Rabbi Joseph Kohn

Rabbi Joseph Kohn (1928-2014) is remembered as one of the early spiritual leaders of Temple Beth Sholom. He was hired in 1957 and suggested that the congregation affiliate with the United Synagogues of America, a Conservative movement. He served as rabbi for approximately two years.

 

Rabbi Kohn was a survivor of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp and a U.S Army veteran of the Korean War. He escaped Nazi imprisonment and created a life in the United States as a teenager in 1949. On his days off during his military service, he served as an unofficial chaplain, where he once officiated Passover for 1,150 soldiers. Following his decorated military service in Korea he became the only cantor in the state of Nevada and Rabbi in Las Vegas. 

 

Among his many civic activities he was appointed to the Nevada Board of Regents and inducted as the fourth Nevadan ever into the Legion of Honor of the Chapel of Four Chaplains. 

He had three daughters: Lorie (Roy) Levun, Deborah Kohen and Susan Kohn Eyman. 

Source

"Auschwitz Survivor Honored." LasVegasSun.com. N.p., 04 Feb. 2002. Web. 09 Mar. 2017.