumental in bringing him to K.I. and Kansas City.
Current K.I. Board President Joseph Adamous said the entire board is “so deeply appreciative of Rabbi Mandl’s commitment to the congregation and the entire local Jewish community.”
Rabbi Mandl was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City in 1969 and obtained an Orthodox ordination in 1974. His first job in the rabbinate was in Edmonton, Canada. Prior to coming to Kansas City, he worked as an assistant rabbi for six years in Montreal, Canada.
His 35 years as rabbi of K.I., not counting his time as rabbi emeritus, makes him one of the congregational rabbis with the longest tenure in Kansas City history. Among his many achievements are being a founder of Vaad HaKashruth; serving as president of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City three different times; conducting research at the Vatican; teaching at Rockhurst University; and attending almost every Shabbat service when he’s been in town for nearly 50 years.
“The entire board and congregation cannot thank Rabbi Mandl enough for all that he has done and wish him and Barbara much love as they depart for their new life in New York City,” said Shelley Palmarine, K.I. executive director.
Although he will be moving to New York, he still plans on coming back and checking in on the congregation that he has served for so many years.
The 1977 Chronicle article announcing the hiring of Rabbi Mandl at K.I.
