| Personal Details Summary | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove |
| Age / How old / Birthday / Date of Birth / DOB | Born in 1963. As of 2025, he is around 62 years old. |
| Wedding & Marriage / Wife / Engaged / Spouse / Partner | Married. Check the full bio for relationship details. |
| Children / No. of Kids | 4 |
| Ethnicity / Origin / Heritage / Race | Jewish |
| Nationality | American |
| Rabbi Cosgrove Sermons List | In the Beginning (2009), An Everlasting Covenant (2010), Go Forth! (2011), Hineni (2012), A Place to Lodge (2013), Living Waters (2014), Stairway to Heaven (2015) |
Wiki Bio / Profile Background
Introduction :
- Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove, PhD, is the senior rabbi of Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City, a leading voice in the Conservative Movement, and an influential scholar and author in the field of Jewish theology and thought.
- Rabbi Elliot was born in 1963 in Chicago, Illinois, to a Jewish family. His roots trace back to Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, where he was influenced by his father’s leadership as its President.
- His grandfather, Reverend Dr. I.K. Cosgrove of Garnethill Synagogue in Glasgow, Scotland, also contributed to his rich rabbinical legacy.
- In his undergraduate years, Rabbi Elliot engaged deeply in Jewish intellectual and communal leadership at the University of Michigan.
- He is married to Debbie Cosgrove, a clinical psychologist and the director of the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services. They have four children – Lucy, Madeline, Zoe, and Jed.
Education : Qualifications, High School & College Info
- Rabbi Elliot attended the University of Michigan, where he graduated with a BA in history and Judaic studies in 1995.
- He then pursued his rabbinical studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York, where he was ordained in 1999.
- He also earned a PhD in religion from the University Of Chicago Divinity School in 2005. His dissertation focused on Rabbi Louis Jacobs, a prominent Anglo-Jewish theologian of the 20th century.
Career :
- Rabbi Elliot began his rabbinical career as an assistant rabbi at the Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago from 1999 to 2004. He then served as the associate rabbi at the Chicago Sinai Congregation from 2004 to 2008.
- In 2008, he became the senior rabbi of Park Avenue Synagogue, one of the largest and most prestigious Conservative synagogues in the world. Under his leadership, Park Avenue Synagogue has grown in membership, programming, and outreach.
- Rabbi Elliot is also a prolific writer and speaker on various topics related to Judaism and contemporary issues. He is the author of many selected sermons and the editor of “Jewish Theology in Our Time: A New Generation Explores the Foundations and Future of Jewish Belief”. His essays and op-eds have appeared in many Jewish publications, such as The Jewish Week, The Forward, Conservative Judaism, etc.
- Rabbi Cosgrove is also actively involved in the Jewish community beyond his congregation. He serves on the Chancellor’s Cabinet of JTS, the Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Assembly, the Board of UJA-Federation of New York, and the Council on Foreign Relations.
- He is also an officer of the New York Board of Rabbis and a rabbinical advisor on interfaith affairs for the ADL.
Interesting Facts, Height and Trivia :
- Rabbi Cosgrove has been honoured by various organizations for his contributions to Judaism and society. He received the Paul Robeson Award from Rutgers University for academic excellence and leadership, the Covenant Foundation Award for excellence in Jewish education, and the AJC Human Relations Award for promoting interfaith dialogue.
- He has been featured on various media platforms such as PBS, NPR, CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, etc.
- In September 2015, Rabbi Elliot represented the Jewish community at the National September 11 Memorial Museum during the visit of Pope Francis to New York.
- He is an avid reader, runner, cyclist, sports fan, and enjoys spending time with his family and friends.