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Flu clinic held for staff and families at Northwest Area School District

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Kiwanis of Wilkes-Barre hosts guest speakers

<p>The Wyoming Valley Interfaith Council will hold its annual Citation of Distinction Award luncheon at noon on Monday, Nov. 5 at Genetti Hotel &amp; Conference Center, 77 E. Market St., Wilkes-Barre. This year&#8217;s honoree will be Rabbi Larry Kaplan.</p><p>Kaplan is a native of Philadelphia and was active as a teenager in USY and Camp Ramah in the Poconos. His first encounter with Temple Israel in Wilkes-Barre was in the summer of 1972 when a busload of campers joined their friend (now Rabbi) Charles Popky in helping in the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes. Years later, as a Ramah counselor, he recalls saying to his friends on a day off spent at the Wyoming Valley Mall, &#8220;Can you believe people actually live here?&#8221;</p><p>Rabbi Kaplan received his BA in Judaic Studies from Brandeis University and his Masters and Rabbinic Ordination at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1987. He has served pulpits in Hartford and Miami before coming to Wilkes-Barre. His decision to move his family from Miami to Northeast Pennsylvania was based on two factors. First, he missed his snow blower. The second was what he saw in the newspaper when he came to interview. For two days, the headlines were about how the students at the former Bishop O&#8217;Reilly High School, who had been disrespectful during a visit from the Bishop, had their junior prom canceled as a consequence. Local radio stations arranged an alternate prom for the students, but angry listeners convinced them to let the students suffer the consequences of their behavior. Rabbi Kaplan decided to move his family from headlines about murders and violent crimes committed daily in Miami to headlines about the cancellation of junior proms in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>Rabbi Kaplan sits on the boards of many local organizations, including the Interfaith Council, The Downtown Ministerium, Ruth&#8217;s Place, Step By Step, the Jewish Community Alliance, and is past chair of the advisory board of Luzerne County Children and Youth Services.</p><p>Rabbi Kaplan studied under the tutelage of Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan to learn how to be master of ceremonies and give invocations at community events, including the annual dinners of the Luzerne Foundation, Association of the Blind, and Leadership Wilkes-Barre. He has taught Jewish history at Wyoming Seminary and teaches Old Testament at King&#8217;s College and World Religions at Misericordia University.</p><p>He serves as the Jewish chaplain at the Wilkes-Barre VA Hospital and is an instructor for the Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program there. He has served as chaplain at the Dallas State Correctional Institution.</p><p>He leads an interfaith trip to Israel every other year and teaches adult education programs at the Jewish Community Center, and often lectures at community venues, including the Elder Issues Coalition and Leadership Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>Rabbi Kaplan has been serving Temple Israel in Wilkes-Barre since 1998.</p><p>He and his wife Gerri are the proud parents of 12 children, ranging from mid-30s to 4, plus a 2-year-old granddaughter. Seven have been adopted through foster care.</p><p>The &#8220;Citation of Distinction&#8221; of the Wyoming Valley Interfaith Council is conferred annually upon individuals who are recognized as leaders within the community for exemplifying the high ideals of human dignity, compassion, and friendship for all people.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Kaplan </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_Rabbi-K-tight.jpg</photo0><caption0>Kaplan </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>

Wyoming Valley Interfaith Council will honor Rabbi Larry Kaplan