Spiritual Leadership

Rabbi: Gil Steinlauf

rabbi@synagogue.org

Rabbi Steinlauf has been the Rabbi of Temple Israel since 2001. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Princeton University (1991), studied at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem, received an M.H.L. from the University of Judaism in 1994, and received Rabbinic ordination as well as an M.A. from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in 1998. Rabbi Steinlauf came to Temple Israel with pastoral experience working for the National Center for Jewish Healing and for the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services both in New York, and taught at Prozdor Hebrew High School as well as at Camp Ramah in the Poconos. From 1998 to 2001 Rabbi Steinlauf was the assistant Rabbi at Congregation Tifereth Israel in Columbus, Ohio.

Cantor: Michelle Freedman

cantor@synagogue.org

Cantor Michelle Freedman has been with Temple Israel since 1999. She received a Bachelor of Music in Opera from the Hartt School of Music and earned a Master of Music in Vocal Performance a from New England Conservatory. Cantor Freedman prepared for the cantorate through her studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary’s H.L. Miller Cantorial School. Cantor Freedman received a Master of Sacred Music and a Diploma of Hazzan from the Miller Cantorial School in 1999.

School/Youth Leadership

Religious School Director: Rabbi Sharon Litwin

eddir@synagogue.org

Rabbi Sharon Litwin received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Jewish and Near Eastern Studies and English Composition from Washington University in St. Louis, and holds a Masters of Arts in Hebrew Letters from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion where she was also ordained. While studying for the rabbinate, Rabbi Litwin served as Regional Advisor for NFTY’s (North American Federation of Temple Youth) Westchester/Fairfield region. She was the student rabbi at Beth Yehudah Synagogue in Lock Haven, PA. Rabbi Litwin completed an internship at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan. She served as Rabbi of Temple Shir Shalom in Buffalo Grove, IL and as a member of the Judaic Studies Middle School Faculty at Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County.

Youth Director: Robin Diamond

youthdir@synagogue.org

El Al Advisor: Brian Friedman

elal-advisor@synagogue.org

Kadima Advisor: Miriam Bellehsen

kadima-advisor@synagogue.org

USY Advisor: Ellie Kowalski

usy-advisor@synagogue.org

Synagogue Office Staff

Office Manager: Maureen Nassan

mnassan@synagogue.org

Office Assistant: Judy Baslaw

jbaslaw@synagogue.org

Bookkeeper: Joan Hecht

bookkeeper@synagogue.org

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