ROSENTHAL, RUDOLPH M. (7 May 1906-19 June 1979), rabbi and rabbi emeritus at Temple on the Heights 46 years, was born in Cleveland, the son of Harry and Dora (Kober) Rosenthal. He studied at Hebrew Union College and the University of Cincinnati, where he received a B.A. in 1928, and moved to New York City, receiving a Master of Hebrew Letters from the Jewish Institute of Religion and a Masters of Arts from Columbia University's Teachers College in 1932. Rosenthal was ordained in 1932, marrying Bertha Becker that same day, and accepting a position in Louisiana serving several small congregations.
In 1933, he accepted a call to Congregation B'NAI JESHURUN, the Temple on the Heights, in Cleveland. During his tenure, Rosenthal was active in Jewish affairs. An ardent Zionist, Rosenthal established the Heights Temple Zionist District, making the congregation the first in America to affiliate with the Zionist Organization of America. In 1936 he was a delegate to the first World Jewish Congress. He was also president of the local chapter of the American Jewish Congress.
Rosenthal, active in civil rights, was co-chairman of the NAACP Membership Campaign in 1960 and received the NAACP's Freedom Plaque in 1975. He worked on behalf of the United Negro College Fund and was a board member of Wilberforce University, as well as treasurer of the Wilberforce University Foundation. Rosenthal served on several civic commissions, and in 1952 was appointed the first Jewish chaplain of the CLEVELAND FIRE DEPT. He received a dozen honorary doctoral degrees and several citations for his humanitarian work.
Rosenthal had 2 children, Susannah and Jonathan. He was buried in Chesterland Memorial Park.
Finding Aid for the Rabbi Rudolph M. Rosenthal Papers, WRHS.
Finding Aid for the Rabbi Rudolph M. Rosenthal Papers, Series II, WRHS.
Finding Aid for the Rabbi Rudolph M. Rosenthal Papers, Series III, WRHS.
Finding Aid for the Rabbi Rudolph M. Rosenthal Picture Group, WRHS