Paul J. Fishman, the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, will be speaking at Har Sinai Temple, Sunday Nov. 20.
Fishman will speak on his upbringing and how Judaism informs his knowledge of the law. He will discuss what it means to be Jewish in a secular world, and how Judaism gives him the perspective and knowledge to be efficient and effective in his duties.
As U.S. Attorney, Fishman is responsible for overseeing all federal criminal investigations and prosecutions and the litigation of all civil matters in New Jersey in which the federal government has an interest.
At age 16, Fishman participated in Mitzvah Corps, an organization providing social justice opportunities for Jewish youth. The experience included working at sandlot day camps, senior citizen homes and in legal services.
“It was the first time in my life that I really did public service work of any consequence,” Fishman said. “I found it pretty rewarding and consistent with all of the Jewish values that I had been learning and talking about.”
Fishman received an appreciation of public service, and an understanding of how that work tied in with Judaism, from both of his parents.
His father, Myer, spent 60 years as a professor at City College of New York. Myer was an advocate for ensuring that government institutions served all members of the community, particularly the underprivileged. He was also president of the local school 2 of 2 board, regional school board, swim club, Lions club, adult education and was a founder and later president of Temple Avodat Shalom, in River Edge.
His mother, Gloria, worked on child study teams at public schools, became head of communications of the YMHA of Bergen County and was active in the synagogue.
Fishman now holds a position that had been previously occupied by Justice Samuel Alito, Jr. of the U.S. Supreme Court, Michael Chertoff, former secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and Gov. Chris Christie.
There is no admission fee to attend this event, which will begin at 10 a.m., but attendees are asked to register in advance by calling the Har Sinai office at (609) 730-8100. Har Sinai is located at 2421 Pennington Road, Pennington.
