Reflections of 9/11 from Ground Zero 20 years ago

Rabbi Melman was serving as a student chaplain with the New York Fire Department (FDNY) when 9/11 changed the world.  He will share some of his experiences from Ground Zero during that tumultous time and describe how it felt to stand on top of the Twin Towers.  

About Rabbi Melman

Rabbi Aaron Melman has served Congregation Beth Shalom since 2002 and assumed the role of head rabbi in July, 2015. He feels very lucky to live in Northbrook, raise his family here, and be part of the Beth Shalom family.  Rabbi Melman is married to Elisa Rotman, a social worker at Solomon Schechter Day School, and they have two children, Jordan, a sophomore at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School, and Hannah, a seventh-grader at Solomon Schechter.

Rabbi Melman is originally from Toronto where he graduated from York University with a BA in Judaic Studies. He attended The Jewish Theological Seminary where he received his ordination in May, 2002. While at JTS, Rabbi Melman taught Hebrew School and Hebrew High School at Or Zarua, a Conservative synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and served as a student chaplain with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). Since 2002, he has served the Northbrook Fire Department as its first and only chaplain.

Rabbi Melman is involved in the community through the Northbrook Clergy Association, and serves on the Board of Directors of The Norton and Elaine Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics.  He is a Past-President of the Chicago Region of Rabbinical Assembly and is a member of the Chicago Board of Rabbis.  Rabbi Melman has also served as a guest lecturer over the past several years at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Rabbi Melman considers the United States/Israel relationship very important to American Jewry and is very involved with AIPAC, serving on its National Council.  Rabbi Melman also serves on the Rabbinic Advisory Committee of Israel Bonds.  Jewish camp is also very near and dear to Rabbi Melman’s heart.  His children have attended Camp Ramah in Wisconsin over the past several years and he spends part of his summer there where he serves as Rabbi-in-Residence. Rabbi Melman is an avid traveler and feels fortunate to have led CBS congregants on trips to Israel and Cuba. 

Rabbi Melman also serves as the only Jewish Chaplain in the Illinois Army National Guard and has the rank of Captain.

Additionally, he is a proud supporter of his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Toronto Blue Jays.