J. Simcha Cohen

Jack Simcha Cohen (1936–2014) was an "18th consecutive communal rabbi in his family" and "the face of Orthodox Judaism" to a TV program "viewed by millions each week." He held positions in New York, New Jersey, California (18 years) and Australia, with his "final position in the rabbinate" in Florida. Although known by shorter names, the full name was "Metropolitan New York Coordinating Council on Jewish Poverty."

New Jersey His first pulpit position was "at Congregation Ahawas Achim B'nai Jacob and David" in West Orange, New Jersey.

California He was described by the Los Angeles Times as "Orthodox Rabbi Jack Simcha Cohen, 50, spiritual leader of Congregation Shaarei Tefila in Los Angeles" when he became president of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California. The newspaper described the board as a "240-member body dominated by rabbis from the Reform and Conservative branches." Cohen served the synagogue for 18 years.

He arrived there in 1996; shortly after he died, an Australian rabbi/educator wrote about his "pleasant disposition .. a professional American style Rabbi with lots of grandeur."

Florida (final position in the rabbinate) After leaving Australia Cohen became the rabbi of Congregation Aitz Chaim, in West Palm Beach. As of that time, he had authored six books.

While in Florida he continued writing his Jewish Press column, but also began contributing to a 2007-founded Torah weblog, Jewish Ideas.

Jewish Press column His Halachic Questions column originated when a future associate editor of The Jewish Press, while vacationing in Los Angeles, met and encouraged Cohen to talk with the New York-based paper's co-founder Sholom Klass.

Appointing Women Leaders An example of a topic he wrote about in 1999, which has become of practical application for Modern Orthodox synagogues by 2017, is the matter of synagogues with a woman president. He cited two earlier writings from prior generations with: "perhaps the requirement .. to be a male" is negated if she is more qualified than male alternative candidates. since it is compared to being a king, and Jewish kings were intended to rule in the Land of Israel, then outside Israel might be OK.

He conceded that both of these were "not reported as halachic rulings" and are just theoretical.

Family, privacy, charity His Obligations of a Charity Collector backed with 3 citations that a communal charity official not only may but must reveal to family members that their relative needs financial assistance, even overriding "whether the claimant for funds gives such permission."

Books Cohen, who was described as "a Talmud scholar and prolific author" authored: Intermarriage and Conversion: A Halakhic Solution

The 613th Commandment: An Analysis of the Mitzvah to Write a Sefer Torah

How Does Jewish Law Work?

Shabbat: The Right Way: Resolving Halachic Dilemmas

Timely Jewish Questions, Timeless Rabbinic Answers

The Jewish Heart: Essays on Jewish Sensitivities

Jewish Prayer: The Right Way