Rabbi Mordechai Rotem was born in Haifa in 1947. He did his compulsory service in the IDF from 1965 to 1968 and served as an Intelligence Reserve Officer in an Arabic speaking combat unit until 1995. Rabbi Rotem earned a BA in Bible and Hebrew Literature from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1972, and in 1974 he received his MA, Cum Laude, from the Department of Biblical Studies. Rabbi Rotem has the singular distinction of being ordained as the first Israeli graduate of the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem in 1980. Beginning in 1974, Rabbi Rotem served Congregation Or Hadash in Haifa. In addition, from 1980 to 1985 he also served as Executive Director of the IMPJ - the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism. He was also Chairman of Maram – The Israeli Reform Rabbinic council (1988-1992). From the time of his ordination, Rabbi Rotem served almost continually on the IMPJ National Board. Between the years 1974 and 1980 he taught at the Leo Baeck School in Haifa and in the Department of Biblical Studies of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

In 1991, while Rabbi Rotem was serving Or Hadash, the congregation dedicated its Synagogue and Center of Progressive Judaism thanks to an extensive fund-raising drive, which he led, both in Israel and abroad.
 

As an active member of Maram, Rabbi Rotem was the co-editor of “Kavanat Halev”, the Israel Movement’s High Holidays’ prayer book and participated in the editing of the Movement’s Passover Haggadah. He is the author of numerous articles that appeared in various publications of the IMPJ as well as in public media both in Israel and worldwide. In the late 1990’s Rabbi Rotem served as the elected Chairman of the IMPJ.

In 2005 Rabbi Rotem was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity by the Hebrew Union College for his 25 years of rabbinic accomplishments and leadership. During these 25 years, he was frequently invited as guest speaker and scholar-in-residence in many congregations and Jewish organizations throughout North and South America as well as in Europe.

From July 2001 until 2004, he served as the rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He has been the spiritual leader of Temple Rodef Sholom in Waco, Texas since October 2004.

Rabbi Rotem has three married children and six grandchildren, all living in Israel. He is married to Linda Kulwin Rotem.

Officers and Board of Trustees for 2011-2012
President - Dexter Sternberg
1st Vice President - Cindy Wood
2nd Vice President-Diane Smith
Secretary - Jane Bounds
Treasurer - Arnold Miller

Trustees
Martha Bauer
Daniel Bounds
Adam Goldenberg
Nate Goldenberg
Keith Hanson
Tracie Hermann
Frank Levy
Jim Shinder
Harry A. Wood, III