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Rabbi Michael Pont

A passionate Judaic teacher, mentor and friend, Rabbi Pont has been the spiritual leader of Marlboro Jewish Center since 2011.  

A native of Southfield, Michigan, Rabbi Pont grew up an active part of Congregation Shaarey Zedek, where he first developed a bond with Judaism and began understanding the power of a faith that emphasizes family, study, care for others, holiday celebrations and life itself.

After graduating from the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!) with a degree in Psychology, Rabbi Pont served as the Youth Director at the Conservative synagogue in Ann Arbor. It was this experience that inspired him to apply to Rabbinical School at the Jewish Theological Seminary and begin his rabbinic journey which eventually brought him here to MJC. After ordination in 1999, Rabbi Pont relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina before landing in the Garden State in 2004, where he has been ever since.

Rabbi Pont is proud to be a Conservative Jew and embraces the principle that a synagogue can be a modern, dynamic congregation while maintaining a commitment to Jewish Life. Rabbi Pont is passionate about teaching Torah to congregants of all ages and is a staunch supporter of the Masorti/Conservative Jewish Movement in Israel.

In addition to his role at Marlboro Jewish Center, Rabbi Pont cherishes the opportunity to give back to the broader community in Marlboro and the Jewish community across the United States. He is a national chaplain for the Jewish War Veterans, a past President of the New Jersey Rabbinical Assembly, a board member for the Jewish National Fund’s Central New Jersey Chapter and its Sponsorships chair, and the Vice Chairman of the New Hope Integrated Behavioral Health Care (NHIBHC) Executive Board, an organization that helps drug addicts with their recovery. 

When Rabbi Pont is not at the synagogue or out in the community, he can be found spending time with his wife Natalie and their three children, Gabriel, Emma and Jordana. You also might see him walking his two dogs, Tommy and Luna, so if you do, please stop and say hello! Rabbi Pont is an avid sports fan and still roots for Detroit and Michigan teams. He loves playing basketball, reading a good book, watching his favorite shows and keeping up on current events, especially those that impact Israel. You can also listen to his podcast, For the Love of Judaism, available on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you get your podcasts.

Rabbi Pont is thrilled to be a part of Marlboro Jewish Center and looks forward to continuing to build a strong and vibrant Jewish community here in Monmouth County.

Email: rabbipont@mjcnj.com 

Click here to listen to my podcast:   

         

Sat, November 2 2024 1 Cheshvan 5785