Rabbi Harold Kushner to speak at Beth El

Event will honor Rabbi Kassel Abelson for more than 60 years of service

Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, will present “Living a Life That Matters” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 22 at Beth El Synagogue, 5224 W. 26th St., St. Louis Park. Kushner’s appearance is part of an event to honor Rabbi Kassel Abelson for more than 60 years in the pulpit.

A Friday night tribute dinner to Abelson will take place on June 17.

Abelson came to Beth El as an assistant rabbi in 1948 and was instrumental in helping to create the National Conservative Youth Movement, now USY. He left in 1951 to serve as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, and returned as assistant rabbi in 1957. He became senior rabbi in 1960.

He created the Synagogue Skills Program, now the TaRBut, Beth El’s Bat/Bat Mitzva training program. Abelson also oversaw Beth El’s move from its location in North Minneapolis to its current home in St. Louis Park, and began incorporating women into synagogue life.

General admission tickets are $36 for the presentation and $500 for the VIP reception with Kushner. For tickets and information, visit: www.bethelsynagogue.org/abelson or call 952-920-3512.