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 multiple 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. In 2023 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,” and currently Steven has had a photograph accepted into the statewide New Jersey Council on the Arts "Annual" which is hosted by the Montclair Art Museum through the end of 2024.
He shoots Leica and Sony digital cameras.
Photo Credit: Nick Levitin