Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 62, No. 40, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 2, 2008 Page: 17 of 32
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TEXAS JEWISH POST #SINCE 1947
High Holiday Issue | October 2,2008 I 17
Integrated Rabbinic Solutions: 'Parr' for the course
By Deb Silverthorn
"I come from a long line of rabbanim on
my father's side and generations of kosher
butchers on my mother's," said Rabbi Jordan
Parr, who, with more than 20 years as a rabbi
and Jewish educator, is now the founder and
executive director of Integrated Rabbinic
Solutions (IRS). "Jewish life is what I know
and who I am.
"To have senior living assistance, Jewish
education, support, travel and so much more
under one 'roof' is unique. I couldn't be more
enthusiastic," Rabbi Parr said. "This is an ex-
citing new venture and I'm glad to be starting
it here in Dallas."
Rabbi Parr served congregations in Geor-
gia, Michigan and Tennessee and, from 2002
until August of this year, he was the founding
full-time rabbi at Congregation Adat Chav-
erim in Piano. Ordained by Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1986,
Rabbi Parr also has a Master of Arts in He-
brew letters. His first rabbinical post was at
Temple Shalom of Dallas, from 1986 to 1990,
under the pulpit of Rabbi Kenneth Roseman,
who believes firmly in Rabbi Parr's commit-
ment to community.
"Among Rabbi Parr's outstanding charac-
teristics is his caring and dedication to what-
ever he puts his mind to. He'll dedicate him-
self fully with the interest of those he means
to serve at heart," Rabbi Roseman said. "Rab-
bi Parr is very creative and
has a great work ethic that is
met by the fact that he is good
at listening. I believe that his
pulpit experience will help
him, and those he works with,
greatly."
"I have long serviced and
worked with retirement com-
munities. As that commu-
nity and the need continue
to grow, I believe the need to
provide services is ever impor-
tant," Rabbi Parr said. "Grow-
ing up at Temple Emanu-El in
Oak Park (Michigan), I was
very close to my own rabbi,
Milton Rosenbaum, who had
a strong, booming voice. He
was a tremendous counselor
and through my years involved in youth
groups, I realized I too wanted to do counsel-
ing, teaching and learning. From there, I fol-
lowed the road to becoming a rabbi, where I
could
do all of that.'
Chai
Community
Certification, a divi-
sion of IRS, allows
adult retirement com-
munities to meet criteria,
as designated by Rabbi
Parr, which will enhance
the lifestyles of their Jew-
ish residents. After train-
ing and completion of the
program, the community
receives the certification
and assistance in market-
ing. "We'll be attending
national conventions and
programs where we'll have
a booth dedicated to intro-
ducing those entities that
are 'Chai Community Cer-
tified' to people looking for
various levels of Jewish life
and inclusion when mak-
ing decisions about where
they want to live," Rabbi Parr said. "The Dal-
las area, for instance, has so many seniors
who've moved to town because their children
are here. Others are here, but their children
have moved away. On both sides of that coin,
people need and want connection.
"We work with chaplains, social workers,
caregivers and administrative staff in how to
Photos: Provided by Rabbi Jordan Parr
Rabbi Jordan and Cynthia Parr,
partners in life, are now partners in
Integrated Rabbinic Solutions.
provide Jewish-style meals (kosher and ko-
sher-style), holiday traditions and other reli-
gious observances, and also what to do when
a member of the community has passed away
in terms of the specific practices of death, dy-
ing and mourning in the Jewish tradition,"
Rabbi Parr said. "As our population ages, we
must provide services where they are living."
"At the beginning of his year of student
teaching with us, I recall Rabbi Parr asking
to run a program I had suggested that would
have our members visiting people in the
hospital, a 'caring community' effort," said
Rabbi Harry K. Danziger, rabbi emeritus at
Temple Israel in Memphis. "That was just a
preview of what his future would become. I
saw something in him when we first met and
I'm so proud of him."
After the first of the year, Integrated Rab-
binic Solutions' All Jewish Travel division
will work with travel agencies to provide itin-
eraries of Jewish connection including Israel,
New York, New Orleans, Spain, Morocco and
China, emphasizing the Jewish character of
each locale.
see PARR, p29
When prospective residents at a senior living center see the Chai Community logo, they'll know the entity has met a series of
standards set forth by Rabbi Jordan Parr and Integrated Rabbinic Solutions. "As our population ages," said Rabbi Parr, "we must
provide services where they are living."
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JUST ADD
HQNiY!
Celebrate the New Year with our wide variety of apples and honey:
Nestled amongst the hundreds of fresh choices in our Produce department and
the handmade breads and rolls in our Bakery, Central Market proudly features an
exclusive line of kosher meats in our Market. Wise Kosher's organic split chicken
breasts and ground beef are pre-wrapped and convenient to take home, or call our
Catering department to order kosher menus for all your holidays.
I
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Wisch, Rene. Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 62, No. 40, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 2, 2008, newspaper, October 2, 2008; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth188209/m1/17/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .