Photo Credit: Nick Levitin
A native of Detroit, Steven Kushner is an ordained Reform rabbi and served as the spiritual leader of Temple Ner Tamid of Bloomfield, New Jersey from its inception in 1980 until his retirement in 2018. In his 38 years of service to the congregation, Rabbi Kushner helped grow the synagogue not merely in size but in programming and influence. During that time he also served as Adjunct Lecturer of Religion at Bloomfield College which honored him with a Doctor of Laws honoris causa degree. He was the president of multiple community-based organizations including notably the Coalition of Religious Leaders of New Jersey and served as the editor of the Central Conference of American Rabbis Newsletter. Upon retirement Steven was honored with the title of Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Ner Tamid.
Steven’s creative instincts during his rabbinic career were predominantly limited to writing and speaking, but in 2017, in anticipation of retirement, he decided to explore that part of him that was visual. He wanted to finally — after a lifetime of taking pictures — begin a process of mastering the art of making pictures.
To date Steven’s photographs have been accepted into numerous juried shows, several of which have received awards, including multiples times at the New York Center for Photographic Art (NYC4PA). He has also had his photographs selected by the editorial staff of Leica Fotographie International, including the prestigious "Leica Master Shots" collection. Most recently, Steven had two images selected into the annual Photography Exhibition of the Ocean County Artists Guild, one of which was awarded “Best in Category: Still Life Photography.” He shoots Leica and Sony digital cameras.
Steven currently resides in Jersey City, New Jersey. He is married to Leana Moritt, the Rabbi of Temple Beth-El of Jersey City. He has two daughters, Aviva Kushner Estiz and Hannah Kushner. Aviva and her husband Brian have given Steven his greatest joys and his most beautiful subjects, his granddaughters Maia and Noa.
EXHIBITIONS & AWARDS
JURIED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Atlantic Highlands Arts Council | 2024
Belmar Arts Council | 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
Jersey City Cathedral Arts Festival | 2019
Leica Fotografie International | 2022
Montclair Art Museum | 2021-2022
New York Center For Photographic Art | 2022, 2024
Ocean County Artists Guild | 2023
Studio Montclair | 2020-2023
AWARDS
New York Center for Photographic Art | Juror's Selection Award: Colors of the Commonplace (2024)
Ocean County Artists Guild | Best in Category, Still-Life Photography: Annual Photography Exhibition (2023)
Leica Fotografie International | Master Shots Collection (2022)
New York Center for Photographic Art | 2nd Place Award: Urban, Suburban, Rural (2022)
New York Center for Photographic Art | Juror's Selection Award: Urban, Suburban, Rural (2022)
Belmar Arts Council | Merit Award in Photojournalism (2020)
Belmar Arts Council | Merit Award in Black and White Photography (2019)
IN THE NEWS
"Chapter X" | A Podcast Interview with Michael Kay
To listen, click here.
As Featured in "Suburban Essex" Magazine
